problems!!!!

niks · Post by **niks** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 6:59 am

hey guys hooked the sub up and connected everything but im finding it keeps draining the battery. I wake up and the batteries just dead. Also had this problem with fitting a new headunit, im sure i got the connections correct!!!

whats the problem and how did you lot get round it????

its an alpine headunit and a vibe sub 300w amp

cheers

KarlM · Post by **KarlM** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 8:51 am

I'm presuming that the battery in your car is the one it left the factory with? so its a couple of years old.

Sounds to me like its just come to the end of its life. there could be other implications (like a faulty alternator not charging it up) but the most likely is a dead battery (especially if its over 5 years old).

Most batteries will last a bit longer than this but if you start putting a drain on it (ie the sub/amp) you shorten the life of it.

metz · Post by **metz** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 10:36 am

Drive round with the lights and radio for an hour or so, if the car starts when u get back i'd say the alternator is charging fine, so it will just be the battery that has come to the end of its life.

I had a simular problem with a previous car (ford...urghggh) but on mine it was some diode in the alternator.

simon pope · Post by **simon pope** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:04 am

have u checked that ta remote lead actually works iff not it will give constant power, i have hads to put an inline switch in mine to stop this happening, could be ya problem!!!!!

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 12:47 pm

or try one of those capacitor things
cant remem what its real name is

KarlM · Post by **KarlM** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 3:18 pm

Power Caps.

They are good for suppling power in short bursts to subs when they draw more current (drop a lower bass note)

They work by taking a small charge and storing it - when a big note is played they release the stored charge.

They wont really work in this situation because they will add a additional small consistant drain to the battery. You would need one of these if your lights were dimming

niks · Post by **niks** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 5:24 pm

cheers boys recon its the radio cause all the trouble started after i installed it. cause once i unplugged that and unpugged the sub current was back to normal around the battery when ignition off.

has anyone checked if current was running when the iginitons off and keys out. Checked mine yesterday and getting something like 39 on the reader so somethings draining it!!!!!

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Wed Jul 28, 2004 7:18 pm

SOunds like the "remote" wire is constantly on to me?

but i guess that would be too simple!

simon pope · Post by **simon pope** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 7:02 am

go into ya local halfords or wot eva is near u and buy a cheap switch cut the remote wire put the inline swith in and see wot happens if it stops there's ya problem!!!!!!!

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:41 am

I'g get a cheap mulitmeter from maplin first - then test the voltages in the wires....

simon pope · Post by **simon pope** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 10:18 am

remembering that the remote wire carries hardly and voltage its just a small signal, the best way would be to use a light detector u know the ones where u have a srew driver tipe jobbie with 2 wires neg and pos connect the neg to the body and the pos to the remote wire with the ignition on if the light comes on u have a current, then try it again with ignition off if the light doesnt come on then u are all good!!!!!! hope this helps

wul3er · Post by **wul3er** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 1:16 pm

Is the stereo definatley switching off when you pull the keys out the ignition.

Have you tried swaping the red and yellow wires around

niks · Post by **niks** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 3:24 pm

the stereo connected by iso blocks which i think is just straight forward the possible reasons i think could be:
1. got my wiring totally wrong (dont think so )
2. the remote lead is faulty
3. havent connected the sub properly to the remote lead
4. the stereo has to be switched off then remove the face i.e. the stereo constantly on standby
5. The sub and amp i bought are faulty (but doubtful)
6. Dogdy battery

what you lot recon
gonna need a current reader to test all the possibilties

gonna be a long weekend!!!!!

KarlM · Post by **KarlM** » Thu Jul 29, 2004 4:16 pm

double check all your wiring - including the earth.

Failing that there could be something more sinister - take it to your local specialist (theres only so much we can advise without seeing the car)

pettsy · Post by **pettsy** » Fri Jul 30, 2004 2:45 am

usually there are two connectors betwen the iso and head unit, these are red and yellow. they are switchable.

im guessing these may be the problem