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Okay, so I've got a right mess on my hands. And if the cause turns out to be what I think it is, I will never again try to install an aftermarket stereo in any vehicle I own ever again. It either works from the dealer, or it doesn't work at all.
So, a couple weeks ago, we were shopping. I saw an uber cheap car stereo ($50, has an aux in, and usb power out), so I bought it. Read the installation manual, bought the universal wiring harness adapter, attached every wire, plugged everything in. And the damned thing would not turn on.
I tried everything I could think of. Reconnected wires, etc. Tested continuity with my multimeter. No joy. The damned thing would not turn on. So, I attached the original unit, only to find that it, too, would not turn on. I don't mean that it would display some sort of theft lock or anything. I mean it would not power up at all.
Cursed a lot, went and read a lot. Learned that my vehicle doesn't have an ignition activated power wire. I have to run it to the fuse box. Okay, purchased a fuse tap, soem 12 gauge wire, and an extra fuse. Installed. Still nothing. Unit will not power up at all.
I then tested every single fuse in the vehicle for connectivity. Every one of them passed. Tested every single wire, and they, too, passed. I was stumped. That was the end of the day yesterday.
Today, the truck is acting up, like I left the headlights on. Got it started on its own, though, so went to work. Went out to lunch, dead battery time again. When my coworker leaves, I leave with him, just in case I need a jump. Lo and behold, I do. We attach jumper cables.
When he attaches his side, there's lots of sparks. On my side, there's smoke coming out of the battery. We detach everything pretty quickly, and discover that the jumper cables are hot.
So, best possible case right now: The mechanic finds a wire that got pulled loose (or a fuse I screwed up), and I only wind up paying for some fuses and a battery. Worst case: I wind up paying for a major electrical overhaul of the vehicle.
On the plus side, the dome light still comes on on its own.
So, now I sit here at work for another hour waiting for my wife to come get me. And I work from home tomorrow.
This sucks.
So, a couple weeks ago, we were shopping. I saw an uber cheap car stereo ($50, has an aux in, and usb power out), so I bought it. Read the installation manual, bought the universal wiring harness adapter, attached every wire, plugged everything in. And the damned thing would not turn on.
I tried everything I could think of. Reconnected wires, etc. Tested continuity with my multimeter. No joy. The damned thing would not turn on. So, I attached the original unit, only to find that it, too, would not turn on. I don't mean that it would display some sort of theft lock or anything. I mean it would not power up at all.
Cursed a lot, went and read a lot. Learned that my vehicle doesn't have an ignition activated power wire. I have to run it to the fuse box. Okay, purchased a fuse tap, soem 12 gauge wire, and an extra fuse. Installed. Still nothing. Unit will not power up at all.
I then tested every single fuse in the vehicle for connectivity. Every one of them passed. Tested every single wire, and they, too, passed. I was stumped. That was the end of the day yesterday.
Today, the truck is acting up, like I left the headlights on. Got it started on its own, though, so went to work. Went out to lunch, dead battery time again. When my coworker leaves, I leave with him, just in case I need a jump. Lo and behold, I do. We attach jumper cables.
When he attaches his side, there's lots of sparks. On my side, there's smoke coming out of the battery. We detach everything pretty quickly, and discover that the jumper cables are hot.
So, best possible case right now: The mechanic finds a wire that got pulled loose (or a fuse I screwed up), and I only wind up paying for some fuses and a battery. Worst case: I wind up paying for a major electrical overhaul of the vehicle.
On the plus side, the dome light still comes on on its own.
So, now I sit here at work for another hour waiting for my wife to come get me. And I work from home tomorrow.
This sucks.
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