Need Help Figuring this out

[CanadianHiFive2]

Ok so today, I was at the local audio store looking at some stuff and when i went to my car the door opened with the auto key and then when i go to start the ignition, car wont start! I wait 2 minutes and nothing still. The only thing i have hooked up to my battery is a 200 Watt amp. I went and unhooked the amp and the car started! What could be going on? The amp is wired so that it only turns on when the head unit turns on and im using an 8 guage wire to hook it up from the + end of the battery to the amp

Any ideas

[Tamago]

double check your grounds.. did you fuse the power wire going to the amp?

[CanadianHiFive2]

Ya there is a 60A fuse running close to the battery and the ground is connected to a screw i found in my trunk

[wsladaritz]

Did you sand the area around that screw for the ground? May not be getting good contact if there's paint in the way.

[CanadianHiFive2]

I believe it is grounded properly cause this only happened twice so far and the amp has been in there for 4 months

[CanadianHiFive2]

would it be possible that water was touching the positive part of the battery and shorting it out?

[wsladaritz]

maybe... i'm not really sure about that though. It would have to be enough water to allow the positive and negative sides to touch... i think.

[CanadianHiFive2]

ok so it happened again today except i actually needed a boost to get it started and then when i shut it off i needed another boost! Im starting to think i need a new battery? What do u think any suggestions on a specific type

[battleversiontc]

i think you need a new battery or alt not working so good

[sqcomp]

Take the fuse out of the power line on the amplifier so that it doesn't turn on. If you're at an audio shop, they should have a battery charger hanging around somewhere. What I'd do is to ask them to hook up the car's battery and charge it for a while. Now, if you take the car off the charger and it dies after a little while AFTER YOU ARE ABLE TO TURN THE ENGINE OVER...you'll probably notice that you have a nasty rough idle...your alternator is dead.

The dealership SHOULD be able to replace the alternator under warranty. Just make sure they know that the sound system is fused and grounded properly so they can't bite you in the a$$ saying that it was the system that caused the alternator failiure. I honestly can't see a Toyota dealer doing that the first time you bring it in though.

[wsladaritz]

The dealership SHOULD be able to replace the alternator under warranty. Just make sure they know that the sound system is fused and grounded properly so they can't bite you in the a$$ saying that it was the system that caused the alternator failiure. I honestly can't see a Toyota dealer doing that the first time you bring it in though.

I can see that happening... I don't what toyota is like elsewhere, but here in East Texas they're a bunch a douche bags! It took me four trips up there after I bought my car to finally figure out they weren't gonna help me with shit after they made the sale... I kept thinking if I talked to a different person up there they would be more helpful or understanding. I was wrong :frown:

Sorry... not tryin to hijack the thread!

*climbs down off soap box*

[wsladaritz]

do what sqcomp said though, I think he's got the right idea.

[sqcomp]

That $ucks to hear about the dealership! You should run the car through the front window of the dealership and start taking hostages!

Juuuuuuuuuuusst kidding.

[wsladaritz]

That $ucks to hear about the dealership! You should run the car through the front window of the dealership and start taking hostages!

Juuuuuuuuuuusst kidding.

:eek: hmmm.... that sounds like it might be fun! If there was like a rewind button or something :thumbup:

[sqcomp]

hey Canadian...

What is the fuse rating on the amplifier? Aside from that it really sounds like your alternator quit on you.