where to pick up power for ICE - FIXED!

Post Sat Nov 18, 2006 6:23 pm

The power source for my stereo doesn't seem to be able to supply enought current. The radio dies if the volumes turned up a third of the way (it's just a 25W+25W system), and I'm playing a CD, it dies at even lower volumes, particularly if the bass is turned up.

My guess is there's a poor connection somewhere along the way and the resistance reduces the available current. If I turn the side or headlights on I can't turn on the stereo. I've tried different stereos but the problem reoccurs.

My question is.. If I'm to rewire, where is a good alternative place to pick up power, and a good earthing point? I ssume I can connect to the back of eg the rear heater switch or similar. Could anyone suggest where and what colour wires I'm looking for? Maybe I'm wrong about the bad connection in the existing wiring - let me know if you have any other suggestions.

The existing power consists of a red, yellow and a green wire which come from one of the electrical connector blocks behind the glove box. Incidentally, is this the standard set up?

Help would really be appreciated. As I mentioned before, the stereo won't switch on if the headlights are on. Now it's winter I'm driving in the dark for two hours a day, and the lack of tunes is really starting to get me down!

Need your wheels refurbed then look here · Post Sat Nov 18, 2006 6:44 pm

Take the live from the batt with a in line fuse and then get a good earth point and sand the paint a way to get a even better one

Hope this helps

P.s is your batt getting charged propley

Post Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:01 pm

Thanks Carlos, will do as you've suggested.

Not had any bettery charging problems as far as I can tell, eg the engine turns over well when starting, headlights don't dim when idling.

Post Sun Nov 19, 2006 6:11 pm

the stereo wires are normaly in the same wiring cig lighter,interior light, side light but don't quote me on that, it's something like that tho. the fuse for them is normaly 10, you can use the same earth you got and probably the same ignition-on live aswell, just wire in a fresh live from the batt and as carlos says, fuse it.

Post Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:10 pm

FIXED! Turned out the "earth" I'd used for the stereo wasn't in fact an earth. The wire I should have been using had been snipped by a previous owner. Explained in this thread

Need your wheels refurbed then look here · Post Sat Dec 02, 2006 11:20 pm

Glad you got it all sorted mate