I installed an amp into my car, but the car won't start when its connected. What should I do?

Question

When i hook up the power wire to the battery terminal and start the car, it clicks and then never turns over. When i disconnect the amplifier and just hook the speakers up to the headunit, i need to jump start the car and then it all works fine. But with the amplifier hooked up, the engine won't go.

Answer 1

go to the people who installed it or go to a garage and get it fixed

Answer 2

Sounds as if your amplifier is drawing very heavy current. Is it possible you have miswired it or you have a short somewhere?

Try this... Hook up a volt meter across your battery terminals. It should read close to 12 volts. Then attach the amplifier. Now, what does it read?

If it read any different, either your amplifier or wiring is drawing heavy current (unrealistically high current) or your battery is too weak.

Your amplifier should draw some current even when there is no sound, but it shouldn't be so much so that it will stop the car from starting.

Answer 3

You need to have the amp's positive connected directly to the battery first off, the remote wire needs to go to the remote on the head unit, an accessory port on the fuse panel, or worst case scenario to a toggle switch if those are not available, and a good chassis ground. It sounds like you have a weak battery, and your amp automatically turns on when the key is turned on and sucks just enough juice to disable your vehicle! How do you have the amp wired, and what type of vehicle?

Answer 4

Are you sure you installed it correctly? Did you use a large wire from the amp to the battery that includes a fuse box in the wire? Did you correctly ground the amp to a stable surface, the frame preferably? Are you sure your cables from the amp to the head unit are properly hooked up? Check all of these, if this does not improve the problem you should seek professional help!

Answer 5

you need a Stiffening Cap
Your Car Does not start
Are your headlights and interior lights dimming every time a heavy bass note drops? Does your bass sometimes sound muddy and undefined? The problem could be your vehicle's charging system. Most vehicles' alternators and batteries were truly only designed to power the stock electronics. Add a stiffening capacitor between the battery and your amplifier to provide your amp with a lightning fast on-demand power reserve. Remember kids: It takes power to make power! The general rule of thumb when selecting a cap is 1 farad for every 1000 watts RMS. For example, a 750 watt RMS amplifier requires a 1-farad capacitor.

Answer 6

Depending on how the amp was installed, you could need an 8 or 4 gage wire run from your battery directly to the amp or possibly have a bigger alternator and another battery installed just for the amp.

Answer 7

Must be your amp is using too much power. Try hooking up a relay in your engine compartment that is controlled by a switch on the dashboard. When you want to start the car, turn switch off, which shuts off relay, shutting off amp. So the amp will draw no power, allowing car to start. Once car starts, turn on switch, turning on relay, turning on amp. Either that or buy a bigger battery.

Answer 8

how did he hook up the amp? splicing the speaker twine to the amp? bypass out and get a low priced 50 dollar cd participant so which you would be able to run rca's as a replace this could do your trick. if no longer tell him to down grade the skill twine.

Answer 9

Your amp is not wired correctly. Refer to the paperwork that came w/ it or take it to a audio pro shop. They willl be able to figure out what is done wrong. Prob. a simple fix.

Answer 10

have u tried to chech the batery??? maybe isnt working at %100