Stereo Problem HELP!

[Paarman]

Okay, I know some of you are well aware with my electrical issue, but it is driving me beyond insane right now. I was going to go through a drive-thru last night, but ended up having to back out forgetting that my windows wouldnt work because they were acting up, and 2.5 hours in a car without music is a loooong *** ride.

For those of you unfamiliar to my problem, it is this: Sometimes, just randomly, the stereo will shut off and I will lose power to my stereo and power windows only - It will not let me roll them up or down. Then randomly the power will just come back on. Some lights on the stereo will stay turned on, but the clock, and any other feature for music does not work, it does not show any display.

Today, while changing my turn signals, I tried to get to the root of the problem once again, and I didnt get anywhere. Its driving me crazy! I dont know if its linked to my turn signals burning out within a month or what. I was changing the turn signals, and I took a look at each bulb- The right one (which burnt out about a month ago) had cracked off at the base of the bulb, and was fogged up. My left one (Which burnt out yesterday, I thought because of water getting splashed up it burnt out) was exploded inside my corner with black/fogged residue inside the bulb)



I also noticed in my fuse box under the hood that I have no fuses for my headlamps, and I never noticed that before. Do I need fuses there, or could that be the problem?



I noticed there is a little black box labeled battery behind the deck connected to an orange wire. Does this battery die, or what is its function?



I took pictures of the wires coming from and inside the back of my center console if anyone would like to get familiar with them. Sorry its a long post, Im just trying to provide information with pictures so you know what im talking about. I just want to fix this damn problem because its driving me crazy, and how annoying would it be to anyone else to be listening to music and poof! it goes away... then some odd minutes later it turns back on randomly?

Thanks for any help in advance!

[T BONE]

That box on the stereo isn't a battery...The wire goes to battery+.


This is the only thing I can tell you.

[Paarman]

That box on the stereo isn't a battery...The wire goes to battery+.


This is the only thing I can tell you.

What is in that little box? Just a relay or somthing?

[T BONE]

Not sure what its for but I am sure when ACRucrazy see's this post he will comment.

[Akromix]

That box is a power inverter. It's normal. It shouldn't be the source of your problem. Somewhere, a power wire is grounding out. This power wire may be the same for both your headunit and your power windows. Have you checked the fusepanel inside the car?

[PHRANQUY]

The little black box labled "Battery" may have a small battery in it to help keep all the stereo's memory presets and other such stuff when the car's battery is unhoooked as well.

[Paarman]

That box is a power inverter. It's normal. It shouldn't be the source of your problem. Somewhere, a power wire is grounding out. This power wire may be the same for both your headunit and your power windows. Have you checked the fusepanel inside the car?

yeah, no blown fuses that I can see. I will double check tomorrow though.

[Akromix]

Not looking for blown fuses...look for any spliced wires behind it. Either that or GM decided to use the same power for the stereo as the windows.

[Paarman]

The fuse box inside the drivers door is built into the dash... I can try to look around it, Im not sure how easy that will be to spot, but ill check.

[Joe Goebbel]

I say you unplug either the power window's 100 percent or the radio and see if the problem occurs again. I'd start with the radio first (more electronics).

If you take the radio out, see if your power window's will act up. If you unplug the power window's, see if your radio acts up. If the stuff still acts up, they are not related and you need to look else where.

Have you tested the charging circuit in the car to make sure all the voltages are within spec? Nothing abnormally high?

[Joe Goebbel]

I mean if it still acts up you know the radio or the power windows are not causing the trouble.

[Paarman]

Have you tested the charging circuit in the car to make sure all the voltages are within spec? Nothing abnormally high?

I woulndt know how to go about doing that. I dont know if its related, but I did, however, notice that the foglight and the SGS switch (right above the stereo) are incredibly hot to the touch, without even being turned on. I have always noticed this though, so I dont know if its linked.

[Paarman]

Well today (less then 2 days) my right turn signal burnt out already. I talked to my friend and he thinks its a grouding issue, does anyone else agree, or have any ideas for me? Thanks in advance.

[Joe Goebbel]

Hot means too much current. So if a major ground bit shit and everything is grounding through the turn signal groud I could see where he is coming from. I would start with removing your alternator ground completely and inspect the wire then clean all the points it attaches too. Then take the battery ground wires completely out and inspect them and clean the battery grounds contact points too.

I think your friend is on the right track.

If your turn signals are burning out, it means they are getting too much current dropped accross them. Take a multimeter and test to see how much voltage is running through the light bulb. If it's 14.4vdc, I bet there is a grounding issue with your alternator.

[Joe Goebbel]

After you get done cleaning your grounds. Be sure to retest the voltage running through the turn signal bulb. When it drops down you'll know you found the problem.