Stereo Shorted Out. Help!

I was driving my friend to the train station when suddenly the radio sounded choppy and then the head unit turned off and cannot be turned back on. All of the other electronics in the car are still working. From inside the cabin it smelled like burning plastic for 10 minutes after it happened. I know next to nothing about car audio, so can someone tell me how to fix this? The only audio mods the car has is the panasonic head unit and the monster cables in the trunk that aren't hooked up to any sub or amp. Thanks.

Check the cables in the trunk and see what they're connected to. If they're connected to the battery then they still have power and if the revealed ends touch, then that can cause a short or even an electrical fire catching the carpet on fire. If the cables look good, then you might have fried your head unit. Pull out the head unit and check the wires, also if it is the head unit, when you pull it out will be able to smell it and can tell if it's fried.

Like what AirAllen01 already pointed out, sounds like the monster cable you mentioned as not connected to anything, might have touch each other or a metallic surface causing your unit to short out. Trace back the wiring and make sure that the wire ends/tips are not exposed, tape it securely or remove the connection entirely from the HU. Also check the radio fuse afterwards, I’m hoping the short only cause the fuse to burn out. Good Luck!:sun:

I made sure those wires in the trunk were separated, however she did put her luggage in the trunk. Could it short out by touching a metal part of the luggage? In any case, as for the HU frying, does that mean it doesn't work anymore, or do I have to buy a fuse? Also, I don't even know how to pop out the HU? Pry it out, or what? Sorry, im a n00b.

Most aftermarket radios have flat bars that you push down the side of the radio to release it and you can pull it out. If you don't have these, you'll have to check with a stereo shop for them, or they can take it out for you or show you how. Sometimes you might have to take apart some of the dash, but you probably don't. If the wires touch any metal that is grounded it can cause a short. If you only blew a fuse, then you only have to replace a fuse. If you fried any other components of the radio, then you can either 1) take it to a stereo repair shop and they can replace those certain parts for you, or 2) buy a whole new HU. Hopefully it was just a fuse though.

Okay. I have to go to class soon, so I will try it a little later. If in fact it's just a fuse, where can I buy one? And if it is fried, then I will just take the pioneer outa my civic.

You should be able to get a fuse from the stereo shop. If not you might check the hardware store.

You can get your replacement fuse at "Fuse-R-US":D

Rein, Rein, Rein,

Not to pick on you or anything, but If you don't even know where to get the fuse, do you really think you can replace this yourself? Do you even know the location of the fuse you need to check?

You better have some manual or something to assist you, before doing the task...almost afraid that you'll do more damage to your vehicle or to yourself by simply pulling a fuse out. Lots of Luck!:silly2:

Well, I removed the headunit, took out the fuse, replaced it, and it is still messed. I think something in the head unit is fried because it is boiling hot. The fuse was definately blown though. I can either get this fixed or just have my bro steal the pioneer out of my civic and overnight it here from Orange County.

That would be your best bet, but make sure you disconnect the two wires outta the trunk. You don't want this to happen again, and good luck, hope everything goes well with the pioneer. Any more questions just ask.

Yea. I disconnected the trunk ones and taped them off anyways. As for the "Where do I buy a fuse?" question...that's just one of those dumbass questions I asked and already knew the answer to, but felt like further identifying myself as a n00b.

if you are any good with a soldering iron, I suggest you take that Headunit apart and see if it's a part you can replace at your local radioshack.. it's a shame to see a good headunit just get thrown away..to test it just use a 12v power drill battery, that's what I did with some parts/switches I was hooking up for my car.. you may find it was just a wire, or small connection that needed resoldering or replacement. some parts you can't fix though..

I have no intentions of throwing this HU out. I realy dont think I'm qualified to do what you just said either. I will eventually get it fixed but I am broke right now and will settle with my old one.