Blowing Fuses after Car Radio Install ?

Gotta love that wiring . . .
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hifijoes
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 10, 2015 11:29 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider

Blowing Fuses after Car Radio Install ?

Post by hifijoes »

Just finished putting in a new head unit , ( this time w/Bluetooth ) and im blowing the 8 amp fuse repeatedly. I pulled the upper console and have it leaning on the passenger side, radio working, clock working all good. As soon as I grab the upper console and place in back in to mount the screws to lower console, ping !! blown. Pulled it out, checked all connections and crimped wiring, all good.

Any thoughts on what this may be ?? I do have a 2 channel amp in trunk and haven't checked that yet :? :?
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Sport
1982 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 Fiat 124 Spider ( many years ago)
1976 Fiat 128 3P ( many years ago)
1973 MG Midget ( many years ago)
1971 MG BGT ( many years ago )
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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chelmsford, MA

Re: Blowing Fuses after Car Radio Install ?

Post by aj81spider »

Check the wires and connectors in the upper console for shorts to the metal of the upper console. It sounds like you have a short (frayed wire, etc) in the upper console. When it is out there is no path to ground so everything works fine. As soon as you put it back it connects the metal of the console to the metal of the car and the short is closed, blowing the fuse.

You can probably verify this by ohming out the power side to the metal of the upper console.
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)
hifijoes
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 10, 2015 11:29 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider

Re: Blowing Fuses after Car Radio Install ?

Post by hifijoes »

thanks, I will give that a try.
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Sport
1982 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 Fiat 124 Spider ( many years ago)
1976 Fiat 128 3P ( many years ago)
1973 MG Midget ( many years ago)
1971 MG BGT ( many years ago )
spider2081
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Your car is a: 1981 Spider 2000
Location: Wallingford,CT

Re: Blowing Fuses after Car Radio Install ?

Post by spider2081 »

Identifying the fuse by its position in the fuse panel would help troubleshoot this issue. Fuse 1 is closest to the steering column. Your fuse panel should have nine 8 amp fuses.
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geospider
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Your car is a: 1979 Spider 2000
Location: concord, ca

Re: Blowing Fuses after Car Radio Install ?

Post by geospider »

Interesting timing

I just installed a new radio: first time powered up fine. next time, smoke from back of radio unit and now dead. At least Best Buy gave me a new one.
Previous owner had both the red and yellow hot wires going through the cig lighter. I wired it using the brown wire from the ignition. don't really want to plug in the new one and have it blow. btw: the inline fuse on the red wire did not blow. Need to check it's size.
any other ideas?
haven't checked the fuse panel yet

Geo
hifijoes
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun May 10, 2015 11:29 pm
Your car is a: 1982 Fiat Spider

Re: Blowing Fuses after Car Radio Install ?

Post by hifijoes »

Yes, that was it . The short was closed on the metal in console on metal on top of install area.

Thank A.J.
2021 Alfa Romeo Giulia Ti Sport
1982 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 Fiat 124 Spider ( many years ago)
1976 Fiat 128 3P ( many years ago)
1973 MG Midget ( many years ago)
1971 MG BGT ( many years ago )
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