head unit behaving strangely
Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=106662
Printed Date: July 18, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Topic: head unit behaving strangely
Posted By: twinpawer
Subject: head unit behaving strangely
Date Posted: August 09, 2008 at 7:55 AM
I have a brand new Alpine CDA-9887, and normally it works fine. However, when the car engine is switched off, and I play it at high volume for about 1 - 5 minutes, it starts turning itself off automatically, and turns back on in about 5 seconds.
It only happens when the volume is "high" (> 30 from 50)and there is some "bass" in the song.
Any ideas? It is quite frustrating, as the speakers can handle the load easily (no distortion).
Replies:
Posted By: twinpawer
Date Posted: August 09, 2008 at 7:57 AM
also, forgot to mention. Before I had an HB CA4545 head unit, and it was connected to the same wiring. It never did have this problem, and could play at high volumes, although the new Alpine headunit is capable of higher output.
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Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: August 09, 2008 at 8:40 AM
The yellow wire of the Alpine deck needs to be ran directly to the battery via a 12 Ga. wire and a 10 amp fuse. Also ground the radio's ground wire directly to a metal piece of the dash, or to the firewall of the vehicle. Make sure you check the other side of the firewall before running a screw through a wire harness or a brake booster. The factory wiring of your vehicle can not provide enough current for the additional output of the new deck.
Posted By: twinpawer
Date Posted: August 10, 2008 at 2:06 PM
the yellow wire is wired directly to the battery, as I prefer the radio to be always on and both the live and switch wire are wired directly to the battery (shorted together). The ground is not running directly to the metal, i'll give it a try and see how it performs. However also, the wiring is not 'factory', as I had changed it before when I connected the HB I had previously, as the car had no ISO connector.
Also, what is a 'firewall'?
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Posted By: i am an idiot
Date Posted: August 10, 2008 at 2:29 PM
The metal wall that isolates the engine compartment from the cabin of the car.
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