wiring experts

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=6381
Printed Date: July 04, 2025 at 2:00 PM

Topic: wiring experts

Posted By: TacomaXray
Subject: wiring experts
Date Posted: December 08, 2002 at 2:05 PM

My car battery was reversed, the positive wire was on negative on the batery and the negative wire was on positive on the battery, and everything was fine, but i didnt understand why it was reversed so I tryed to put em the way they're supposed to go and the negative wire started smokin.... and so i pulled it out of there... and i put them in regular way again(reversed +on- and -on+) and for some strange reason my cd player stoped working... i'd like some help on that please... and if you cant help me do u think if I go to a stereo place they will know what's wrong? thanks alot posted_image

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Tacoma _Lucas_ Gangster

Replies:

Posted By: asdf1234
Date Posted: December 08, 2002 at 2:21 PM

I bet you just blew the fuse

Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: December 08, 2002 at 3:02 PM

Try and check the fuses. If you have an aftermarket head unit pull out the head unit and check the fuses (on the power wires) in the back of the head unit. Also look in your car manual and find out what fuse supplies power to the radio and check it too.

Posted By: NyxBass
Date Posted: December 08, 2002 at 8:04 PM

That's really odd that the battery cables would be reversed. I have heard of floating ground, 12 charged frame systems before though, what kind of car do you drive?

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/NyxBass

Posted By: webguy
Date Posted: December 12, 2002 at 6:05 PM

Sounds to me like someone had a trip to the auto parts store and purchased new cables. Did you, or did you have someone replace your battery cables? Or perhaps you just recently aquired the vehicle and the previous owner had replaced the cables.

Once you know your cables are connected correctly, you may need to check that you didn't fry the diodes in your alternator by hooking up the battery backwards. Start the vehicle, then disconnect the battery while the motor is still running. The engine should continue to run if the alternator is putting out. Reconnect the battery. Now connect a voltage meter to the battery with the vehicle still running. Voltage should not be any higher than 14.4 volts (preferably 13.8). If the voltage runs any higher than that, replace the alternator because you will boil the battery away.

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Clean tools = Clean work!

Posted By: SnomanF150
Date Posted: December 12, 2002 at 8:58 PM

have to agree with webguy.. see it all the time.. guess they don't sell black wire at autozone..

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George

David's Car Stereo

Baton Rouge, LA

Posted By: bberman1
Date Posted: December 13, 2002 at 4:06 PM

In the future if the power cables have the same colors or are reversed check the polarity before you mess with them. Have seen a lot of posts here where people use the same color cable for power and ground and can’t figure out why they keep blowing fuses. Not putting anybody down but if you’re unsure it’s cheaper to get a voltage meter than replace electrical components. But any way did you figure out the problem yet?