Fuse blowing problems

[redterror302]

I've just recently starting having a problem with fuse 13 (I think). It's a 5 amp fuse thats for the dash lights and the radio lights. I never had the problem until I put in my new head unit the other day. The old one never blew it, but its shot so I can't put it back in.

If the radio is unplugged, the dash lights will work. The second I plug in the head unit though, the fuse blows. So obviously it has something to do with the head unit. Is there a wire in the harness that I can cut to kill the radio illumination so it stops drawing, since I don't need it anyway?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[slow93]

you should prolly recheck all of your connections on the head unit.it sounds to me like you have a hot and ground backwards.i have never seen a head unit that was hooked up correctly blow fuses like that

 

[2000xp8]

I'll assume that your stereo only blows the fuse when you turn it on right?

Because i think the stereo gets 2 circuits, One to keep power to it, so the memory stays, and the other to power the unit when you turn it on.

You can always run a new Hot wire (one that actually runs the stereo) and use an Add-a-fuse, it's not like you have to run the wire far.

But as suggested above, i'd check your hot/ground connections first, and make sure it's not shorting out somewhere.

 

[HISSIN50]

Did you use the illumination wire (orange or or/whi IIRC) when you connected your new radio? You can disconnect that wire at the back of the stereo and see what happens.

That circuit should be hot at all times, so you can see if it blows without having the deck on too.

Good luck.

 

[2000xp8]

Yeah, IMO never fudge with that illumiation wire.

 

[redterror302]

Well when I got my original head unit, I bought the wiring kit that just clipped together, and needed no splicing. The old head unit was a sony which gave me no problems. The new one is an aiwa, which has the same plug as sony's. So I didn't have to rewire anything, I just plugged it in.

I'm not sure whether it blows the fuse if the radio is turned off, I will have to check that again. I am pretty sure it does though.

Any suggestions? Is cutting the illumination wire a bad idea?

 

[HISSIN50]

Wait, did you check each deck's wiring order to ensure that each pin does the same thing? Just because the old connector fits does not mean that the pins are in the right spot (I dont know the relationship between Sony and Aiwa).

For example, if you had a pin for ground on the old deck now being inserted into a pin which should get power, that could cause issues.

I dont use the illumination wire on aftermarket decks. Be sure if you cut it that you tape/seal it up real well. Also, if using it after all, I put a 1 amp fuse on that wire - if an issue comes up, the 1 amper blows, you lose that wire (as if you never hooked it up), but it does not take out the dimmer circuit (your gauge lighting).

Good luck.

 

[redterror302]

Well I didn't realize it until I went to get a new harness and one of the installation guys told me it is the exact same harness. I might mess with it tomorrow, possibly pick up an inline fuse for the wire.

Thanks for the help.

Chris