Car does not start fuses 14 and 19 pop on contact after audio work

Tiny
DERICKR
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 CHRYSLER 300
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
After recently doing some audio work in the vehicle drilled new holes for aftermarket speakers and installed with screws, ran wiring for a sub-woofer amplifier, and ran RCA's to the aftermarket head unit installed previously we started having electrical problems with the car. At first, the car would start, idle for a moment, and then shut off. I assumed this was the security system, until shortly thereafter, I noticed that fuses 7, 14, and 19 were blown. Upon inserting new fuses into slots 14 and 19, they popped instantly, telling me there is a short somewhere. At this point, the car does not attempt to start at all, and most of the interior lights are not functional. Interestingly, when I hit the window lock button on the driver's door, the instrument panel lights would come on, although, this has since ceased to occur.

Extra information:

I have since replaced the aftermarket head unit with the factory head unit and removed all wiring related to the aftermarket unit. Fuses still pop on contact.

I have opened up the driver's side door panel to make sure I did not hit any wires when drilling holes and screws for the speaker there, but the wires in the door do not run anywhere near the speaker holes I drilled. Did not check passenger door, assuming it is the same.

I have since unplugged all sub amplifier wiring, to no avail and at this point have completely undone all the audio work that I have touched on this car, but the problem persists.

I doubt if I can scan codes with fuses blowing constantly. I noticed some crossover between the fuses that are blowing, and one piece that resides in both circuits is the BCM. Is it possible that I have fried the BCM somehow to the extent that it now creates a short in the system?
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 AT 1:39 PM

4 Replies

Tiny
DERICKR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
This is a 300M if it makes a difference. The option was not available when picking the model.
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Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 AT 1:40 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Since it was okay prior to your work, take the screws out and then check harness for where they entered and repair the wiring that the screws were grounding out.
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Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 AT 3:16 PM
Tiny
DERICKR
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I have already checked the screws and they did not hit any wires.
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Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 AT 3:32 PM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If they did not hit any wires then it would not pop your fuses. Even if the screws were removed because wires are fine strands when removed they could have possible got tangled together causing the same effect. You need to get a circuit breaker and put in fuses that pop and start unplugging things to see what stops the breaker from clicking or breaking to find the problem. Either that or the audio unit or amp that you put in is to big for the circuit causing the problem.
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Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017 AT 3:51 PM

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