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View Full Version : Any car audio guys on here? I need some help!!!


yzaddict106
09-09-2008, 09:20 PM
Hey guys,

Here is the scenario:
I have a 1995 GMC Sierra 1500 truck. My Audio System consists of 2 Kicker 6 1/2's and 2 kicker 6x9's that are run by a 400w amp, along with 2 Kicker Comp CV12's run off a Sony 1200w amp. It orignally had an outdated JVC deck that consisted of nothing more then an AM/FM sterio and a crappy CD player. The deck itself only had 1 set RCA output jacks.

Last night the JVC deck completely crapped out on me and instead of trying to fix it I said screw it, I'm just gonna drop the $150 for a new deck. The JVC deck was going on 6 years old and clearly the weakest point in my audio system.

So I jumped online last night and decided to go with the Pioneer DEH-P30001B: www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Source/CD-Players/DEH-P3000IB (http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/Source/CD-Players/DEH-P3000IB). I went by Best Buy after work today and picked up the deck, an ipod ouput cable, and a second set of RCA's since this deck has 2 output's versus the single output of my JVC.

So I get home and get to work. I pull out the JVC and disconnect my JVC wiring harness, route my 2nd set of RCA's from the deck to the 2nd amp (which pushes the subs), routed my ipod cable and set to work on rewiring the new Pioneer wiring harness. I hit a few road blocks on the way...accidentally matching up the grey with the light purple and such, but eventually get it all squared away. The deck turns on and music is playing. I am golden.

However, I notice two things: niether of my amps are getting power, and only the fron 2 speakers are playing music. I go back through everything and realize I made a stupd mistake- I had the power for the amps disconnected from the battery. Hook it back up, and I expect crisp, clear, happy music coming straight from my truck. What do I get? The exact opposite.

I turn the truck on, turn the deck on and hear a ton of static- high pitched and really loud. I turn the volume down and switch stations and nothing changes. At this point my ears are killing me and I unplug the wiring harness form the rear of the deck.

I look back over my connections and the only thing I could find that might have been the problem was that the RCA coming from the Speaker's amp was connected to the Rear/Subwoofer output and the Sub amp was connected to the front speaker output. I switch them back, unplug the power from the battery that leads to the amps (just so I can get back to the last point I heard music) and, once again, expect nothing less of blissful music in my ears.

I turn the truck on, and go to turn the power on for the deck and I get nothing. The power refuses to turn on. I unplug everything and check the fuse on the deck- blown. I replace the fuse and, for the third time, expect music.
Once again nothing. At this point I am baffled. I check my fusebox under the hood and all seems fine, and I check the fusebox next to the door and I find another problem. The radio fuse is also blown. I replace this one as well.

At this point I dont even expect to hear anything; and i dont. I recheck the fuse on the deck and it's good, check the fuse in the fuseboxes and they're good, and i check any fuse that is related to the amps and they're good as well.
And now I'm stuck. All fuses, from what I can tell, are in proper working order but it seems I am not getting power to my wiring harness. I try swiping the yellow power wire against the ground to look for a spark and I get nothing. The deck still refuses to turn on.

I plan on taking by Best Buy tomorrow and just letting them install it, but i would really like to see if any of you have ran across this problem in the past or might have an idea what might be wrong. The only thing i can think is that i may have burnt a wire in the harness or burnt up the deck itself, but I really dont see that being the case.

Any insight at all??

I really appreciate any feedback.

DJ

ryan_625
09-09-2008, 09:30 PM
I would start with rechecking the routing to everything. If you have it get the guide to your wiring harness and go over each wire then do the same for the amps. i would also make sure rca's are on outputs and not inputs...ive seen it done :lol:
next to that I wouldnt know where to start without seeing it. Im no expert but ive wired up 4 vehicles now

Demon
09-09-2008, 09:34 PM
http://www.xghozt.com/site/Gallery/images/tldr.jpg

yzaddict106
09-09-2008, 09:38 PM
Ive got power wires: Red to Red, Yellow to Yellow
Ive got a ground wire: Black to Black
I've got a remote wire: Blue to Blue
I've got my left speaker wires: White to White, White/Black to White/Black
I've got my right speaker wires: Grey to Grey, Grey/Black to Grey/Black
I've got my left sub wires: Green to Green, Green/Black to Green/Black
I've got my right sub wires: Purple to Purple, Purple/Black to Purple/Black

All this was set up without the amps plugged in and got sound. I power up the amps and it blows fuses (which I replaced) and the deck wont even turn on. It doesn't seem to be a wiring issue...it seems to be a power issue. I'm loosing power somewhere between the battery and the head unit, even though all the fuse's I could find were replaced.

ryan_625
09-10-2008, 12:41 AM
drawing too much power? i dont know man

CR125guy
09-10-2008, 08:50 AM
Ya it sounds like you are drawing too much power. Make sure you don't have a short somewhere. You sure your cars electrical system is hefty enough to handle everything? check the cars fuse box and make sure all the fuses are good. Don't substitute fuses rated for higher amperage. Could be the head unit is blown. I've had similar problems in the past but was able to hook my head unit up to a 12v power supply from a computer to test it. But don't do that unless you know what you are doing. There has to be wire or fusible link somewhere that got fried. Re-check every inch of wire, and every connection. did you solder the Head unit wiring to the cars wire harness or just electrical tape it together? I would make sure those connections are solid. An overload can melt and disconnect a soldered connection. Good luck.

yzaddict106
09-10-2008, 08:58 AM
The speaker wires along with the red wire are electrical taped together, the ground and the yellow are put together with those twist on caps. All the wiring from the harness back was the original wiring from the previous head unit. I replaced the fuses with the same size fuse so I doubt its that. Plus after i replaced the fuses and turn the car on the head unit would still not turn on, but the replaced fuses were still in tact. I'm hoping I can run it by Best Buy and they'll just charge me the normal $49.95 to fix it. gah. this sucks.

RideRed193
09-10-2008, 06:29 PM
If you're not getting any power from the yellow, just run a wire directly from the postive terminal on your battery to the deck. Same thing happened to me.

Also, you said that the red wire is electrical taped. Put a twist connector on there. It's a switched 12v power supply, so might as well have a better connector on there.

Falcon991
09-11-2008, 05:49 PM
If you're not getting any power from the yellow, just run a wire directly from the postive terminal on your battery to the deck. Same thing happened to me.

Also, you said that the red wire is electrical taped. Put a twist connector on there. It's a switched 12v power supply, so might as well have a better connector on there.

-Agreed. But make sure there is an inline fuse on that 12v from the battery. You should definitely invest in some crimp-style connectors, especially for the power connections.

-Make sure you have the "keyed" power going to your amps and heat unit. They all have to know to turn on when you turn on the car.

-Make sure your ground is solid. I have a friend who grounds the amps directly to the chassis underneath the carpet. (Don't drill holes in your gas tank!)

Good luck!

LEE3383
09-11-2008, 07:02 PM
A few things....

Some chevy's and GMC's don't allow you to change the deck without buying some special thing that tricks the computer into thinking it is a stock deck.

I had a similiar problem. I installed my deck and it wouldnt turn on. It would also make my guages go crazy (speed, rpm, etc.)

Basically you have to take your AC power source (gets power when you turn the key) from a different location.

Example, I tapped into my running lights AC wire. Some how this bypassed the computer and my deck turned on.

I have done quit a few installs but it is hard to see whats going on without actually seeing it.

A pioneer deck has many settings and some can affect what channel is turned on and off for example. Read the manual carefully. I remember I had to hold a button for a few seconds (with deck off) to get into a special settings menu. There are a few settings in there that if not properly set, will give you no output.

If you draw up a diagram in paint shop showing your setup I could probably help you.

I would just suggest taking it to the shop and watch them fix it so you can learn.

There are many different ways to install a system so without knowing exackly how yours is set up, I can't help much.

Your amps should power on as soon as you turn your key. if no light is coming off the amp, you might have a bigger problem.

Do both amps not have power? How do you know they dont have power? Just cause no music is playing?

You can get a meter and test the + and - of each channel to make sure it has power. If the amps have power, and the speakers are hooked up to the amp, it must be your deck.

I have a feeling you either didn't hook up your deck right (wrong wires) or you have to change a few settings on the deck to play with your configuration.

It could also be that the new deck has more RCA outputs than your last one and you need to change the settings on the amps to the proper config.

Make sure your sub amp is on low pass and your speakers on bandpass or hi pass.

anyways, good luck.

RideRed193
09-11-2008, 07:05 PM
-Make sure your ground is solid. I have a friend who grounds the amps directly to the chassis underneath the carpet. (Don't drill holes in your gas tank!)


I took out a seat mounting bolt and grounded my amp to the chassis there, put the bolt back in. Ran the wire under my carpet back to the amp. Real easy and clean looking too :thumbsup: