Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: The Great State of WI
Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP
I have done a stereo install (small one amp system) and I now have the problem of my interior lights flashing when I turn the vette off.
I have read in the owners manual that this is an indicator that there is too much of a load on the headlight system? That doesn't make sense to me.
I've hooked up the stereo right, it works fine. I can't for the life of me think of what would be causing this.
Please help
:seeya
I have read in the owners manual that this is an indicator that there is too much of a load on the headlight system? That doesn't make sense to me.
I've hooked up the stereo right, it works fine. I can't for the life of me think of what would be causing this.
Please help
:seeya
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City MO
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
Call a stereo install shop. They will tell you what you need. From what I have seen in other cars, some amps are too much of a drain. It was solved once by getting a more powerful battery. Another friend got a capacitor for his system. It is my understanding that the capacitor stores up power so the lights don't dim because they still have enough power to run. Stereo install shops will sell capacitors.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: The Great State of WI
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
TO CLARIFY THE PROBLEM:
The lights flashing is not a result of a power draw from the amp i.e. this is not a dimming of the lights during bass hits.
All of the interior lights are flashing on and off in unison in a very predictable and mechanical fashion when I shut the car off after running it for any period of time. It is as if it is an indicator of a electrical problem or some other warning for some type of issue.
The only way I can get it to stop is to disconnect the battery. When I reconnect the battery the lights do not flash until I fire it up and then shut it off. I can start and run it for 10 seconds or 10 hours and when I shut it off the lights begin to flash.
:seeya
The lights flashing is not a result of a power draw from the amp i.e. this is not a dimming of the lights during bass hits.
All of the interior lights are flashing on and off in unison in a very predictable and mechanical fashion when I shut the car off after running it for any period of time. It is as if it is an indicator of a electrical problem or some other warning for some type of issue.
The only way I can get it to stop is to disconnect the battery. When I reconnect the battery the lights do not flash until I fire it up and then shut it off. I can start and run it for 10 seconds or 10 hours and when I shut it off the lights begin to flash.
:seeya
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 4
From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
Get a Capacitor. They are an easy install. The sterio shops sell them. These will keep you amp from drawing all its power directly from the battery all at once. You just install them on the positive line to the AMP. You may have to include a negative ground but I hope you can handle that.
:cheers:
:banghead: Read all the posts next time :banghead:
Sounds like an aftermarket car alarm has been installed. And it Sounds like its going off. Find it and gut it. Thats what I had to do. They usually hide them under the drivers or passenger side Dash panals. (Usually a small black box with "Python" or some gay name on it)
Hope that helps. :lol:
[Modified by VictorRussell'92, 10:07 AM 3/30/2004]
[Modified by VictorRussell'92, 10:08 AM 3/30/2004]
:cheers:
:banghead: Read all the posts next time :banghead:
Sounds like an aftermarket car alarm has been installed. And it Sounds like its going off. Find it and gut it. Thats what I had to do. They usually hide them under the drivers or passenger side Dash panals. (Usually a small black box with "Python" or some gay name on it)
Hope that helps. :lol:
[Modified by VictorRussell'92, 10:07 AM 3/30/2004]
[Modified by VictorRussell'92, 10:08 AM 3/30/2004]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: The Great State of WI
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (VictorRussell'92)
Sounds like an aftermarket car alarm has been installed. And it Sounds like its going off. Find it and gut it. Thats what I had to do. They usually hide them under the drivers or passenger side Dash panals.
For what it's worth the pace of the interior lights flashing is much faster than the pace of the horn/exterior lights flashing when the alarm is set off.
:seeya
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Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 2
From: 1990 383 Stroker Baltimore Maryland
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
You did run a direct power line from the amp to the battery with a inline fuse and a ground at the location of the amp. :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,295
Likes: 4
From: I'm the walkin dude I can see all of the world...
St. Jude Donor '03
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (flood)
When you disconnect the amp/stereo does it still flash when you turn off the car?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: The Great State of WI
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (VictorRussell'92)
You did run a direct power line from the amp to the battery with a inline fuse and a ground at the location of the amp.
When you disconnect the amp/stereo does it still flash when you turn off the car?
Actually I took out the fuel pump, etc. but I didn't do anything to it except put it back in. That at least has electrical connections but as I said I did nothing to it.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 2
From: 1990 383 Stroker Baltimore Maryland
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
It could be one of the three light switches (one on each door and one on the truck) is going up. These are the buttons that tell if your doors or hatch are closed. Usually though the light just stays on and doesn't flash. :confused:
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 40,156
Likes: 45
From: San Pedro CA
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
ok... a few things...
the noise: check the gain level on the amp. What brands are we dealing with here? Did you upgrade the head unit? If the head unit is a 2 volt or less system, you will want to get a line driver. That will boost the voltage from the head to the amp, allowing you to lower the gain, effectivly killing all noise. Also, make sure the signal cables are running as far away from power as is possible. I recommend running the power down the drivers side rocker and the RCAs down the center tunnel.
In the later ones, a headunit install will cause wierd things to happen. SYS messages on the odo, things like that.
Unless you connected the head unit to the cars interior lighting system my mistake, I cannot see the connection - literally.
the noise: check the gain level on the amp. What brands are we dealing with here? Did you upgrade the head unit? If the head unit is a 2 volt or less system, you will want to get a line driver. That will boost the voltage from the head to the amp, allowing you to lower the gain, effectivly killing all noise. Also, make sure the signal cables are running as far away from power as is possible. I recommend running the power down the drivers side rocker and the RCAs down the center tunnel.
In the later ones, a headunit install will cause wierd things to happen. SYS messages on the odo, things like that.
Unless you connected the head unit to the cars interior lighting system my mistake, I cannot see the connection - literally.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 10,896
Likes: 2
From: CO
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bogus)
Well if it still does it when the stereo and amp are disconnected then I would say its not the stereo and amp.
Is it possible there are some crossed wires now behind the dash?
Either that or you fried something electronic in the system when you installed it. good luck :cheers:
[Modified by flood, 1:43 PM 3/30/2004]
Is it possible there are some crossed wires now behind the dash?
Either that or you fried something electronic in the system when you installed it. good luck :cheers:
[Modified by flood, 1:43 PM 3/30/2004]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: The Great State of WI
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (flood)
ok... a few things...
the noise: check the gain level on the amp. What brands are we dealing with here? Did you upgrade the head unit? If the head unit is a 2 volt or less system, you will want to get a line driver. That will boost the voltage from the head to the amp, allowing you to lower the gain, effectivly killing all noise. Also, make sure the signal cables are running as far away from power as is possible. I recommend running the power down the drivers side rocker and the RCAs down the center tunnel.
the noise: check the gain level on the amp. What brands are we dealing with here? Did you upgrade the head unit? If the head unit is a 2 volt or less system, you will want to get a line driver. That will boost the voltage from the head to the amp, allowing you to lower the gain, effectivly killing all noise. Also, make sure the signal cables are running as far away from power as is possible. I recommend running the power down the drivers side rocker and the RCAs down the center tunnel.
Unless you connected the head unit to the cars interior lighting system my mistake, I cannot see the connection - literally.
Well if it still does it when the stereo and amp are disconnected then I would say its not the stereo and amp.
Is it possible there are some crossed wires now behind the dash?
Is it possible there are some crossed wires now behind the dash?
Although I greatly appreciate the assistance, I guess I hope someone reads this who has had the problem too and can offer a solution.
:seeya
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: The Great State of WI
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
TTT
Hoping some fresh eyes might help.
Just to update I have gone through my Owners Manual, Service Manual, the Electrical Suppliment to the service manual, my Haynes and Chilton Manuals and have got nothing. No mention of this warning nor a fix for it.
I have been going through cleaning grounds and looking for something that's obviously causing the problem and I get nothing. I can't even hear the switch or relay that is making the lights flash.
Are there obvious grounds that "always" cause problems? Everything I have found and cleaned looked good even at 20 years old. None of the cleaning has helped as yet.
Thanks a lot guys, all suggestions would be appreciated!
:seeya
[Modified by bart15, 1:01 PM 4/3/2004]
Hoping some fresh eyes might help.
Just to update I have gone through my Owners Manual, Service Manual, the Electrical Suppliment to the service manual, my Haynes and Chilton Manuals and have got nothing. No mention of this warning nor a fix for it.
I have been going through cleaning grounds and looking for something that's obviously causing the problem and I get nothing. I can't even hear the switch or relay that is making the lights flash.
Are there obvious grounds that "always" cause problems? Everything I have found and cleaned looked good even at 20 years old. None of the cleaning has helped as yet.
Thanks a lot guys, all suggestions would be appreciated!
:seeya
[Modified by bart15, 1:01 PM 4/3/2004]
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: The Great State of WI
Re: Getting Flashed, but not by chicks... HELP (bart15)
Just to update:
I have disconnected completely all things electrical associated with my stereo install and the flashing problem persists. I don't doubt that the stereo install has something to do with the problem, as I can best remember (please bear with me, this problem has caused me to enjoy an adult beverage or two) the flashing didn't start as soon as the stereo got hooked up. It actually started later on and with no clear correlation (as I remember it) to a specific action on my part.
I just find it hard to believe that in the 18, 19, 20 years these cars have been on the road someone hasn't had the same problem, or at least know of someone who did.
I've read through the manuals again and either I am missing it, or the answer just isn’t there. Thank you all for your suggestions. I guess I am going to go start pulling fuses to try and narrow down this gremlin.
Thanks again everyone!
:seeya
I have disconnected completely all things electrical associated with my stereo install and the flashing problem persists. I don't doubt that the stereo install has something to do with the problem, as I can best remember (please bear with me, this problem has caused me to enjoy an adult beverage or two) the flashing didn't start as soon as the stereo got hooked up. It actually started later on and with no clear correlation (as I remember it) to a specific action on my part.
I just find it hard to believe that in the 18, 19, 20 years these cars have been on the road someone hasn't had the same problem, or at least know of someone who did.
I've read through the manuals again and either I am missing it, or the answer just isn’t there. Thank you all for your suggestions. I guess I am going to go start pulling fuses to try and narrow down this gremlin.
Thanks again everyone!
:seeya