What is taking my power!?!?!?!

[Unregistered]

I went on vacation for a week and when i came back the battery was dead. We jump started the car and charged it up, and 10 hours later it was dead again. The battery is draining even when there is NO key in the ignition. I took it to a dealer and they said that there is something wrong with the stereo system, and that there is a short somewhere.(maybe because whenever another metal touches the battery post it sparks). How the heck do i find where the short is??? i have 2 rockford hx2 subs powered by a rockford 500.2 amp, and 4 6.5" speakers all the way around powered by a lightning audio 4 channel amp. I tried disconnecting each each channel individually on the 4 channel amp to find which channel could be shorting, but that didnt yield any results. How can i find where the short is?!?? Please help me.

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[dbaxter01 10+ year member]

A short would generally blow a fuse first. Sounds to me like you have something drawing down your battery. I'd check to see if everything does indeed power off when you turn off the ignition.

Also, are you disconnecting the channels to the speakers? I don't see how that will help find your problem. Try disconnecting the power leads and also the remote turn on wires to each amp and see if you can determine if it is one of those.

Also, do you have a Cap? Are you certain it is wired correctly as well.

If all else fails, I'd take it to a car audio installer and have them look it over. It would be worth a few bucks if it will save your battery.

 

[RangerMan Premium Member]

First off, when you go on vacation, always unplug your amp. Second, do you have a cap? And finally, what kind of car do you have?

 

[Unregistered]

ok, i do not have a cap because it has never really been necessary. But, maybe i need one. The system is in my 1993 ford taurus wagon(no one suspects it. lol).

So if i try disconnecting the power leads and the remote wire would i check to see whether the battery still sparks??? and whichever one makes it not spark is where the short is? Thanks.

 

[dbaxter01 10+ year member]

That would be a good start.

 

[RangerMan Premium Member]

Try that first.