Hey Guys

I have instaled a 220w sony Xplod amp with sony Xplod sub. It runs fine but when the sub is connected to the battery i can not start my car. When you disconnect the sub from the battery the car starts fine? I think i have wired it up properly

+12v Red Cord From Amp +12v spot to + side on the battery
Ground is to a bolt in my boot
Speaker in + and - are both to the sub
Sub Control From amp to the head unit
Input from amp to back of head unit

any ideas why this is happening

You didn't remove any wires from the +ive terminal of the battery to connect the amp did you?

I dont think so, what would that do

Maybe recheck the positive terminal on the battery (wiring)
Other then that I can't see why your car wont start

Maybe recheck the positive terminal on the battery (wiring)
Other then that I can't see why your car wont start

it starts when you take of the Sub Power wire off

EDIT: If the amp isnt grounded in a good enough spot would this cause it, When i try to turn the car on with the amp and sub connected its like when you have a flat battery? but then you disconnet it from the battery and its fine

possibly just recheck your wiring make sure there's no slight cuts in the wire

possibly just recheck your wiring make sure there's no slight cuts in the wire

Yeah i will go over it all again

it starts when you take of the Sub Power wire off

EDIT: If the amp isnt grounded in a good enough spot would this cause it, When i try to turn the car on with the amp and sub connected its like when you have a flat battery? but then you disconnet it from the battery and its fine

No in this case the amp will not turn on
Your sub power wire might not be making a proper contact to the battery terminal, how did you attach the wire to the terminal?

No in this case the amp will not turn on
Your sub power wire might not be making a proper contact to the battery terminal, how did you attach the wire to the terminal?

With the connetors circle connecters that came with the wiring kit. The connecter is underneath the head of the bolt that keeps the battery lead on

Maybe show us a pic of your connection to battery? Have you got an inline fuse? What size fuse? What size wire is it? If you have crimped all your conections on yourself check they are in contact properly and not crimped on the wire cover.

Any chance of a pic of the terminal with the wire connected?

Yeh i have a Inline fuse its 40 and i think its 4g wire

ill see if i can get a pic now

When the Sub n Amp are connected turn your car to the ACC position. Do you get sound from your sub at all?
Also where you have your ground have you got it connected to bare metal?

Also pics of amp connections and wires on the head unit might help.

Does the amp power up at all when connected? (turn key to ACC)

Does the amp power up at all when connected? (turn key to ACC)

yeh sub and amp work with its on acc its just the car wont start

dead battery....

Mr_Roberto could the 40 amp fuse be to big that its drawing to much power away? Just thought i would throw it out there, I dont even know what size fuse is in mine. lol

dead battery....

cant be when i disconnect the sub from the battery the car starts

sorry only photo i could get

http://i648.photobucket.com/albums/uu203/TS_Boy/101_0085.jpg

Have you tried to start the car with it all conected and the stereo turned off. if it starts with the stereo off it would suggest that your battery would be on its way out.

When the Sub n Amp are connected turn your car to the ACC position. Do you get sound from your sub at all?
Also where you have your ground have you got it connected to bare metal?

that might be the problem i have to grounded to a bolt that was already in the boot, and i think its painted

that might be the problem i have to grounded to a bolt that was already in the boot, and i think its painted

How long is your ground cable? shorter is better. got some sand paper? I dont think that would cause your problems but is better to do it properly.

its to the bolt that holds the child seat its right in the middle of the boot and my amp is mounted on the wall next to the back seats

Mr_Roberto could the 40 amp fuse be to big that its drawing to much power away? Just thought i would throw it out there, I dont even know what size fuse is in mine. lol
No, the main fuse in the engine bay needs to be alittle bit bigger then the amps on the amp
Might not be big enough tho

Have you tried to start the car with it all conected and the stereo turned off. if it starts with the stereo off it would suggest that your battery would be on its way out.

Yeh my battery is about 13 years old. Ill try that tomorow its to dark to reconnect the sub power to the amp and the battery

How long is your ground cable? shorter is better. got some sand paper? I dont think that would cause your problems but is better to do it properly.
If its a faulty ground the amp will not work

its to the bolt that holds the child seat its right in the middle of the boot and my amp is mounted on the wall next to the back seats

Is that bolt the one in the parcel shelf? If it is you need to find a better ground spot on the car body.

Is that bolt the one in the parcel shelf? If it is you need to find a better ground spot on the car body.

yeah it is that bolt ill try and find a better one

If its a faulty ground the amp will not work

I do realize this, but i just thought i would make sure its all hooked up properly.

Yeh my battery is about 13 years old. Ill try that tomorow its to dark to reconnect the sub power to the amp and the battery
Your batteries 13 years old?? OMG how is it still alive?

What's the model number of the amp? Wanna see how many amps it has

Your batteries 13 years old?? OMG how is it still alive?

Yeah somthing like 10-13

your battery is dead only retains enough charge to start car not power 2 things at once

ok so it can be :

Cut wires
Bad ground point
Dieing battery
Bad battery connection

Ill check all of these tomorow and i hope one of those are the problem

I reckon battery in this case
Get it load tested

ok so it can be :

Cut wires - Possible. Check where you have gone through the firewall at the wires.
Bad ground point - No. but needs to be better.
Dieing battery - Most Likely. Check what amps you get with car off and car on lights on.
Bad battery connection - Looks ok.

Ill check all of these tomorow and i hope one of those are the problem

load tested?

I would advise getting a new battery terminal for it. You can get cheap ones off ebay for around $15. That way you not stressing the tiny stock terminal

load tested?

Yes, see's if the battery can handle alot of strain (like on startup)


I would advise getting a new battery terminal for it. You can get cheap ones off ebay for around $15. That way you not stressing the tiny stock terminal

Stock terminal is fine, I've had mine similar to that for about 2 years with no problems
I had 0ga power wire too, only got new terminals as I striped the negitive

I'll throw in another 2 cents worth of guesses:
How is the "remote" (blue?) wire on the amp connected? (at the Amp's, there's normally 3 connections for power: +, -, Remote)
It should run from a remote or antenna connection on the head unit to the amplifier's remote connection.
This tells the amp to be "on" when it has a 12V+ signal. Normally the headunit will NOT supply power down here when you are trying to start the car.
Similarly, if the headunit is wired correctly, when you try to start the car it should switch off.

So check the wiring of the remote and the 12V+ ON connection for the headunit.

I'm really suprised by the description of this problem though. For the Amp to put such a draw on the electrical system sounds weird.

Oggy.

Why has nobody suggested that he gets a cheap multimeter and test voltages?

My first check would be battery voltage at rest, then acc, then with stereo on (but with volume turned all the way down).

But if the battery's as old as you say it is, I'd be replacing it before any diagnostic work is continued.

Why has nobody suggested that he gets a cheap multimeter and test voltages?

My first check would be battery voltage at rest, then acc, then with stereo on (but with volume turned all the way down).

But if the battery's as old as you say it is, I'd be replacing it before any diagnostic work is continued.
Well we didnt know about the battery till about half way through the thread
Which is why I said for it to be tested but more then likely just replace it

If you do end up needing a battery do keep in mind that my optima group buy is still running for another week.

I would be looking at the batttery... :think:

Ok so this morning i had the car on ACC and i turned of the stereo and the car started fine. It is my battery and i will be buying new one

Your batteries 13 years old?? OMG how is it still alive?

What's the model number of the amp? Wanna see how many amps it has

xm-220