Engine shutdown. Aftermarket electronics? HELP!!!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,208
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Engine shutdown. Aftermarket electronics? HELP!!!
My son's '06 Acura RSX died on him yesterday. First, he lost audio from his high powered aftermarket sound/DVD/Nav system, then the car shut down. After about 45 minutes, he could start it and got home in limp home mode. It did throw a SES light. He said the led which is usually on for the capacitor in his power supply was off. I'm wondering if the cap went bad, tried to over draw the charging system, and the ECM shut it down to protect itself. I know its ricer, not Vette, but the guys in this forum are great on audio stuff. Any ideas/suggestions would be appreciated. It is all top end stuff installed at Circ City.
Thanx!
Mike
Thanx!
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
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From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
First of all circuit city warrantys all there work for life go in there talk to the sales and install manager and be firm but dont give him attitude and they will do the best to help you (a little note some circuit citys are better then other, look around if they have pics of nice cars they have done etc they are plry good and u can go to any circuit city that you want to) now I would try unhooking the negative terminal on the battery then unhook the power wire that leads to the amps wait a few min and then hook the battery back up and see what happens but dont hook the amps up
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
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Likes: 1
Thanx for the suggestion. It seems that there is a short--sparking, on the wire that leads from power to the cap. I'm thinking, and told my son, the shutdown occured because the cap was competing with the short for power, hence knocking out the audio. The battery was also completely drained later when he checked again. Hopefully, the engine's electrics are ok. He will go back to Circuit City for repair, after the Acura dealer, and reimbursement for his costs there. Seems clear it was CC's F-up.
Mike
Mike
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
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From: San Pedro CA
I don't see how the cap would draw that much, unless there was a dead short. If there was a dead short, I would expect to see more than some sparking - more like arc welding.
It could be as simple as a bad cap, but either way, I would get it back to CC ASAP. Let them eliminate the audio system from the equation.
As it stands, Caps are not really necessary unless running serious amplification. Otherwise, they are bling... and look good in the competitions.
I would have CC remove the cap and make sure there isn't a bad wire somewhere. I have seen shops install high power lines, and put the fuse at the back... only to have the wires short out at the front, causing a dead short. Make sure there is either a breaker or a fuse at the battery for this system.
And don't mess with that cap!!! They are evil bastards on a good day, and can be down right gnarly when not 100% correct.
It could be as simple as a bad cap, but either way, I would get it back to CC ASAP. Let them eliminate the audio system from the equation.
As it stands, Caps are not really necessary unless running serious amplification. Otherwise, they are bling... and look good in the competitions.
I would have CC remove the cap and make sure there isn't a bad wire somewhere. I have seen shops install high power lines, and put the fuse at the back... only to have the wires short out at the front, causing a dead short. Make sure there is either a breaker or a fuse at the battery for this system.
And don't mess with that cap!!! They are evil bastards on a good day, and can be down right gnarly when not 100% correct.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
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Talked to my son and it looks like the wire from the battery 12v+ to the fuse box for the power supply broke and is the culprit. That would explain the engine throwing a code and shutting down--voltage draw greater than alternator could compensate for, and the battery draining later. I don't think it hurt the RSX's electronics at all, and yeah I know 2F caps are bad ju-ju to mess around with. Kris has about 2000 watts of equipment, hence the 2 ferrad cap to help out his little four banger's power supply system. The audio went out first, so no juice to the cap then amps makes sense. The video is on a second circuit, obviously, as it doesn't need that kind of juice.
No, I wouldn't have Circ City install electronics in the Vette. I'd look for a small shop and someone who would treat it like it was his not just another flat rate job.
No, I wouldn't have Circ City install electronics in the Vette. I'd look for a small shop and someone who would treat it like it was his not just another flat rate job.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
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From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
it pisses me off when people bash cc installs or bestbuy... i installed for circuit city for a while and we did quality work i bet others can on the board can vouch for my skills. some shops have better installers then others some of these guys take pride in there work
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
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Originally Posted by pentavolvo
it pisses me off when people bash cc installs or bestbuy... i installed for circuit city for a while and we did quality work i bet others can on the board can vouch for my skills. some shops have better installers then others some of these guys take pride in there work
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 2
From: Wesley Chapel Fl
Originally Posted by pentavolvo
it pisses me off when people bash cc installs or bestbuy... i installed for circuit city for a while and we did quality work i bet others can on the board can vouch for my skills. some shops have better installers then others some of these guys take pride in there work
Sorry but out 1 good installer out of 50 bad installers is just not going to cut it. CC and BB are known for hiring guys that are less experienced so they can be trained. That is a great idea except they get trained on customers cars. With 16 years in the business I have seen more problem cars come out of CC or BB then I can count.
As for the Acura...I hope you went with an upgraded battery and an alternator to go along with the high power system.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 8,718
Likes: 20
From: Dyer IN
Cruise-In IX Veteran
I agree with you eatrice some guys are horriable but not to say they all suck. I guess it all depends on where you go. I should go into work and get the pics of the fiberglass work we did in a porsche 911 not a vette but u guys get the idea
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,208
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by EatRice
Sorry but out 1 good installer out of 50 bad installers is just not going to cut it. CC and BB are known for hiring guys that are less experienced so they can be trained. That is a great idea except they get trained on customers cars. With 16 years in the business I have seen more problem cars come out of CC or BB then I can count.
As for the Acura...I hope you went with an upgraded battery and an alternator to go along with the high power system.
As for the Acura...I hope you went with an upgraded battery and an alternator to go along with the high power system.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 2
From: Wesley Chapel Fl
The factory alternator will never produce enough current to support the 2500 watt stereo system let alone the car. The alternator is designed to provide enough current to run the car and charge the battery. A capacitor is never ever a replacement for an alternator.
