QuestionQUESTION: Hey,
So I've had a Sony explode HU for about a year now at least, no problems. 2 days ago, my buddy and I installed a Kicker TC10 with ZX300 amp in my 2000 Toyota Celica. All went well, sounded great, exactly what I wanted, but I thought the sub/amp assembly was heavy enough not to tip over... Yesterday, I took a corner at a decent, but not overly zealous speed and the sub w/ amp mounted on the back fell over, sub face down. When this happened the ground wire was not long enough to go with it and got pulled out and now the HU, sub and amp aren't working. My buddy and I rechecked every fuse and wire we could find and they were all good. Rewired the ground and all the connections between the HU, sub and amp, but still nothing on the HU or amp. No power, no sound, just nothing...
Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks.
ANSWER: Mike, Did you use the blue or blue/white wire coming from your HU to switch the sub amp on? That would be your problem. Most people use that wire to switch their amps on, and that is what they say the wire can be used for, but it is not a good idea. Whenever that wire is used for anything or even if it is not, it is very susceptible to shorting. When that wire is grounded for any reason, it burns up on the circuit board inside the radio. They do not use any type of fusing to protect the stereo, so it is a good idea to not use that wire for anything and make sure it is well insulated when installing. If you need a wire to switch on your sub amps, use the same yellow wire that is used for the stereo. It is fused, and it will not harm your HU if it gets shorted. Unfortunately, you will probably have to have the HU repaired. Hope this helps, Scott
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Yes, I was using that blue "remote" wire when it tipped, so I guess that's probably the cause. Do you know how much it will be to "fix" the HU? or even what? I tell who? when I bring it in where? That remote cable came with my wiring kit which said that is what it is used for, so should I call that company "scoche" or the play where I bought it (walmart)?? Also, if I shouldn't use that remote wire, how should I turn the amp on/off?? And what "yellow" wire are you referring to? There were no yellow ones, only a Red wire with an in-line fuse to power the amp. Besides all of thjose questions, what exactly happened to the head unit when the remote wire shorted? And what's the difference between a fused/un-fused wire and a well-insulated/non-insulated wire???
Sorry for all of the questions Scott, but I'd like to find out why my $$$ investment is about to cost me more $$$ =( Thanks.
ANSWER: It's no problem. Normally, there is just one little burn inside the HU, and if you take it in, they should charge between $50 and $100 to repair it. You can take it to any electronic repair shop. I would stay away from the install shops, because they will send it to the repair shop then add their own fee on top of that. Just tell the repairman that you think the remote wire shorted out the HU. He will know exactly what you are talking about. It is a very common problem. Unfortunately, the manufacturer or Walmart are not going to be any help. They will just say that you shouldn't have shorted that wire. When you wire up your HU, you use a wire harness that comes with the HU to wire the HU to your car. In that wire harness, there is a red (constant power) wire and a yellow (switched power) wire. Splice your switched power wire from your amp into the yellow wire for the HU. Then, whenever your HU is getting switched on, your amp is also. The blue remote wire is powered by the radio, but there is no fuse on the blue wire. You might put an inline fuse in the blue wire, but how big or how small of fuse do you need to keep from letting the short through to the HU. Who knows... that is why I never use that wire. Well-insulated means to wrap that wire up and put a bunch of electrical tape around it. Be sure you have all the bare wire covered very well, because you don't want that bare wire to touch any other piece of metal. The yellow wire going to the HU comes from the cars fuse block, and if you do short out that power wire as you did the blue wire, you will just blow a fuse in the fuse block. There will be no damage to the HU or any wires. This has been a problem with car stereos since I can remember, and I do not know why they don't fuse that wire, or isolate it somehow so it doesn't ruin the HU whenever it is shorted. I have learned this problem the hard way just like you, so don't feel bad. Any more questions, just ask. -Scott
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: What do you mean when you say electronic shops? Because I can't really think of any in town... can you give me some examples?? Thanks.
AnswerNormally, most towns will have a TV repair shop. Where the you take your tv to get repaired. That guy, normally, fixes any type of electronic problems. So, just look for the TV repair shop, and he should be able to repair your HU. If you were to contact a stereo install shop that sells new stereos, etc., they would just call the TV repairman to fix it, then charge you a little extra for their time. Good Luck, Scott
