Hey everyone, maybe you can help out. I recently installed an Alpine IDA-X100 in my 2004 s2000. Typically, at least once on my 15 minute trip to work the unit just powers itself off. I can turn it back on again, but the memory is cleared and all my bass / treble / date / time need reset. If I am lucky enough to make it to work without this happening, all of the aforementioned settings are remembered after a full days work when I return to my car.

I installed the head unit with the Honda - Alpine adapter harness and barrel crimp connectors. PWR and GND are supplied via factory harness. The first thing I did was cut and re-crimp the power and ground connections assuming there might have been an intermittent connection. This didn't help. Then I went ahead and replaced my battery that was dying anyways thinking it may not be able to supply enough power. The original battery was in fact tested bad, but even with a new battery I still have this intermittent power problem.

Now I am left wondering if I should run a dedicated GND behind the head unit to a freshly stripped part of the chassis. I have done this in the past with other cars. Is this typically required?

If that doesn't work I was thinking of trying a direct feed to the battery. I have been told Alpine units are power hungry, but what are the experiences of other S2K owners? Is this typically necessary?

Thanks in advance.

 

You should have a dedicated power and ground to the HU.

 

I ran a dedicated line (10 Amp, IIRC) as specified by Alpine (across back of engine compartment, in through driver-side grommet), threaded across above the a/c outlet to the HU). I grounded to a bolt near the HU, same as shown in some of the FAQ install threads.

 

Thank you for your response.

Direct ground should be easy.

For power I assume I can keep the accessory connection in the harness so that Radio turns off with car, but I must run the constant power with the inline fuse directly through firewall to battery? Is this because the Alpine is Power hungry or is this because the factory harness constant power is run with too thin a wire for all but stock radios? In other words Is this typical for aftermarket head unit installs on S2Ks? I ask because I have gone direct to battery for sub amplifiers but never for a head unit yet. But hey if it works, it is certainly worth my time. This intermittent power is annoying.

Thanks again.

 

Any and all aftermarket HUs should be installed with a dedicated +12V constant line.