Radio Acting Weird

[The_Collector]

so I installed a radio from a different car I had laying around and had it all hooked up fine and completely installed and then all the sudden the radio would only work when the key was in the accessory position, when it was on, or the car was running it wouldn't turn on at all..... I'm measuring 18v at the power wires to the radio so I got enough volts, maybe i'm drawing too much amps or something? One thing I did notice right before I got out is the radio shut off when the auto seat belts kicked on when opening the door....any suggestions for when I go back out to mess with it?

thanks in advance for any help!!

right now taking a break and getting some grub.

[FestYboy]

what wire are you using for main power and for switched power?

and 18vdc is WAY too much!!! that can do all kinds of damage, find out why you have 18v at the power wire and fix that first.

[The_Collector]

I am measuring 18v at the battery, I am using the stock festiva radio wires for power ground remote, etc.

[The_Collector]

Also my brother just noticed that when the key is on accessory, the radio stays on when the seatbelts are engaged, where if the key is in the on position it shuts off when the seatbelts move.

[FestYboy]

ok first you should NOT have 18v at the battery, that is very bad. the most you should ever see is 14.8 and that's high even. it sounds like you've ot some wires crossed. make sure no one has messed with the fuse block...

[The_Collector]

HAHAHA ok so I went out and started from the start, grabbed the multimeter and there's the problem.....he had it on AC, needless to say the battery needs charged....

low battery was the problem......

oh the horror!

[FestYboy]

the basics will always get you lol. you should retest the battery for AC once it's recharged and the engine running. if you have more than 0.5vAC you need to fix that alt. AC in the system can do just as much damage as over voltage.

[skimsucka]

Facepalm thread shaun lol !

[denguy]

A meter should show around 14v at the battery with the motor running. 18v with the motor running means that the voltage regulator is bad and you are on your way to frying the battery, or, you don't have the meter set right.

[htchbck]

I remember when we were driving the MX6 one time and suddenly all the dash lights lit up out of nowhere... they would go off at idle but anything over a grand lit them all. I pulled over, got the multimeter out, and at idle I had about 16v, and revving at all jumped it up over 18. Took the alt belt off and drove home, then put on an old BP alt.