problems starting after installing new radio

[fisher7508]

Not sure if this is a coincidence or not, but after i installed a new aftermarket radio in my 2003 Malibu, it struggles to start. It acts at times like the battery is almost dead and it also makes some strange noises when turning over like the starter is engaged funny. Any thoughts? Did i fry something electrically?

thanks for the help

[jyount]

does it come on with the key off? Sounds like you have the two power wires either backwards or crossed so it is draining your battery.
It is usually a red wire and a yellow wire on the aftermarket radio. Pretty hard to mix up if using a plug and play harness, you using harnesses or just wiring in the radio to the factory wires.

[fisher7508]

thanks for the reply....

I originally used the wires and did not purchase the harness adapter.

Yesterday i pulled everything back out, soldered the original plug back into the car, installed the proper adapter that would allow for the door chimes to work in the speakers. I also found that the yellow wire from the ignition switch had been tampered with before so i removed the old splice and soldered in a new one. I also found a short in a speaker wire so i had to run a new wire to the rear speaker......i am thinking that i may have jarred something loose when in installed the radio the first time.

6 hours later, the new stereo sounds better than it did. Car started funny the first time like a weak batter, but then i put a battery charger on it for a few hours and it turned right over. Maybe somewhere in the wiring mess i had something draining the battery all of the time.

BTW....i found a great tip that allows you to find which speaker goes where...use a 9v battery...when you touch two wires that are going to a speaker onto the battery, the speaker will make a noise. Great way to troubleshoot speaker wires...this is how i found the grounding issue with the one speaker.

have a great new year