Jeep won’t start when amp is hooked up

[Dudebro241]

Just finished installing my system. It is a 15” soundqubed sub and a 1600.1 cab amp. After I hooked it all up I immediately started the Jeep and started playing music for maybe 5 minutes. Shut the Jeep off to see if it would start and it wouldn’t. Disconnected the amps power wire and it started right up. Remote is connected to alpine head unit. I’m thinking the battery is too old to fire up the starter and amp at the same time. Should I install a switch on the power wire to insure it will always fire up and hope I remember to shut it off every time or will a new battery for sure fix this problem? It is a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0.

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[Lbetts818]

Go to autozone or whatever and have them load test the battery. That will instantly let you know if your battery is bad. Typically if you have to ask if it's too old it is. if you have access to a multi meter read the batteries voltage. There's no reason I can see a amp making a motor not start. Only guess with the info above is battery. Not really much details to help. What wire? Big 3? Ground spots? Etc....

 

[BOOMINGRANDPA 5,000+ posts]

yeah u need load test of batt and alt (i just did it today, alt is going on mine) if they say batt is bad GO ONLINE TO ADVANCE.COM get 20% off code by putting in email addy buy a silver AGM advance battery on website with discount., walk back into store and let them install it.. mine was $136 or so rated at 740cca tested today at 953amps (looking at print out now)

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

That amp should not by trying to draw power when you are starting (head unit doesn't power up when the key is in "start" position, right? I think the amp is a red herring and you've got dead battery or some other intermittent problem.

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

That amp should not by trying to draw power when you are starting (head unit doesn't power up when the key is in "start" position, right? I think the amp is a red herring and you've got dead battery or some other intermittent problem.

This. Something else is going on. As soon as an amp is hooked up in your car, it shouldn't prevent the vehicle from turning over. If you have a DMM handy, check the amps' voltage....car running and with amp hooked up. See what you get.

 

[Dudebro241]

Go to autozone or whatever and have them load test the battery. That will instantly let you know if your battery is bad. Typically if you have to ask if it's too old it is. if you have access to a multi meter read the batteries voltage. There's no reason I can see a amp making a motor not start. Only guess with the info above is battery. Not really much details to help. What wire? Big 3? Ground spots? Etc....

0 gauge wire. No big 3. Grounded under the rear seats. I’m just wondering if amps leak voltage when not on.

 

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

 

yeah u need load test of batt and alt (i just did it today, alt is going on mine) if they say batt is bad GO ONLINE TO ADVANCE.COM get 20% off code by putting in email addy buy a silver AGM advance battery on website with discount., walk back into store and let them install it.. mine was $136 or so rated at 740cca tested today at 953amps (looking at print out now)

I will probably end up doing this

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

0 gauge wire. No big 3. Grounded under the rear seats. I’m just wondering if amps leak voltage when not on. 

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

 

I will probably end up doing this

Leak voltage? Where did you hear that from? Once system is off, so should the amps.

 

[Dudebro241]

This. Something else is going on. As soon as an amp is hooked up in your car, it shouldn't prevent the vehicle from turning over. If you have a DMM handy, check the amps' voltage....car running and with amp hooked up. See what you get.

I will see what it says tomorrow. What will this tell me though? If I check when it’s not running I will know if it leaks voltage but what about when it is running?

 

[Dudebro241]

Leak voltage? Where did you hear that from? Once system is off, so should the amps.

Should be but it doesn’t seem like it

 

[THATpurpleKUSH 5,000+ posts]

0 gauge wire. No big 3. Grounded under the rear seats. I’m just wondering if amps leak voltage when not on. 

---------- Post added at 09:37 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:36 PM ----------

 

I will probably end up doing this

Did you ground to a bolt that holds the seat in or does the ground attach to the chassis underneath the seat?

 

[Boomin_tahoe 5,000+ posts]

Just askin, what does your ground look like? Because there's amp out there that won't work if the amp isn't grounded good. A seatbelt bolt for example isn't good enough and amp may not turn on at all or cause funny things to happen.

 

[tymoto21 10+ year member]

Where did you grab your power wire?

Is your battery terminal tight?

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

Just askin, what does your ground look like? Because there's amp out there that won't work if the amp isn't grounded good. A seatbelt bolt for example isn't good enough and amp may not turn on at all or cause funny things to happen.

What is better than seat or seatbelt bolts? Seems to me those are always set into places with the most steel.

 

[Darth_Immitis]

What is better than seat or seatbelt bolts? Seems to me those are always set into places with the most steel.

I never understood why people say not to ground to seatbelt bolt. That’s a big chunk of solid metal

 

[BOOMINGRANDPA 5,000+ posts]

I never understood why people say not to ground to seatbelt bolt. That’s a big chunk of solid metal

i think it cause when peeps use them could cause it to move but no one in my back seat more than 2 times a year and they don't use them so i may use that spot when i ever mess with new wire..