ajcallea

I put a new radio and subs in my jeep and now anytime I turn the headlights on and turn it up too loud it shuts off. what is causing this?

belvedere

The radio or the Jeep?

ajcallea

the radio shuts off

belvedere

I'm guessing it's either a voltage-drop issue or a bad ground. How bright are your headlights? How does the voltmeter act (drop when the lights are turned on)? How did you make the power connections to the new radio (butt connector, solder, etc), and from which circuit?

ajcallea

one of my headlights is brighter than the other but they are bright and when the headlights are on it doesnt dim a whole lot but when the bass hits it dims and I used wire nuts and just connected the wires together because the previous owner already had an aftermarket radio in it. and I'm not sure about the circuit

prcherokee

There was another member with the same problem as you have.There is a Black and yellow wire at the radio harness that comes from the headlight switch.
The PO used that wire as a ground, the ground on the factory wiring is separate from the harness.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/rad...g-help-183172/

jeepcountry99

That's what happen to me

BlueRidgeMark

NEVER. Use. Wire. Nuts.


Either use good quality (3M brand) butt connectors or solder the wires.

Wire nuts are fine in house wiring. There's no vibration to make them come undone.

They have no business in automotive wiring.




Time to get sure. If you have a high powered radio, run a separate power and ground lead for it. Don't use the existing vehicle wiring for that. It's fine to use existing wiring for ignition sense, but not for power.

ajcallea

But what is making the radio turn off? there's no black and yellow wire and all the other wires are together so I dont see what is making the radio turn off when my headlights are on

ajcallea

also how would I run a seperate power and ground lead for my jeep?

prcherokee

Look for the ground wire on the radio,and ground it to the body.After separating from the other wire.Then turn on your headlights.
What year is the Jeep.
The Radio is in auto protect.

ajcallea

my jeep is a 1989 and what would the best way to ground it to the body?

prcherokee

Look for a dark blue wire.

ajcallea

so I should disconnect my existing ground connection and connect the blue one? the dark blue wire is currently not connected to anything

prcherokee

NO.check where your ground is connected.