Jeep won't start after new stereo install

[AllenTC2]

Something for y'all to ponder....

Got my speakers and stereo in today so I spent the evening putting it all together. Started the Jeep a couple of times to move it to be able to open this door or that, no biggy. Tested the stereo a couple of times before shoving everything in place. Everything worked as it should (from in side the garage....didn't get to activate the Sirius.

Anyway, put it all back together again and turned the key to start the engine to maybe take a short spin....made this nasty fart sound. Sounds like there is plenty of juice but the engine didn't crank.

Any ideas what I may or may not have done??

 

[06lj]

Sounds like a blown fuse.

 

[Chris]

So when you turn the key, the engine turns over, but it doesn't fire up? Is that what you're saying?

And all of this didn't occur until after you installed your new stereo?

I'm going to go with blown fuse, or potentially a dead battery.

 

[JMT]

Sounds of juice and farts together sounds like irritable bowel syndrome.

 

[AllenTC2]

Bear with me, I'm not actually mechanically inclined.

Let's see if I'm any better with interwebz stuff....

Hmmmm...not much better. But I could click on the screen and it took me to the video.

 

[AllenTC2]

So when you turn the key, the engine turns over, but it doesn't fire up? Is that what you're saying?

And all of this didn't occur until after you installed your new stereo?

I'm going to go with blown fuse, or potentially a dead battery.

If the video isn't working, it makes like a rapid clicking/grinding noise.....sorta like one of those stun guns. Everything lights up like normal, but engine does not seem to turn at all.

 

[Chris]

That's a Facebook video, so the fact that it doesn't work means that the permissions on it are not set to public.

99 times out of 100, the starter is not the cause of this problem. More likely the battery has a bad, loose, or corroded connection at one or both of its posts. Or the battery is simply too weak to fully engage the starter. Start by wire brushing both battery connectors and getting them tight when you reinstall them back onto the battery.

If that doesn't do it, charge the battery overnight with a bench charger. And if that doesn't fix it, have the battery load tested at your local auto parts store as the battery may be nearly dead and in need of replacement.

What you're describing is battery related.

 

[Jeep9748]

Gonna throw this out there, BUT are you sure the ground wire that was on the stock head unit is still attached? I forgot that once and it gave me a few problems..

 

[AllenTC2]

The only thing I recall coming out of the head unit was the wiring cluster and the antenna cable.

 

[Daveh370]

The only thing I recall coming out of the head unit was the wiring cluster and the antenna cable.

Have you checked the battery with a meter?

 

[Tigerman]

The only thing I recall coming out of the head unit was the wiring cluster and the antenna cable.

I doubt the groundning wire has something to do with the starting of the jeep but you should definitely have a grounding wire for the stereo. On my 98 the grounding wire was bolted onto the stock unit body with a round terminal.

 

[AllenTC2]

Have you checked the battery with a meter?

No....sad to say even if I owned one, I have never learned to use one. I did pull the battery out just now and will run it down to Autozone to get it checked.

I doubt the groundning wire has something to do with the starting of the jeep but you should definitely have a grounding wire for the stereo. On my 98 the grounding wire was bolted onto the stock unit body with a round terminal.

No, definitely nothing else on the unit. Would it not be part of the cluster? I checked the Crutchfield instructions, nothing mentioned (or shown) about detaching/attaching a ground. I was thinking....I had all the doors open for maybe four hours while I did this. I can't imagine that'd drain the battery, but maybe? I guess I'll see shortly.

 

[Alex01]

Check all the small fuses in the box under the hood. I had a problem once where a wire on the radio grounded out. The cluster then gave me a no start or something similar message. Turned out it was a fuse. If I recall correctly it was the second or third down on the right side (of the row of small fuses.)

 

[AllenTC2]

Okay, new battery put in. Hood light comes on. Get in the Jeep, dome lights come on. Put the key in, odometer lights up. Turn the key..click..everything goes black. Get back under hood to recheck everything. Look for the battery ground, it's on tight. Repeat everything after "Hood light..." and get the same result. Chimes, lights on, odometer lights up, etc. etc. Turn the key and everything turns off.

 

[AllenTC2]

Check all the small fuses in the box under the hood. I had a problem once where a wire on the radio grounded out. The cluster then gave me a no start or something similar message. Turned out it was a fuse. If I recall correctly it was the second or third down on the right side (of the row of small fuses.)

All the fuses look intact.

 

[Daveh370]

Okay, new battery put in. Hood light comes on. Get in the Jeep, dome lights come on. Put the key in, odometer lights up. Turn the key..click..everything goes black. Get back under hood to recheck everything. Look for the battery ground, it's on tight. Repeat everything after "Hood light..." and get the same result. Chimes, lights on, odometer lights up, etc. etc. Turn the key and everything turns off.

Try undoing what you did: disconnect the stereo you installed and see if your Jeep will start.

Does your Jeep have the SKIM anti-theft system?

 

[Boinked]

I would try to jump the starter. To see if it is bad. Might be shorted. (Long shot but possible)

 

[AllenTC2]

Try undoing what you did: disconnect the stereo you installed and see if your Jeep will start.

Does your Jeep have the SKIM anti-theft system?

Not sure. Bought it used. Haven't really dug into it. Don't recall seeing anything mentioned about it. It was a 6 CD player stereo.

 

[Alex01]

Skim would allow you to start the jeep then would shut off a new moments later.

disconnect the stereo you installed and see if your Jeep will start.

x2

 

[Imapepper]

Was your old battery bad? Did they sell you a fully charged new battery? What does your voltmeter in dash read when you turn key to run?, not start position.