Purple 12v constant for stereo keeps blowing glass fuse

[smallclone]

The purple 12v constant to the stereo keeps blowing the glass in line fuse after a few minutes or so of use. I have an after market kenwood. The only thing i did was disconnect the open door buzzer, thinking this was the issue i put it back but fuses keep blowing.

Any suggestions?

[DMC5180]

Radio purple wire is fed via fuse 17 along with The cigarette lighter aka 12v port and clock if fitted.

The door buzzer is fed from fuse 6.

If your popping the glass fuse the problem is in your radio or harness adaptation.


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[David T]

Are you using the correct size glass fuse? Refer to the radio's specs.

[Flash66]

You have a dead short. Find it.

[smallclone]

Are you using the correct size glass fuse? Refer to the radio's specs.

Whats the correct fuse amperage?

[David T]

Refer to the radio's specs. You said you have an after-market radio.

[smallclone]

In trying to find some kind of break in the wiring i managed to get a shock from the cigar lighter and since then the unit wont power up when connected to the harness. I checked every fuse and inline fuse and none are blown. I hooked up the stereo straight to the battery and it powers on. Im beyond stumped at this point.

[DMC5180]

Did you hook directly too the battery with just a power wire, or did you also use a new ground wire?

Do you have Digital Volt Meter? If so, you need to verify the continuity between the fuse 17 and the connector at the radio.

Post some photos of your wiring too.


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[smallclone]

Did you hook directly too the battery with just a power wire, or did you also use a new ground wire?

Do you have Digital Volt Meter? If so, you need to verify the continuity between the fuse 17 and the connector at the radio.

Post some photos of your wiring too.


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when I tested the head unit I used a spare harness and touched the yellow to the positive of the battery and the black ground to the ground on the battery and it worked.

when I hooked it back into the harness in the car, its DOA.

I did notice the buzzer fuse was blown which I think happened when I disconnected the buzzer itself, it may have touched something and blew. I don't think that would be the original reason for the purple in-line fuse to blow all the time, but who knows.

question. could the filter caps in the radio grounds go bad and cause this issue?

when I get home ill take some pictures.

[Jonathan]

Are you using the purple wire for just the constant power, i.e. radio settings saver or for regular listening power? The green/white wire that is "switched" and only comes on with the ignition is meant for regular listening power while the purple wire is always on and saves your radio settings. Both have their own inline glass fuses but they carry different loads. I don't know what else is on that purple wire of yours, but maybe it is getting overloaded if you're trying to power the stereo with it? It does sound like you have a short in and around the cigar lighter too, so not just one thing going on here. I know some of those wires running under the gear shifter plate can get wiggled into tight spaces and then rub up against some of the sharp metal edges of the brackets. Could be something exposed there. The power supplied to the PRND21 light on the automatics is tucked under there as well. It isn't used in the manual transmission cars but the wire is still there. It might have become exposed and shorted itself out against something else. Lift up the shifter plate, ashtray and maybe even the centre console and have a look.

[smallclone]

Are you using the purple wire for just the constant power, i.e. radio settings saver or for regular listening power? The green/white wire that is "switched" and only comes on with the ignition is meant for regular listening power while the purple wire is always on and saves your radio settings. Both have their own inline glass fuses but they carry different loads. I don't know what else is on that purple wire of yours, but maybe it is getting overloaded if you're trying to power the stereo with it? It does sound like you have a short in and around the cigar lighter too, so not just one thing going on here. I know some of those wires running under the gear shifter plate can get wiggled into tight spaces and then rub up against some of the sharp metal edges of the brackets. Could be something exposed there. The power supplied to the PRND21 light on the automatics is tucked under there as well. It isn't used in the manual transmission cars but the wire is still there. It might have become exposed and shorted itself out against something else. Lift up the shifter plate, ashtray and maybe even the centre console and have a look.

the cigar lighter is def a point of contention with my car, the light for the green ring around the lighter doesn't work for some reason, but even with all the radio issues the cigar lighter still works.

the purple and green wires aren't spliced into anything other than their intended purposes from what I can see.

the clock isn't connected at all and I know those wires are shared with the radio?

[DMC5180]

the cigar lighter is def a point of contention with my car, the light for the green ring around the lighter doesn't work for some reason, but even with all the radio issues the cigar lighter still works.

the purple and green wires aren't spliced into anything other than their intended purposes from what I can see.

the clock isn't connected at all and I know those wires are shared with the radio?

The cig light is different circuit. The bulb could just be burnt out.


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[smallclone]

it should be noted im running two power amps, p conn from the head unit to the amps. could it be the radio bracket ground cant handle it?

[Bitsyncmaster]

it should be noted im running two power amps, p conn from the head unit to the amps. could it be the radio bracket ground cant handle it?

From what i remember, the radio bracket ground is very poor. I think it just used one 19 AWG wire going back to the relay compartment grounds. But a bad ground is not going to blow fuses.

[smallclone]

Did you hook directly too the battery with just a power wire, or did you also use a new ground wire?

Do you have Digital Volt Meter? If so, you need to verify the continuity between the fuse 17 and the connector at the radio.

Post some photos of your wiring too.


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So tested the green and white wire with a voltage meter, in the radio, and clock, looking good there.

Tested the purple in for the radio and clock and nodda. Tested the purple in the cigar lighter and that looks good.
Im stumped because i thought the cigar light clock and radio shares the same 12v line (purple)

[smallclone]

So tested the green and white wire with a voltage meter, in the radio, and clock, looking good there.

Tested the purple in for the radio and clock and nodda. Tested the purple in the cigar lighter and that looks good.
Im stumped because i thought the cigar light clock and radio shares the same 12v line (purple)

Tested voltage at the fuse too and its good

[Bitsyncmaster]

So tested the green and white wire with a voltage meter, in the radio, and clock, looking good there.

Tested the purple in for the radio and clock and nodda. Tested the purple in the cigar lighter and that looks good.
Im stumped because i thought the cigar light clock and radio shares the same 12v line (purple)

Yes the lighter shares the radio purple wire. There are some other purple wire circuits so maybe you attached to one of those.

[smallclone]

Yes the lighter shares the radio purple wire. There are some other purple wire circuits so maybe you attached to one of those.

That was it! The purple wire from the lighter that goes to the clock and radio was fried!

[DMC5180]

Nothing better than that ah ha moment and a victory. [emoji6]


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[smallclone]

Nothing better than that ah ha moment and a victory. [emoji6]


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Youre telling me!

Replaced in-line fuses with correct specs and all is well.