Just installed my audio system. Disconnected all leads from battery. Wired up amp, headdeck and speakers. Connected all up. Put leads back on battery. After playing music for a bit tryed to start the car but wouldnt turn over, lights went dim. Tested battery voltage (13.7v). Tryed to start the car about 10 minutes later. Started up, audio works but my lights dont work. Brake lights, Reversing lights, high beams, indicators all work. But the dash lights and all the stuff that lights up when you turn your headlights on doesnt work.

Anyone know what it is? Fuse? After the advice of being able to disconnect the battery and everything be fine not working I don't really want to screw around with taking all the fuses out unless someone knows what they are talking about. There shouldnt be anything wrong with the wiring of the sound system as I am using a wiring kit that was already in the car and going.

*Fuse
*wires not connected properly
*or hope you didnt burn out a wire.

wear did you earth you head unit?

I earthed it onto a wire that the previous unit was on. Fatory earth? Tested it with a multimeter and it was earthed to the body.

Try your tail light fuses under the dash or one in the engine bay compartment.... In the engine bay it is one of the small tiny fuses.

Check yr fuses under the bonnet near the battery. Its marked for the parkers. If it blows again you probably earthed it to the lights. That black wire aint earth! I did that. Worked fine all day, except at night, no dash lights! Earth it to the body.

You must have connected one of your wires to the dimmer wire.

Hey

Thats a gay problem. I've never used a factory ground in any of the headunits i've installed, they're too shifty :P

Anyways, crimp a little ring terminal up to the ground cable on the headunit and screw it onto the chassis somewhere. There should be a wiring loom diagram on the forum somewhere, check it out. If i remember correctly, i think i had two wires left over after i hooked up my headunit. I'm assuming they were illumination and telephone mute. Tape/heatshrink them up so they don't ground or anything.

Check yoru fuses...

I did the same thing hooked my old HU up to the factory ground, same probs, but later found out that i had connected it to the dimmer

just do what eek says put a crimp terminal and attach it to the body works much better.

Tom

I earthed it onto a wire that the previous unit was on. Fatory earth? Tested it with a multimeter and it was earthed to the body.


yeah thats not a good earth.infact i think its the earth for the parkers and centre console lights.not sure tho.its a stupid thing,i made the same mistake.

just screw it to a different part of the chassie.

Thanks or the advice.

All working now.