Iv blown it twice...and every time it goes ouut my head unit gets no power. Could this be a ground problem? If so, what ground is it and where is it located?

 

you might have a short

are you using the accessory wire to power something strong?

 

Nope, i have a alpine head unit, amp, ipod adapter, and a JL 8" sub wired normally; it has worked fine (2 years) until a couple of days ago. I repaced the fuse thinking it was not a problem and the radio worked fine. Then it poped again. I repaced the fuse again and the system works but im keeping it off so i dont short something out. The car was in the body shop just before the problem (they were replacing a fender and the front bumper) that is why i think it may be a ground they may have painted over.

 

Some people have found little chunks of things hidden inside the socket (debris) that has caused shorts in the past. Open it up and check it out, but make sure you pull the fuse before sticking anything down there .

john

 

What socket?

 

ok, I have tried everything i can think of, short of pulling out the HU. I have no idea where or what the problem can be. HELP?!

 

The cigarette lighter under your passenger-side arm... if little metal bits get in there, it'll short and pop the fuse. I would consider wiggling some wire harnesses looking for a short, or disconnecting the amp for a while, see if that changes anything. Essentially, remove everything connected to the ACC circuit and work your way back up.

 

what is powering the amp and radio? are they on the same circuit. Where is the trigger wire for the amp run? have you checked that for a short. When you replace the fuse does the entire system play? what size wire are you using for the amp, and what kind and model amp is it.
if the radio and amp are powered on different runs (they should be) is the amp connected directly to the battery or through the facory fuse box, does the amp line have it's own fuse?

ok answer these and they might give us an idea of what's going on

Mitch

 

I have not checked for a short but i will try the lighter thing. When i replace the fuse the entire system plays normally. The battery has a huge fuse running from it and thats ok too. THe amp ipod adapter and head unit are all alpine, im not shure of the model numbers and wire sizes tho. Thanks for the help mitch and every one else. I appreciate it.