Car Stereo/Electrical problems...please help!

[kmac1914]

Okay, so i was doing a stereo install on a 95 mazda protege. The car has an amp/subwoofer setup that was previously installed--i was just basically taking out the old aftermarket stereo and putting in a newer one. The install went fine, and everything was working well for several days afterwards. However, one morning i went out to start the car and it wouldn't crank. No clicking sounds or anything. I did notice that after i attempted to start the car, the lights on the stereo were blinking rapidly, and if i tried to turn on the headlights or interior lights, the blinking would stop for a minute, then start back up again.

I disconnected the negative terminal from the battery not knowing what else to do and left it for a couple of hours. When i came back and reconnected it, the car started like nothing was wrong! I've had the battery tested, and was told that it tested fine. However, the same thing will randomly happen from time to time--and what makes it bad is that the car will run with no problems for days and weeks even, then one day you get in to start it and BAM! nothing.

I had the alternator replaced a few months back, so i dont THINK that's what it is, but i'm hardly an expert on the topic. Does anyone have any idea what it could be or how i might check to diagnose the cause of the problem?


Cliffs:
-installed new stereo
-everything worked fine for a week, then suddenly car wouldn't start
-disconnected battery for a couple hours, car starts again
-lights on stereo blink rapidly after i try to start car.

help?

 

[minendo]

How is the remote wire installed?

 

[kmac1914]

The remote wire is run from the amp->harness->stereo alongside the RCA cables (underneath the trim) assumin i'm understanding the question correctly.

 

[jamesbond007]

Did you check the fuse coming off the battery for the stereo power to make sure it's not shorting or grounding out somewhere? I'd also check your grounds for the amp and the alternator connections as well. It sounds like a loose cable...

Might wanna start running through the car with a multimeter!

 

[QueBert]

if disconnecting the negative works, you have a drain somewhere. Get a Volt meter and test your car with it off.

take the negative cable off the battery, connect 1 of the testing probes to the battery terminal and one to the cable. Then start pulling fuses one by one until you see the volt meter drop. I had this problem with my car stereo a few years ago and it was hell to fix.

my problem ended up being it was wired wrong to the deck and the remote wire wasn't cutting off the power when I'd shut my car off. For about a month I disconnected my battery every night so it would start the next morning

good luck on this, electrical in cars can a royal bitch to figure out.

 

[dug777]

My radio & clock stopped working a few months back in my 323.

Sometimes the clock will light up when you turn the headlights on & off, and the (stock) head unit lights up and changes radio station, but shows every single frequency as a station. No noise from the speakers, not even static.

I guess some wires somewhere finally rubbed together & are shorting something, the car is 20 next year