HELP! I think I'm screwed.

MidwayJ · Mar-24-2006, 09:35 AM

So- one week ago, my brother and I bought a new stereo system for our small boat. Despite my protestations that we don't know shit about electronics, my bro reckoned it was as easy as installing a car stereo and went ahead. He hooked the wires up to a preexisting connection that used to go to a cigarette lighter (the manual said to hook up to ignition).

Everything works fine until... two days ago I get on the boat to do some cleanup (been getting a lot of rain lately) and I turn on the stereo. It comes on for about 2-3 seconds, then shuts off. Weird. I try to turn the VHF on. No dice. Bilge pump turns on, but then won't turn off. Engine won't even turn over. Stereo won't turn on anymore. Took the battery to Checkers, it still has 475 out of 525 Amps.

So what the fuck happened? How screwed am I?

Kurt · Mar-24-2006, 09:37 AM

Can you get the motor to turn over? Try jumping it if you have to and let the battery get charged and see if it drains. Do you have one of those cheap meters?

Gil Marlin · Mar-24-2006, 09:58 AM

Sounds like you have a bad battery or connection to battery/accesories. Even with the 475 amps if you have a bad connection nothing will work. Load test battery, start at battery connections and test with a volt meter at each connection until you find where you're losing voltage. If the ignition switch has an accessory position hook the stereo to that, otherwise be sure to turn it off at the end of the day or shut the batteries off when not aboard. (good idea) You'll probably find corrosion somewhere that was disturbed during the installation or made worse by moisture...

Jan from Humbol · Mar-24-2006, 04:34 PM

Tell brother he's fired as your electrician.

Double Z · Mar-26-2006, 10:13 AM

Buy CorrosionX and spray everything when you are done. Tell your brother those pesky instructions are there for a reason.

Hopefully nothing popped and will work once you get it hooked up correctly. Solder and double heatshrink every connection. Then, spray with CorrosionX.

neversink2 · Mar-26-2006, 08:32 PM

You an yur damn corrosion x!!! zz - do you own stock in that company or something? A guy could tell you he can't get a hard-on and you'd probably tell him his dick was rusty... "best get somma that there corrosion X on yur dick or that things gonna fall clean off"!!!

im just kidding man... but you are kinda bent on that stuff