System shuts down when just batt. is on

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

I've got a '73 duster with just a HU and 2 6x9s. When I have it pretty loud, and just the battery on, the HU and 6x9s will shut off when the bass hits. Then, it will come back on for a few seconds until it hits again. The HU text also dims when it beats. What is causing this?

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[Twisted_0912 10+ year member]

voltage drops. it sounds like your headunit isnt even getting enough power. im not 100% sure on this. What kind of battery is in it?

 

[Supergumby5000 5,000+ posts]

think about it......

What happens when you leave your headlights on without the car running?

upgrade your electrical system, or dont leave the stereo on in auxilary mode, and your problems are solved

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

Not sure what batt. but I can go look. Its pretty big

edit - Gumby- battery dies... but when this happens, it will happen instantly when I turn the engine off

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

can anyone help me out on what the problem is? I should be putting my subs in, in the next week or so. Soooo

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

You've got a bad ground perhaps, or you've wired the constant + from the head unit to the fuse block when you might need to find a different power source route (other than your stock wiring to your fuse box)... personally, id run a new wire directly from the battery to the head unit for your constant +12 power, and just use the stock wiring from where the old head unit was (or from the fuse block) to the switched 12+ power lead on the new head unit.

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

Well I got a car audio shop to install the HU and 6x9s. Im pretty sure I can get them to fix it for free if I take it back. Also, if I honk the horn or step on the brake (brake lights go on), that will shut it off too.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Well I got a car audio shop to install the HU and 6x9s. Im pretty sure I can get them to fix it for free if I take it back. Also, if I honk the horn or step on the brake (brake lights go on), that will shut it off too.

Holy shit, is this audio shop populated with retarded 3rd graders? How does a shop screw up a simple h/u and door speaker install so badly?
And I really hope your problem is just a bad ground. I dont think Ive ever heard of anyone with such a crappy charging system that even just a h/u's internal amplifier would dim the headlights. Definitely an issue to address before you even consider adding subs and an external amplifier.

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Well I got a car audio shop to install the HU and 6x9s. Im pretty sure I can get them to fix it for free if I take it back. Also, if I honk the horn or step on the brake (brake lights go on), that will shut it off too.

Run from that place. Dont ever go back. Just take it somewhere else.

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

Well its supposed to be one of the best in the area. There i one other place down the road, but they seem like scammers.

It sounds good and all, but I bassically cant listen to music loud with just the battery on.

I've had a problem with the alt. before, but turns out it was just a bad connection with wire at alt.

 

[audioholic 5,000+ posts]

Well its supposed to be one of the best in the area. There i one other place down the road, but they seem like scammers.
It sounds good and all, but I bassically cant listen to music loud with just the battery on.

I've had a problem with the alt. before, but turns out it was just a bad connection with wire at alt.

You hit the brakes, and your stereo shuts off. Does it sound like that shop gave you a solid install for the money you paid them? Does it even sound like they bothered to test the system once it was installed, before handing it back to the customer? Having the customer troubleshoot a shop's work is a very poor business practice. Clearly they never tried the system with the engine off, or while driving, or hitting the brakes, etc...
I think Id try those scammers down the road next time.

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

Ill see if they will fix it for free when I take it in for amp/sub install.

 

[snoopdan 5,000+ posts]

Im guessing you probably already had some wiring issues before you even took it to them. But I know, if I was installing at a shop and I noticed some wiring problems - id either fix them or notifiy you that we couldnt go on with the install until you addressed it. Thats just being professional.

 

[NightDrifter05 10+ year member]

Im guessing you probably already had some wiring issues before you even took it to them. But I know, if I was installing at a shop and I noticed some wiring problems - id either fix them or notifiy you that we couldnt go on with the install until you addressed it. Thats just being professional.

X2. Seem's as if the shop he took it to were the real scammers. I bet when he goes back they tell him it was tested and working fine when he picked it up and it's something that he did. Then go back and charge him to fix it.

 

[Bobby322 10+ year member]

So if it is a bad ground, how do I fix it? No idea on where/what the ground cable is.