After installing new RCA wires from my amp to my head unit
i am having issues
Now, when u have the stereo on, if you open the drivers door the stereo shuts off! it also shuts off if I pull up on the parking brake!
Any thoughts
?
THx
Replies (7)
swez on 06/13/2009 16:53:31
Several newer vehicles have that delay feature which allows the radio to play after the key is turned off and removed from the IGN. Once the door opens, the power shuts off and so does the music.
Pulling up on the parking brake does activate another switch to let the driver know the brake is now activated. (Dummy light on dash)
I don't see a direct connection between these functions and installing new RCA wires only. The only thing I can think of at the moment is to reground the HU and outboard amps. (Dedicated ground to floorpan and bare metal at that)
What year, make and model is this vehicle? Also, what is the brand and model of your HU? (Radio/player)
Swez
Unsion on 06/13/2009 17:18:27
2001 VW Cabrio
Kenwood KDC x493
Maybe he plucked a ground and or a ground is now touching into something he moved around when attempting to feed the RCA up under the dash?!
Unsion on 06/13/2009 17:19:22
The car is still running when i open the door and the stereo shuts off
i have no such delay
:(
is it safe to say its a ground issue?
swez on 06/13/2009 18:33:47
There's something faulty in the wiring of this HU that may have little or nothing to do with the RCA's. Here's the wiring color code for a 2000 Cabrio. This may help whoever installed the HU, get things back on track again:
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/stereodetail/2162.html
If you paid for the work and it was AOK on the way in and messed up on the way out, the installer overlooked something or miswired the Red and Yellow power lines. Print out the color codes and take it back for another look. It should not come out of your pocket if the shop made an error.
As for the ground issue, when amping Aftermarket HU's, it's always a safe bet to use a dedicated ground for the HU. This typically guarantees a noise free install. (Engine noise, pops & clicks and ALT whine in the audio system)
FYI: If the grounding wire is not sufficient, the RCA cable grounds and antenna line can be forced to become a ground source. These wires are not intended for that purpose and you can wind up frying the new RCA lines.
There's a quick test to help. Simply remove all RCA lines from the amps and see if anything changes. (HU will not turn on or work properly as it's lost a ground) That's a quick way to tell if the amp(s) and RCA's are now the grounding source.
Good luck,
Swez
ttocs on 06/14/2009 10:26:34
what kind of car? I would double check everything you just did to see if there is anything strange. Sometimes when re-installing panes and screwing them back down you can pinch or short them out.
Unsion on 06/14/2009 13:29:13
This helps, thanks!
I will tell you why i wanted to replace the RCA wires in the first place. One of the speakers was going in and out and i found when i wiggled the wire right near the rca jack at the amp, the speaker crackled and went off. I figured the wires are broken inside and i didnt leave enough slack and bent the wires to sharply immediatelty after the actual plug in RCA. So i wanted to replace the wire. When i pulled out the radio i also noticed if i jiggle the radio or touch the RCA jack wires there, the same problems happen. I sure got some cheap red RCA wires. Is this unusual?
swez on 06/14/2009 14:02:17
Ill-fitting RCA's will do this as they use cheap plugs. Some of the better ones will bite into the jack and it takes a good twist and tug to remove them. (Cheaper claws = ill-fitting plugs) As they wobble, they lose connection and create crackes and static noises.
If the system has been in there a while, (A few years) it's good practice to rough up the jack outer sleeve with a wire toothbrush or sandpaper. That usually does enough to get a good, tight fit again.
As a last ditch option, one can use a small dollup of solder to secure the RCA claw to the jacks in HU and amplifer(s). This is the last resort and best done by someone who knows how to solder very well and the proper tools to do it right the 1st time.
Swez
i am having issues
Now, when u have the stereo on, if you open the drivers door the stereo shuts off! it also shuts off if I pull up on the parking brake!
Any thoughts
?
THx
Replies (7)
swez on 06/13/2009 16:53:31
Several newer vehicles have that delay feature which allows the radio to play after the key is turned off and removed from the IGN. Once the door opens, the power shuts off and so does the music.
Pulling up on the parking brake does activate another switch to let the driver know the brake is now activated. (Dummy light on dash)
I don't see a direct connection between these functions and installing new RCA wires only. The only thing I can think of at the moment is to reground the HU and outboard amps. (Dedicated ground to floorpan and bare metal at that)
What year, make and model is this vehicle? Also, what is the brand and model of your HU? (Radio/player)
Swez
Unsion on 06/13/2009 17:18:27
2001 VW Cabrio
Kenwood KDC x493
Maybe he plucked a ground and or a ground is now touching into something he moved around when attempting to feed the RCA up under the dash?!
Unsion on 06/13/2009 17:19:22
The car is still running when i open the door and the stereo shuts off
i have no such delay
:(
is it safe to say its a ground issue?
swez on 06/13/2009 18:33:47
There's something faulty in the wiring of this HU that may have little or nothing to do with the RCA's. Here's the wiring color code for a 2000 Cabrio. This may help whoever installed the HU, get things back on track again:
http://www.the12volt.com/installbay/stereodetail/2162.html
If you paid for the work and it was AOK on the way in and messed up on the way out, the installer overlooked something or miswired the Red and Yellow power lines. Print out the color codes and take it back for another look. It should not come out of your pocket if the shop made an error.
As for the ground issue, when amping Aftermarket HU's, it's always a safe bet to use a dedicated ground for the HU. This typically guarantees a noise free install. (Engine noise, pops & clicks and ALT whine in the audio system)
FYI: If the grounding wire is not sufficient, the RCA cable grounds and antenna line can be forced to become a ground source. These wires are not intended for that purpose and you can wind up frying the new RCA lines.
There's a quick test to help. Simply remove all RCA lines from the amps and see if anything changes. (HU will not turn on or work properly as it's lost a ground) That's a quick way to tell if the amp(s) and RCA's are now the grounding source.
Good luck,
Swez
ttocs on 06/14/2009 10:26:34
what kind of car? I would double check everything you just did to see if there is anything strange. Sometimes when re-installing panes and screwing them back down you can pinch or short them out.
Unsion on 06/14/2009 13:29:13
This helps, thanks!
I will tell you why i wanted to replace the RCA wires in the first place. One of the speakers was going in and out and i found when i wiggled the wire right near the rca jack at the amp, the speaker crackled and went off. I figured the wires are broken inside and i didnt leave enough slack and bent the wires to sharply immediatelty after the actual plug in RCA. So i wanted to replace the wire. When i pulled out the radio i also noticed if i jiggle the radio or touch the RCA jack wires there, the same problems happen. I sure got some cheap red RCA wires. Is this unusual?
swez on 06/14/2009 14:02:17
Ill-fitting RCA's will do this as they use cheap plugs. Some of the better ones will bite into the jack and it takes a good twist and tug to remove them. (Cheaper claws = ill-fitting plugs) As they wobble, they lose connection and create crackes and static noises.
If the system has been in there a while, (A few years) it's good practice to rough up the jack outer sleeve with a wire toothbrush or sandpaper. That usually does enough to get a good, tight fit again.
As a last ditch option, one can use a small dollup of solder to secure the RCA claw to the jacks in HU and amplifer(s). This is the last resort and best done by someone who knows how to solder very well and the proper tools to do it right the 1st time.
Swez
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