Stereo/Radio issues, poor ground? Battery? Alternator?

[ClipseAPG]

Hey, I have an electrical issue and am wondering if this ground could have anything to do with it? My 2g hasn't been up and running for about almost a year but it'll be good to go in a week or so and I want everything running. I have an aftermarket previous owner-installed head unit. I don't quite remember 100% but I know the sound would just randomly cut off. If I turned it up too high then it would cut off like a skipping CD although the HU would just turn off and turn back on and sometimes it would cut off, turn on for a second, cut off again, for like 30-40 seconds until it finally worked again or I turned the volume way down. The same happened for when I switched from mp3 input or CD to radio although the volume would usually have to have been louder for it to occur with radio. I didn't have to have the engine running and it would still cut off so i think that eliminates the possibility of a loose terminal, also I wire brushed the terminals clean so that should make sure to eradicate that as a possible cause. I'm concerned about grounds though, because the previous owner did a "mickey mouse job" on the car's electrical system so maybe a ground is causing it to short randomly. Could the wire that was once supposed to be grounded to the passenger-side firewall cause it? I included a picture although I'm not sure it will work on the site. Also, I know it very well may be the alternator, but I want to eliminate the poor wiring of the HU or electrical system in general first and then go to the alternator. I know this was long, so I'm sorry. But I appreciate any response in advance!

 

[L0ckett]

I had a similar issue with an old head unit of mine. If I turned the volume up too high then the head unit would shut off and come back on. Try taking the unit out, rewiring it making sure you use crimp connectors, not electrical tape, and reinstalling it. if it's still acting up then either you have an issue with the previous hack job wiring or a faulty head unit.

You could possibly try borrowing a head unit from a friend and hook it up. If the issue continues then obviously you have bigger issues on your hands.

 

[BIRDCLAWTSi]

I had an amp do that a long time ago, It was a bad ground , the amp would get hot and clip. I wonder if it is a similar issue. +1 on pulling the deck and rewireing it right. There is nothing wrong with extra grounds either.

 

[ClipseAPG]

Does the unit need to have it's case grounded? or is the black ground wire on the harness the only direct ground the head unit has? I'm going to crimp all wire connections tomorrow. But if there's more than one ground from the unit (being that one on the harness that plugs into the HU), then maybe that's what iti s?

 

[SrKegler]

I just had the same problem in my car. Took it to a electronic shop and they told me it was bad speakers. Supposedly feedback was tripping a safety circuit in the radio. Replaced speakers and problem went away. Try disconnecting speakers one at a time and see if that solves the problem.

Of course, when you are dealing with electrical problems it could be anything causing it.

 

[x-kiwi-x]

If your gonna go through the trouble to re-wire it, atleast do it right and use solder and shrink wrap. crimp connectors are a cheap fast way for shops to get you in and out, on your own car id say do it right.

 

[johnovision27]

Had the same problem. I almost guarantee it's a grounding issue. I just drilled a little hole into metal casing (not to sure what else to call it... i'm having a brain fart day), and attached my ground to that. Haven't had a problem since. I did this for just a head unit in my GSX and GS. I pound the crap out of the GS stereo and it's never turned off. The amps overheat before it turns off

 

[ClipseAPG]

Alright, if i can get my hands on a soldering gun, then i'll be doing that today, if I can't, then I'll be crimping the connections as I already have the crimps and have no extra funds to buy a soldering gun. With that aside, it concerns me to have to "ghetto-rig" a ground. If it works and there's no other reasonably easy way to do it (my interior is half-gutted and my engine bay is half empty so most wiring is quite easy to get to) then I'll ground the head unit case to the body, however, is there a more professional way to do it? I'm sure JVC (it's a relatively crappy aftermarket head unit, I know) doesn't expect all of their customers to buy this HU and have to improvise a ground so what would be the right way? And is there only supposed to be the one ground that plugs in from the HU to the harness or am I missing one? Also, I'll be testing each speaker out as soon as my clutch swap is done.

 

[BIRDCLAWTSi]

There should only be one ground for the deck. I usually ground it to the metal around where the deck goes.

 

[johnovision27]

Yea man, remember K.I.S.S. Just put that black wire somewhere on the chassy. And remember to scrape the paint off!

 

[ClipseAPG]

I found a picture of the ground which the previous owner of my car decided to rid himself of. My car no longer has a wire going from the battery going to this ground at the chassis. Could this explain some of my problems?

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[steve]

That's the main chassis ground and not optional.

 

[ClipseAPG]

Good to know, the battery was only ground to the block so it looks like I know what I'll be doing. To clarify, is it safe to assume that having the electrical system ground only to the block may have been the bigger issue?

 

[x-kiwi-x]

possible. Hook up that ground again and should help hopefully.