Car Stereos: 2002 Trailblazer installed 2 12 subs, kicker subs, stock stereo

Question
I have a 2002 Trailblazer with the stock stereo and installed 2 12' kicker subs CVR kickers with 1600 watts total and a lanzer 1600 watt apps.

After I listened to the stereo a few times, the car won't start now.  After jumping the battery, it runs fine.  I can turn off the car for a few hours and it still starts but over night, it's dead again.

Do I just need a new battery, or do I need heavy wiring on the batteries, or are the subs too much power for my alternator?

Please help.  My mom says I ruined the car with this setup.

Thanks, Brady

Answer
Hi Brady,

From your description of the problem, I don't think the issue is with the alternator.  Instead, it sounds like you have a parasitic drain. In other words, something is continuing to draw power from the battery after you turn the key off.  The most likely explanation is that the new amplifier isn't turning off with the vehicle.

When the amplifier was wired, you would have installed a "remote" wire, which tells the amp when to turn on and off.  This is usually connected right next to the main power and ground terminals.  When you have an after-market head unit, the other end of the wire is connected to the head unit's remote output; but your factory radio doesn't have such an output.  In this case you need to connect the amp's remote wire to a key-switched power source.  

If your remote wire isn't connected to a power source that turns off with the key, then the amplifier will stay on while the vehicle isn't running.  If there's a power indicator light glowing on the amplifier after you turn off the key and open the door, then the amplifier is staying on, and it's draining the battery.  If this is happening, then you need to find a different place to connect your remote wire which will turn the amp on and off with the key switch.

If you're not seeing a power light on the amp while the vehicle is shut down, then it's possible that there's an internal problem with the amplifier, or a short somewhere that's draining your battery.  Try removing the main fuse from the amp's power wire near the battery next time you park the truck for the night.  If you're able to start it the next day, then it's very likely that there's some sort of battery drain problem caused by your amp or amp wiring.  If this is the case, a new battery won't fix the problem, and neither would an alternator upgrade.  You need to find out what's causing the current drain and repair it.

Hope this helps!

Brian