Printer Friendly Forum Posts - i messed up my car

OK so i put in a 500 watt amp and a 15" sub in my civic, and i shorted out the switch when i put it in. I drove home to finish the job at my house because we didnt have all the tools we needed, and the head unit worked the whole way home. When we were done with the install the head unit wouldnt come on. I got a new head unit and that doesnt work either, but the stock 92 casset player works in it.

I was wonderin if some one could help me out

What do you mean by "shorted out the switch"? What switch? Did you check your fuses?

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When i mounted my switch (to turn on the amp) the back of it grounded out on this peice of metal under my steering wheel and the wire started to burn up. I checked my fuse for the amp and for the receiver and theyre ok.

You're using what, a toggle switch to turn on your amp? Why?

In any case, if you had wiring "start to burn up" I suspect at least one fuse somewhere in your car is gone, along with some wiring. It's time to remove it all and start over with fresh wires. Are you using a proper wiring harness adapter for your car?

But back to the switch question. What are you trying to accomplish and why not use the remote-on feature of the HU to activate the amp?

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Im using the switch because my cousin said that if the cops ever pulled me over for disturbing the peace i could turn it off and say it wasnt me, i think i am using the remote feature, but i dont know because my cousin did most of the wiring. Im not using a wiring kit, im using some wires that i picked up from radio shack, but therye the right ones.

Claytoncivic wrote:

Im using the switch because my cousin said that if the cops ever pulled me over for disturbing the peace i could turn it off and say it wasnt me.

Um, no, that never works unless you are dealing with a dumb (or very busy) officer. If you are busted violating a noise ordinance, you are busted.

Claytoncivic wrote:

i think i am using the remote feature, but i dont know because my cousin did most of the wiring. Im not using a wiring kit, im using some wires that i picked up from radio shack, but therye the right ones.

Sounds like your cousin needs to fix what he did... in any case, "some wiring from Radio Shack" may or may not be the proper kit for your car, and you are crazy to not use the proper kit. Assuming, that is, that you want it to be done correctly. If the RS kit is specifically designed for your 92 Civic, then fine use it. If not, get the Metra 70-1720 and do the job right.

But you'll first have to track down whatever wiring was destroyed by your little fire and replace it, and find any fuses that might be blown and replace those too. Then start over.

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*sigh* No. He means a wiring harness for your deck. If you had used a low-level fuse for your switch you would not be having this problem. How did you run the switch? Inline with the main power for the amp? Off the remote turn-on coming out of the deck? Off the cars turn on wire for the deck?

Besides, this is just a silly idea. They make you pop your trunk look at you and say, "it was you, and here is your ticket". On a misdemeanor the burden of proof is usually just your word against his, in which case the cop gets the benefit of the doubt. Why don’t you just show some civility and turn the thing down when you are in a neighborhood?

I second that....I hate these jerks who drive around my niegborhood at 1:00am on weeknights with thundering bass for no reason.

There is definitly no need for that at 1:00am in a quiet residential nieborhood. Especially since these jerks just sit there idling bumping there cheap 2000 watt kmart system.

I actually made a phone call to the police the other night asking them to simply have a talk with these people and remind them that bass travels much further than than it needs to. I hope they do nab somebody spewing 150 db of bass in a dark wooded suburbon area after midnight and write them a nice ticket. If you're that ignorant...you deserve what you get.

Sorry fellas, if I wanted to hear cheap distorted extra loud bass at all hours of the night, I'd move to Lowell. Maybee you should move there too!

Clayton....you messed up your car man! sorry you had to learn the hard way, but just hang around here for a while, we'll straighten you out!

1am is insane for noise violation. i even have the right mind to turn it down around that time, the noise violation here takes place at 11pm. and they should re-enforce the law as well. for every half hr passed the set time, they should add 25-50$ onto the ticket.
cops cant (i think) give you tickets during the day for loud car stereos, they just give you warnings (like i said, i think).

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xTimx

I got news for ya Tim. Here in Regina they sure can right you a ticket durring the day time for a noise violation if you are in a residential area and breaking 140db. Its a bylaw in this fair city. The cop from my home town is head of recruiting for the RCMP now and I was talking to him about this before and when he talked to the local cops they told him what I just told you, so you should always be curtious when using your stereo in residential areas. No need to be a sh*t head. Now back to the problem at hand. My O my what have you done to your poor car. Its never a good thing when someone said that the wire started to burn. This is an abvious case where you and your cousin dont know enough about what you are doing to do this install. Im not slamming you I am just pointing out that the lack of knowledge is hindering your ability to do the deed without destroying the machine. I am seriously suggesting that you invest about 100 bucks and get a local chop to install the stuff for you. If you really want to put in a toggle switch I am sure they can do that for you as well. But when I hear about something like this I always suggest you get it done by a pro because you sound like you are in way past your abilities. If however you want to do this yourself then we need to know a couple things as Heavilymedicated pointed out. The first and foremost is what did you put the switch on, main power or ignition wire. Second what "wiring" do you have from Radio Shack. Third, what kinda equipment is it you have. Answer these questions and we can help a whole lot more.

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double-secret reverse-osmosis speaker-cone-induced high-level interference distortion, Its a killer

#1 - Cops CAN DO ANYTHING they don't care about laws... they don't care about rights... I know I live with a LAPD officer... and she's a girl...that 5'5" She doesn't care! She'd write you a ticket for smiling let alone disturbing the peace; and she'll meet you in court.

#2 - Radio Shack.... Gold Mine if you know what your looking for. Otherwise if your installing an amplifier get an "Amp Kit" from a "Stereo Shop".

#3 - Get your car some professional help. More than likely you've burned out something; fuse, amp, radio etc. Let someone go through your car with a multi-meter to find the cause of your problem.

#4 - If you and your cousin do more installs on your car; mount one of those crome fire extinguishers on your A-Pillar Thats very important!

Smokey the Bear says "Only you can prevent forrest fires". -that includes wire forrests.

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Tell the Snap-On guy I'm not here!

To tye up some loose ends, I didnt know what i was doing but my cuz did and i was the one who shorted out the switch like a dumb ass.

1. The switch is conected to the fuse on the power line going to the amp from the battery.

2. I have a 15 inch rockford fostgate and rockford fostgate amp (not sure how much power).

3. Only the stock head unit works, no aftermarket head units work even with smart wires.

4. The dimmer fuse for the lights inside the car poped but that was the only one.

5. The wires from Radio Shack are the right ones to do the job and theyre able to carry the power.

there's a missing link in what you've just described...the stock h/u works, but no aftermarket head units work? how can that be? i'm assuming that you're using the same wires to connect the aftermarket h/u's. there's a definite possibility that those h/u's are cooked.

also, i'm not sure what type of switch you've put in, but if it's on the pwr line going from battery to amp, it better be a very big strong switch. it'd be smarter to put the switch on the remote turn on line instead, because then you'd have the option of using a smaller switch, giving you more flexibility in possible locations.

as for what to do now, first thing is to check all fuses anywhere they can be found, such as in the factory fuse panels in the engine bay, under the dash, and the fuse(s) on the aftermarket h/u's. then make sure that the wiring that you're using for the aftermarket h/u is indeed done correctly and none of the wires are exposed, possibly touching each other or anything else. hope you're handy with a multimeter. good luck!

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all problems can be resolved with a hammer

Jeeeeeesus. If it was your cousin’s advice to put the switch "to the fuse on the power line going to the amp from the battery." then i would suggest this individual does not know as much as you think. Jimmeezgolfvr6 said it right, put the switch on the remote turn on wire.

Test all of your power wires coming from the car.

Double check your hot (12volt) wiring to the deck.

Check your ground. Some decks need a chassis ground to.

Try a different deck. Yours may be shot. Does the deck have a fuse behind the wiring harness? If so, check that. Was there any smoke from the deck at any time? As everyone here knows, electronics run on smoke. And when you let the smoke out they quit working.

Someone else suggested it, and I second it, or third (whatever the case may be). You may be in over your head, and if you paid retail for your equipment I would think 100 for installation would not be a bad investment. Besides, sound like you've already taken the life of one innocent head unit.

I'm assuming you have used the remote wire and shorted you'r 12v+ remote circuit to ground......bad, very bad! Some HUs have a protection circuit, most don't and they stop working entirely, send it in for repair or replace.

Now if you did indeed have it on your high current line, in the steering column....stop right there.

As Ravendarat and others have said, professionals are in business for a reason and you should consider thier assistance until you have a much better grasp on what you're doing. You're lucky you're car didn't burn down with you in in it.

Two things for you: MULTIMETER.....HAYNES OR CHILTONS MANUAL for your car, paperwork which came with your gear too.

READ......yes READ it, specifically the ELECTRICAL SECTION.....and agian, READ, don't be afraid to READ. Also, READ the instructions which come with you're multimeter. It won't hurt to READ things in this site from basic electricity to troubleshooting, to installations. Posts are good too, but look out for bad advice......that usually comes from people who don't READ!

thanks for all the tips guys, im going to check all the fuses and read up some more, but im probably going to take it to the shop. thanks again.

Good luck with it! let us know how it turns out. Yes, have the pros take care of this one for your own good.

10 years ago, I didn't know much about cars or electronics....and now I know more than I care to know sometimes.

ehh ghad! PLease take it to a shop before you blow up your car and kill people!

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2003 Chevy Avalanche,Eclipse CD7000,Morel Elate 5,Adire Extremis,Alpine PDX-4.150, 15" TC-3000, 2 Alpine PDX-1.1000, 470Amp HO Alt.

If you can even hear a stereo with the windows closed from outside the vehicle, it is probably too loud. Any level of sound that is too loud to talk over in a normal conversation level is damaging to the ears over an extended time. If you people value your hearing, you would be wise to keep your sounds at a moderate level, not to mention the "good-neighbor" benefits.

This comes from someone who used to compete in sound competitions where people tried to win trophies for the loudest vehicle. Isn't it funny that we used hearing protectors when we measured these vehicles? Actually, in the one competition that our store sponsered, I made up the judging criteria and totally eliminated SPL testing from the contest. Many headbangers were upset, but I didn't care.

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heavilymedicate wrote:

As everyone here knows, electronics run on smoke. And when you let the smoke out they quit working.

DYohn] wrote:

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Claytoncivic wrote:

Im using the switch because my cousin said that if the cops ever pulled me over for disturbing the peace i could turn it off and say it wasnt me.

Um, no, that never works unless you are dealing with a dumb (or very busy) officer. If you are busted violating a noise ordinance, you are busted.
Claytoncivic wrote:

i think i am using the remote feature, but i dont know because my cousin did most of the wiring. Im not using a wiring kit, im using some wires that i picked up from radio shack, but therye the right ones.

Sounds like your cousin needs to fix what he did... in any case, "some wiring from Radio Shack" may or may not be the proper kit for your car, and you are crazy to not use the proper kit. Assuming, that is, that you want it to be done correctly. If the RS kit is specifically designed for your 92 Civic, then fine use it. If not, get the Metra 70-1720 and do the job right.
But you'll first have to track down whatever wiring was destroyed by your little fire and replace it, and find any fuses that might be blown and replace those too. Then start over.

I would have to say, the switch is not a bad idea. You may be able to switch it on / off when ever you please. There is a back draft on them. Just dont ever EVER forget to switch off when your done, or else there goes your battery.
IT does take a while to adjust the subwoofer control. I just might tap into the remote wire , and add a switch .

Good LoOking Bro!

A switch on a remote lead is a standard process. NEVER try to switch main power to an amp unless you realy know what you're doing and have the proper parts and test equipment.

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I have everything working now! I moved the switch to the remote, replaced all the fried wires, and found a poped fuse ("Back up" fuse) in the engine compartment. Now i got bump in the trunk. Thanks alot for helping me out, and ill try to keep it down for all those people that hate bass at 3 in the mornin.

Thanks for keeping it down! The cops must've busted a couple of people because I'm not hearing the bass anymore, even in the day time.....good ridance.

Now all you need to do is take the MECP test and get yourself some tools, and you'll be on your way to installing in no time!

You can even call CEA and ask them to amend the study guide with your new power formula: no fuse + 0 ohms between +/- = 0 volts, max current and FIRE!!!

I think these kids are replacing thier obnoxious bass with burn-outs and fish tailing. Lots more of that going on this week. No complaints from me, I hope one of 'em hits a tree!