Problems97 Geo Metro Stereo and Service Engine Light

Well i bought my car from my dads coworker. Its been about two months now. The car came with a new stereo installed. Last week i started having problems with the car when i used the cd player. Whenever i use the cd player it will play for awhile then suddenly the car will wind down. The gas will read E the car starts to slow down and eventually shut off. I was able to start the car immediately. So i've been riding around without playing the stereo. On Thursday when i left work my car wouldnt start. The next day Friday Christmas Eve my parents came to get the car and get it checked out at home. My dads first thought was the alternator needed to be replaced but the alternator was tested and they found nothing wrong with it. So i tried the cd player once again and the same thing happenes, the car starting winding down. I took it to an audio place and they said the stereo put into the car into the car is about equal to the manufacturer so it couldnt be bothering the alternator. But today i encountered another problem, my service engine light is on. So im thinking may its electrical and not just something wrong with the stereo. Has anyone had these problems with their Metro? I plan to take it in tomorrow and im hoping for the best.

The SES light means you have at least one diagnostic code stored in the car's computer. An OBD-II reader plugs into a jack under the dash (just below the steering collumn). Perhaps you can borrow one or take it to a parts supply store that does scans for free.

http://www.obdii.com/
will tell you most of what you need to know about the trouble codes. They also have a forum where you can ask questions.

Guessing here, but your symptoms appear to suggest that one or more of the circuits that the stereo is drawing power from is taking more than it should, thus depriving another circuit of sufficient juice, which leads to that circuit cutting out. If the circuit that's cutting out is something like the Fuel Injection or Ignition circuit, the car would, indeed, stop running.
Perhaps the car stereo installer wired the stereo to the wrong circuit.

I agree with Mike, and I also think its quite possible that when your stereo is killing the car ,that in turn might be setting a fault code.Just a guess but it seems like too much of a coincidence.Good luck and lets us know what you find out.
Unbe