stereo pro's.....i need help with an install - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

superchevy · 07-21-2003, 01:08 PM

Not a Chevy, but my girlfriends '95 Mitsubishi Montero.
Her factory cassette crapped out, so I told her i'd put in a CD player for her. Picked up a cheap JVC CD and install kit at Best Buy. Removed / unplugged the stock radio, plugged in the install kit's adapter harness and plugged in the new JVC - piece of cake -only took 30 minutes.
Started up the truck - stereo sounds/works great.
The problem?
The Alternator and Battery light stayed on. I took the truck for a spin around the subdivision, and barely made it back to the house as the battery went dead. No start. No lights. Dead, dead, dead.
Took the battery out of my truck and put it in the Mitsu, started right up, but ALT/Batt light still on.
Decided prob must be in the new adapter harness, so I took the JVC out, unplugged the adapter harness, plugged the old stock radio back in, and...it doesn't work anymore, and I hear this "tick, tick, tick" noise down by the truck's fusebox. Feeling around the fuse box, I can tell that it is the large, black 'ACCY's' fuse/relay that is making the ticking sound. I unplug it. I remove the radio 10 amp fuse, check it, it's good, and reinstall it. I reinstall the big "ACCY's" fuse/relay, and it doesn't tick anymore. I try the stock radio again...it works! Start the truck and.....still get the ALT/Battery lights staying on. The battery is still draining although the amp gauge slowly moved up to the 11-12 amp range.
I don't know what to do next. Think I might have fried the alternator relay? keeping it from charging the battery?
Anybody have any ideas or know a pro installer that you can ask what they think, cause my girlfriend lives in Austin and I had to return to Dallas today for work, so I need to do something fast, or she's (me) going to have to take it to the dealer.
Thanks for any help, SC

**CPNE** · 07-21-2003, 01:11 PM

Man, I wish I had an answer for you as I expect you're getting "the look" right about now.

*Randy70C-10* · 07-21-2003, 01:20 PM

The problem sounds like it's un-related to the radio install that you did, but I'm not 100% sure of this. Is there an auto parts store close by that will test the alternator for you?

**CPNE** · 07-21-2003, 01:29 PM

Quote:

The problem sounds like it's un-related to the radio install

Good plan, deflect the blame. Randy's a pro at the "married" game.

*Randy70C-10* · 07-21-2003, 01:53 PM

Yeah, that's it.

That's what she gets for buying a defective car. lol

wnc mountain · 07-21-2003, 02:53 PM

I'm with randy on that one. sound un-related. There are very few thing that will draw all the alternators power along with the battery, and the radio is not one of them. If the radio played it was ok, ie no fuse blown and no fires(jk). Sounds like the alternator to me.

superchevy · 07-21-2003, 06:52 PM

The alternator is only 8 months old. She bought it at the dealer ($265), and I installed it. It worked flawlessly up until I did the JVC install. The problem has to be something to do with the install of the new JVC.
Any other ideas? SC

*67Fleetsidedream* · 07-21-2003, 07:13 PM

Do the old alternator check. Take the positive off the battery while it is running. If it dies, it is the alternator if not then it is not the alternator. What you really need is a digital multimeter. So you can see how many volts the alternator is producing. Also make sure that if any and all wires that are not getting used behind the stereo are taped off. There may be a hot wire back behind the stereo grounding out.

miket · 07-21-2003, 07:14 PM

SuperChevy:

This may sound silly but hang on.....

I recently installed my head unit (with 40 feet of wire, subwoofer box 4 gauge power wire, two amps and one active crossover) in my 94 Caprice. I noticed in the trunk that there was a cool little clip trunk light and that somone had cut the wires....so...I fixed it and put the bulb back in...so I have to leave town for a while and come back to my car being dead....I mess around with it for a week trying to figure what the problem is....arrived at bad battery......so I replaced it.....come to find out actually it was the light in the trunk...the mercury switch was broken and it never shutoff....though my relatives wanted to prove it by locking me in the trunk....Ha! Ha!....okay just a little farther....so after I think I got everything figured out.....I go into town to the store and when I go to leave, no juice....no click no nothing...so back to the drawing board...the second time out...everytime the kick drum went off it about killed the car...my volt guage went way into the negative....so I shut all the stereo stuff off....while I am driving I turn the fan on full, and it kills the car....now my voltage guage is discharging over in the negative.

I get home and....long story somewhat long...the ground cable on the battery was LOOSE! I tightened and no more problems.

My guess is you probably disconnected it for the head unit....I would go back and double check it.....hope thats it!

cableguy0 · 07-21-2003, 07:54 PM

miket is probably on to something here check all the grounds make sure there are no uncovered or exposed wires make sure there isnt any corrossion on the battery cables. just because the alternator was changed recently dont mean sh!t they go bad for no reason whatsoever.get a volt meter and with the car running see how much voltage there is at the battery

r0lf- · 07-21-2003, 08:33 PM

Maybe the wiring harness has a bad ground somewhere that is draining power. Check the wiring harness for flaws.

07-21-2003, 01:08 PM	#1
superchevy Got big-block? Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,453	stereo pro's.....i need help with an install Not a Chevy, but my girlfriends '95 Mitsubishi Montero. Her factory cassette crapped out, so I told her i'd put in a CD player for her. Picked up a cheap JVC CD and install kit at Best Buy. Removed / unplugged the stock radio, plugged in the install kit's adapter harness and plugged in the new JVC - piece of cake -only took 30 minutes. Started up the truck - stereo sounds/works great. The problem? The Alternator and Battery light stayed on. I took the truck for a spin around the subdivision, and barely made it back to the house as the battery went dead. No start. No lights. Dead, dead, dead. Took the battery out of my truck and put it in the Mitsu, started right up, but ALT/Batt light still on. Decided prob must be in the new adapter harness, so I took the JVC out, unplugged the adapter harness, plugged the old stock radio back in, and...it doesn't work anymore, and I hear this "tick, tick, tick" noise down by the truck's fusebox. Feeling around the fuse box, I can tell that it is the large, black 'ACCY's' fuse/relay that is making the ticking sound. I unplug it. I remove the radio 10 amp fuse, check it, it's good, and reinstall it. I reinstall the big "ACCY's" fuse/relay, and it doesn't tick anymore. I try the stock radio again...it works! Start the truck and.....still get the ALT/Battery lights staying on. The battery is still draining although the amp gauge slowly moved up to the 11-12 amp range. I don't know what to do next. Think I might have fried the alternator relay? keeping it from charging the battery? Anybody have any ideas or know a pro installer that you can ask what they think, cause my girlfriend lives in Austin and I had to return to Dallas today for work, so I need to do something fast, or she's (me) going to have to take it to the dealer. Thanks for any help, SC

07-21-2003, 01:11 PM	#2
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	Man, I wish I had an answer for you as I expect you're getting "the look" right about now. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all

07-21-2003, 02:53 PM	#6
wnc mountain More hobbies than money! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Raleigh, nc, usa Posts: 655	I'm with randy on that one. sound un-related. There are very few thing that will draw all the alternators power along with the battery, and the radio is not one of them. If the radio played it was ok, ie no fuse blown and no fires(jk). Sounds like the alternator to me. __________________ '70 cst10/swb 350, 3 on the tree, factory buckets. '70 GMC lwb 350/350 ps,pb '72 c-10 lwb 350/350 a/c, ps, pb '72 Blazer project

07-21-2003, 07:14 PM	#9
miket Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 1,466	SuperChevy: This may sound silly but hang on..... I recently installed my head unit (with 40 feet of wire, subwoofer box 4 gauge power wire, two amps and one active crossover) in my 94 Caprice. I noticed in the trunk that there was a cool little clip trunk light and that somone had cut the wires....so...I fixed it and put the bulb back in...so I have to leave town for a while and come back to my car being dead....I mess around with it for a week trying to figure what the problem is....arrived at bad battery......so I replaced it.....come to find out actually it was the light in the trunk...the mercury switch was broken and it never shutoff....though my relatives wanted to prove it by locking me in the trunk....Ha! Ha!....okay just a little farther....so after I think I got everything figured out.....I go into town to the store and when I go to leave, no juice....no click no nothing...so back to the drawing board...the second time out...everytime the kick drum went off it about killed the car...my volt guage went way into the negative....so I shut all the stereo stuff off....while I am driving I turn the fan on full, and it kills the car....now my voltage guage is discharging over in the negative. I get home and....long story somewhat long...the ground cable on the battery was LOOSE! I tightened and no more problems. My guess is you probably disconnected it for the head unit....I would go back and double check it.....hope thats it! __________________ FocuzTech Performance Evergreen Protective Coatings Gatorhyde...the best kept secret in spray in bed lining & protection

07-21-2003, 07:54 PM	#10
cableguy0 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Delta,Pa Posts: 14,950	miket is probably on to something here check all the grounds make sure there are no uncovered or exposed wires make sure there isnt any corrossion on the battery cables. just because the alternator was changed recently dont mean sh!t they go bad for no reason whatsoever.get a volt meter and with the car running see how much voltage there is at the battery __________________ Owner of North Point Car Care in Dundalk Md. We specialize in custom exhaust on both modern and classic vehicles. We are a full service auto shop from classics to modern vehicles. Feel free to contact me with questions. I will give a 10% discount to any board member.

07-21-2003, 01:20 PM	#3
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	The problem sounds like it's un-related to the radio install that you did, but I'm not 100% sure of this. Is there an auto parts store close by that will test the alternator for you?

07-21-2003, 01:53 PM	#5
Randy70C-10 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, Va. U.S.A. Posts: 15,320	Yeah, that's it. That's what she gets for buying a defective car. lol

07-21-2003, 06:52 PM	#7
superchevy Got big-block? Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,453	The alternator is only 8 months old. She bought it at the dealer ($265), and I installed it. It worked flawlessly up until I did the JVC install. The problem has to be something to do with the install of the new JVC. Any other ideas? SC

07-21-2003, 07:13 PM	#8
67Fleetsidedream Wiseass secured himself a BAN Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: MOON!!! Posts: 2,282	Do the old alternator check. Take the positive off the battery while it is running. If it dies, it is the alternator if not then it is not the alternator. What you really need is a digital multimeter. So you can see how many volts the alternator is producing. Also make sure that if any and all wires that are not getting used behind the stereo are taped off. There may be a hot wire back behind the stereo grounding out.

07-21-2003, 08:33 PM	#11
r0lf- Hotwheels? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 1,145	Maybe the wiring harness has a bad ground somewhere that is draining power. Check the wiring harness for flaws. __________________ 1978 Money Pit - CUSTOM DELUXE!!!!

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