Aftermarket radio installation problem

Tiny
JSLATT
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 HONDA CIVIC
  • 1.7L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 150,000 MILES
I saw the video on YouTube about installing the aftermarket radio. I got everything set up wired everything ( I believe to the best it could be). Then I connected everything and the radio turned on (it’s a double din touch screen Kenwood DDX26BT) and then everything thing worked perfectly until I ran the car and then I started to feel a slight tremble which was not normal for the car. After I revved the engine it would seem like the car wanted to turn off but then continued to run. I took it for a spin then the car went completely dead. I lost control of the steering wheel and it went super tight as if the car turned off and the radio stayed on. I don’t exactly know why it’s doing this I followed every step on the video examined the video closely but I don’t exactly know what to do now. If you could help that would be great.
Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 6:36 PM

20 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
Hi,

I'm not sure what all was done or what video was used. However, I do have a few questions. Did everything go dead including light, engine, and so on (other than the radio)? Where did you take power from for the radio you installed?

Let me know.
Joe
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 6:43 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
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https://youtu.be/1bIa3jdJWVQ
This was the video I used and I got a harness like the video shows and just used shrink tubes to connect the wires together after twisting the ends of wire together.
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 6:48 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
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And yes everything went dead. I had to turn the switch of the car back on. It’s standard SI. I put it in first gear without any problems but then I slow down and it trembles a little.
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 6:50 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
By chance did you have the battery disconnected when you did the work? Also, check to make sure the terminals are clean and tight.

Let me know.
Joe
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 6:59 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
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I did take off the negative terminal and some dirt came off and and cleaned it. I also had to go to my local auto shop which was about 5 minutes away without the radio and then that’s when I first noticed the strange shaking of the car.
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 7:03 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
Were there any bare wired under the dash with the radio out that could have shorted? What happens now when you try starting it? Also, please reconfirm the battery terminals are clean and tight and the battery is fully charged.

Please understand, I do not have schematics for the install, so I am limited. I'm trying to determine if something shorted causing the issue.

Let me know.

Joe
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 7:06 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
It turns on. I will check to see if the battery has battery power once I get available to the car I am currently unavailable to check. I also did make sure the terminals where clean and on tightly.
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 7:10 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Sounds good. I hope it is simple. It's really odd that nothing works but the radio does. By chance, did you run power direct to the battery?

Joe
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 7:21 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
No, I just used the harness and used the shrink tube. Would it be that the radio is taking too much power and the battery is low and that is what causes the car to turn completely off?
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 8:24 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
I can't see how the radio would do that. Have you checked the battery? Most parts store will load test it for free. That would be a good idea to have done if you haven't already. Also, if you try to jump start it, does anything work?

Joe
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 8:27 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I will try to jump start once I get to my vehicle. I’m about and an hour away and I will notify you if that was the problem. If not I guess I’ll just have to take it to my mechanic to try to figure out what’s wrong.
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 8:30 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Let me know what happens before taking it to a shop. Hopefully, I'll be able to help you figure out the problem.

I will watch for your reply.

Take care,
Joe
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 8:45 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
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Thanks for the advice and the great videos you guys provide. Probably just a simple mistake on my end or something. Will let you know. Thanks again.
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Monday, February 17th, 2020 AT 8:49 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
You are very welcome. It is likely something simple that happened. I just hope no damage has been done. Regardless, I would appreciate it if you could let me know what you find. I'm interested in knowing.

Take care and good luck.

Joe
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Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 AT 5:20 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
So I took it to my mechanic today just for a check up to make sure it wasn’t anything as bad I as I thought. He applied throttle body cleaner where the filter is under the hood. We even drove it around and he did feel the vibrations I was feeling. Also he noticed the RPM's were almost hitting 0. He told me well if anything was wired improperly or damaged severely the check engine light would be on. He assumes that it is just because the battery was disconnected and the car is just trying to “reprogram” itself. I will drove it around for a few days. The shaking did stop and the car feels sort of normal now. We will just wait and see.
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Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 AT 5:41 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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That's good news and I totally understand the relearn process. However, that doesn't explain why everything but the radio went dead including lights. Did he have an answer for that?

Joe
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Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 AT 8:24 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
If I’m going to be completely honest I thought the radio didn’t turn off but it quit running on me as I was turning on to the street I was working on it. I might have turned the switch to turn on the car immediately so I didn’t realize that the stereo also turned on. It all happened so quick I did not want to cause an accident in the middle of the street so I turned it on as quickly as possible.
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Tuesday, February 18th, 2020 AT 9:31 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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I totally understand.

If you have other questions or if I can help, please feel free to let me know.

Take care of yourself.

Joe
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 7:26 PM
Tiny
JSLATT
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Likewise thank you.
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 9:04 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,055 POSTS
You are very welcome.

Joe
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Wednesday, February 19th, 2020 AT 9:09 PM

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