momentary low volt problem @ start-up

Just jumped onto this bandwagon ( thought you guys had something fugured out already. ) I have one question for you about the radio wiring hookup. Is the radio hooked up to IGNITION power through the ignition switch or the back of the radio ? Or are both the IGN & the CONSTANT hooked up to the battery ? I ask this because if the radio was hooked up to a second IGN wire, then it would temporarily loose power in the crank position. If the installer used the IGN 1 wire, then it would have power throughout the crank positions and the ON position but 0 in the OFF & ACC positions.

What I would try first is to hook up the IGN wire to constant ( as long as the Kenwood has a power OFF button ) otherwise it will drain the battery. If this does not work what you can do is set up a relay to engage from the IGN 1 and have 87 to the battery and 30 to the IGN wire on the Kenwood. This would get 12 volts straight from the battery as opposed to getting 12 volts from the IGN wier in the harness making the relay act as an isolator from the ignition switch.

I would also check to see the vehicles batteries & if they need replacing. I live in Canada and the batteries that we have normally last 3-4 years with the extreme cold & they loose their electrolyte characteristics. I do not suggest another battery ( if the capacitor idea doesn't pan out ) , but rather a larger CC amp battery will more than likely remedy the problem.

Cold reduces the battery's starting capacity therefore it will seem to draw more amperage to start the car during a cold morning. If you replace the battery with a larger CC battery, you will alleviate the strain on the smaller CC amp battery.