Help tracing a short

[ShadowElky]

About a week ago I was driving home and had the radio turned up and the sub turned on. Started to hear alot of feedback in one of my rear speakers. Turned off the radio as I pulled into my driveway and didn't think anything of it. Next morning the radio wouldn't turn on at all. Fast forward to today. Finally was able to pull the radio and found the fuse was blown. Replaced it and disconnected both rear speakers (they have repeatedly shorted). When I went to reconnect the radio I noticed alot of feedback. The car was off (key off and removed) and I hadn't connected the ground yet, but I could hear popping and buzzing in the speakers and sub. Any ideas on where to look? First noticed something was awry when I went to plug the antenna in after plugging up the main harness and it sparked.

TL;DR: Rear speakers shorted and blew the radio fuse. Replaced fuse and now have power running to stereo even when the key is off, even with ground disconnected, evidenced by popping and buzzing in speakers and sub. Any help is appreciated.

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[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Where did you run your power wire? Is it protected with split loom under the hood? It's unlikely that the factory wiring would cause a short.

 

[ShadowElky]

Where did you run your power wire? Is it protected with split loom under the hood? It's unlikely that the factory wiring would cause a short.

I ran the power wire down the driver side of the car and the RCA's and amp turn on down the passenger side. I havent touched any of the wiring. Only thing I've done recently is utilize my car to assist starting a flooded Mazda RX-8 (de-flood procedure requires alot of starter use.) My car does have one of those fuse blocks right at the positive battery cable, wondering if jump-starting screwed with it.

 

[noble brown]

Which ground? The one from the battery or the radio ground? I'm gonna assume the ground....

A couple of ideas... I would first look for a ground from the radio to the chassis somewhere, separate from the one you have disconnected. It's gotta be grounding somewhere to complete the circuit. On top of all this your remote turn on would have to be shorted to the 12v constant to turn on. That's a lot of coincidental shorts for the radio to come on without the key in the ignition and the ground unplugged. This suggests the circuit board in the radio is fried and internally shorted.

 

[ShadowElky]

Which ground? The one from the battery or the radio ground? I'm gonna assume the ground.... A couple of ideas... I would first look for a ground from the radio to the chassis somewhere, separate from the one you have disconnected. It's gotta be grounding somewhere to complete the circuit. On top of all this your remote turn on would have to be shorted to the 12v constant to turn on. That's a lot of coincidental shorts for the radio to come on without the key in the ignition and the ground unplugged. This suggests the circuit board in the radio is fried and internally shorted.

Just removed the cars radio fuse, the amp fuse, and unhooked the remote lead and RCA'S from the stereo. Connected the ground and plugged in the stereo and still get feedback with the stereo off. All this was with the car on. Going to try with the car off and see what I get.

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[noble brown]

OK the feed back is sound coming through the speakers? The amplified ones or the ones of the radio? And the radio is off but the car is on right? Then the speaker's wire are shorted to something. Unplug the speakers wire at the radio and see what happens

 

[ShadowElky]

Which ground? The one from the battery or the radio ground? I'm gonna assume the ground.... A couple of ideas... I would first look for a ground from the radio to the chassis somewhere, separate from the one you have disconnected. It's gotta be grounding somewhere to complete the circuit. On top of all this your remote turn on would have to be shorted to the 12v constant to turn on. That's a lot of coincidental shorts for the radio to come on without the key in the ignition and the ground unplugged. This suggests the circuit board in the radio is fried and internally shorted.

Update: just tried and still getting feedback. And the back of the radio is getting very hot. Will disassemble the radio tonight to see if the board is fried. Will also check everything with my DMM tomorrow.

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[CrossoverOre 10+ year member]

ive seen jump starting take out electronics out before but usually when connected to a real dead battery. waht kind of car? factory amp?

 

[ShadowElky]

It's a 2008 Nissan Versa. The radio was an Eonon double din Android radio, the amp is a Pioneer GM-D8601, and the sub is a Sundown SA-15

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[noble brown]

It's a 2008 Nissan Versa. The radio was an Eonon double din Android radio, the amp is a Pioneer GM-D8601, and the sub is a Sundown SA-15
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Find anything?

 

[ShadowElky]

Not yet. Been more worried about getting my RX-8 running that I'm not worried about the radio right now

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[noble brown]

Not yet. Been more worried about getting my RX-8 running that I'm not worried about the radio right now
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Ok kool. Just checking.

 

[The Camry]

Its really easy to wire a head unit. i say run totally new wires for your rear speakers(stock wires prob **** any way). Run new wires for the head unit. Its like 4-5 wires. POS to battery, GRND(make ur own), Constant(splice into ACC wire or run it directly to the battery and put a switch on it), remote to your amps.

 

[CrossoverOre 10+ year member]

did you use adapters to get into the factory wiring? get a dmm and see if you have 12v out the remote with the deck off. there has to be a factory amp in the car causing it or the deck itself is shet.

 

[ShadowElky]

did you use adapters to get into the factory wiring? get a dmm and see if you have 12v out the remote with the deck off. there has to be a factory amp in the car causing it or the deck itself is shet.

Its really easy to wire a head unit. i say run totally new wires for your rear speakers(stock wires prob **** any way). Run new wires for the head unit. Its like 4-5 wires. POS to battery, GRND(make ur own), Constant(splice into ACC wire or run it directly to the battery and put a switch on it), remote to your amps.

I used the adapter harness to wire up the stereo. I have tried disconnecting the remote line, pulling both the radio fuse and the amp fuse, and disconnecting the RCA'S. Will get the DMM out later today and see if any wires have power going to them that shouldn't.

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