Stereo Install Help

[topherD]

I just received my new stereo and cannot get it to work! I have come to two guesses...

1) The ground is not strong enough (spliced into factory stereo's ground)2) I read someone else had trouble getting their stereo to work because the antenna was not fully plugged in...I forgot to order the adapter with mine, so mine is not plugged in at all.

Other than those two, everything is where it should be! I'm so frustrated!

[CodeRed]

Well, whats not working.

The whole thing or just the FM/AM? More info please.

[topherD]

Sorry I left so much out I was in a hurry.

The entire unit will not power on. It is a Dual XDVD8285. For some reason, I can only get it to turn on if both the accessory wire and constant power wire are touching the constant 12 volt source. But when the accessory wire is touching harness accessory wire, the unit will not turn on. I'm beginning to think it might be the harness that Sonic sent me which says on the website "For 2007 and up Nissan cars".

Sorry if I left anything else out, I really have to go to work now.

[rdsworks]

Hey,

I just installed my system (deck, amp, sub) and had a similar problem. if you look directly down from where the deck goes you can see some metal... if you get a bolt and nut and attach the deck's ground to it, your problem should be solved.

it looks like a "L" with some holes on it. hope that helps

btw, I don't have my attenta hooked up and everything (except radio) works

[weems84]

using the factory ground wire didn't work for me either. The four screws where the stereo is bolted in to the car is what i used as a ground. Its weird i didn't even place a wire there. If i bolt in the stereo completely it works fine if i unbolt it, it won't power up.

[rdsworks]

What you used isn't a reliable ground... they do not come into contact this the body of the car... just connect the ground to one of the metal parts on top of the gas pedal (they are silver metal)

[xtwoonamatchx]

just take your headunit's ground wire and put it under the screws that hold it in... thats what i did and it worked flawlessly...

[topherD]

Okay so I tried grounding to the brackets that secure the deck...then all of a sudden the unit momentarily turns on, but turns back off right away. Then, I hear some sparks...uh-oh. I do some tests and I believe the factory harness got shorted. So I'm gonna go to Fry's in the morning and see if they can help me out at all.

[topherD]

Alright, I think I figured out the problem.

I grounded directly to the chasis and used the power wire that goes to my amp, but still the receiver would not power on. My guess is that the switched ignition wire is not working. I want to make sure this is the case with a volt meter, which should show 12 volts when the key is turned to accessory, right? And if that is the case does anyone know where I can find another switched ignition wire?

[rdsworks]

Connect the positive side to the Thicker Orange/Brown wire, and the negative to the ground you are using.

[topherD]

Okay well I'm an idiot...Turns out that the audio/mirror fuse was blown this whole time. I found this out when I was trying to adjust my mirrors and they didn't work. So I replaced the fuse and voila! Will post pictures when I have time on a new thread.

[rdsworks]

you must have caused a short when you spliced into the factory ground.... what did you use to do this? was the car on?

[topherD]

I used the standard crimping tool with the wire cutters and strippers on it...the car wasn't on, but I did forget to remove the ground from my battery.