I was putting my radio back in today and as I was fitting it back into the DIN space, I heard a pop and saw a small spark...I quickly put the radio down and saw that there was an exposed part of the yellow 12v constant wire(coming off the OE radio harness) exposed. I'm guessing it came in contact with the metal back there behind the dash....well now the electrical system is acting funny(and also if it helps the in-line fuse for the headunits 12volt constant power DID NOT blow). the car still comes on and drives fine, but the radio doesn't come on at all, the trunk and door lights on the dash flicker constantly, the clock flickers, the interior dome light doesn't come on, and nor does the AC/heater...also when I flip the switch for the dome light back and forth the screen on my headunit will flicker. but the car still drives fine and headlights are still functional. did I short something serious?? it just seems funny it didn't blow the in-line fuse on the headunit 12v power wire...I checked the radio, interior dome light/clock fuses, but they were fine any other ideas where to check or any input on the situation??

 

check your under dash fuses, odds are you blew one.

 

I'm not an expert in these sort of problems, But I'd check both the fuses under the dash and also the fuse box under the hood (next to the battery) There should be some secondary fuses maybe leading to your problem.

Did you make sure all the wires going to your new radio are the right color connections?
I know someone that had a simular problem and it came to be the illumination wire on his new radio was wired to the wrong wire, which when the car turned on...the illumination was being grounded out.

When you had the spark happen... Did you smell plastic burning (electrical fire) or see smoke?

-Jeff

 

thanks guys...well I made some more progress, got the interior light fuse and checked it and it was indeed blown...changed it and bingo, no more flickering hatch/door light, clock and dome light is back!!!! still no radio though(checked the fuse again, its perfect)....I did however notice the A/C comes on, but no air blows with blower speed dial on 1,2,3 or 4....so I guess its quite possible I blew the blower motor resistor(I hate replacing that thing) I'm gonna check EVERY other fuse tommorow morning as well since its dark out now. also checked under the hood fuses and they are all fine as well. naw there was no smoke or burning smell...all the wires were right, cause the radio worked fine before I began to stick in back in the DIN slot. thanks for the help guys, anyone else with any input, post away...