new stereo unit not working, interior lights and fuel level not working or showing up
So I installed a new Sony stereo unit, we Had to remove the older after market head unit, after it was removed we had to re wire the cables to the new head unit and I'm confident that we re wired the colour coded wires correctly. I disconnected the battery first before I went to remove the head unit, but after installing the new unit it doesnt turn on we also found out that non of her interior lights are working now and the fuel level isnt showing up anymore? i reading some similar problems and some say that it could be the battery ground not hooked up properly or that head unit cables co
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Following the colors of the wires is not a full proof method to be sure you have made the correct connections. You clearly have some connections that are not correct. The only way to figure out what is what in the wiring harness is to find yourself a wiring diagram for the car and hopefully you have a detailed wiring diagram for the stereo. With the two of these, disregard the wire colors and confirm the power connections go to power connections, grounds go to grounds etc. This can be time consuming so give yourself time to study the diagrams.
When wrong connections are made, the symptoms that follow are always going to be random and unpredictable, so don’t worry yourself to much with what is happening with the car. First you need to start with the correct connections. I recommend starting with a few wires at at time. First power and ground then maybe speaker wires and antenna. If you make these connections and the stereo begins to work, you will know your on the right track. Make one connection at a time and observe if there are any problems that occur. If a problem occurs, you can isolate it to the last connection you made.
The use of a test light to confirm power with the key on or off is valuable with such an installation. Be patient and I’m sure you can figure this out.
If you find that this is more than you bargained for, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help you sort out the issue with your electrical components.
Good luck!
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Pressing the “Up” and “Down” button resets the Fuel Used gauge to zero.
Sending Unit Failure The most common cause of an inaccurate or non-functioning gas gauge is a component called the sending unit. When you`re driving, the sending unit rubs against a variable resistor. This can lead to wear over the life of your vehicle.
Reset when the needle is stuck on “Empty,” regardless of the fuel level. This is a very typical sign that the fuel gauge needs a reboot. This is by design—it`s better to think your tank is empty and preventatively add more gas than vice versa. Sometimes, turning the car off and back on will temporarily fix this.
Best Answer. It resets your fuel pump. If you get into an accident like I did with my minivan, you hit the reset switch and everything resets, radio, clock, fuel pump, ect. 12 people think this is helpful.
A fuel level sensor (FLS) is used in all automobiles to indicate fuel level. Various methods are used to measure fuel level such as resistive film, discrete resistors, capacitive, and ultrasonic. Resistive-based sensors are most commonly used for this application.
A poor connection can cause enough resistance to lower the amount of voltage reaching the pump. This causes the pump to turn more slowly than it should, and can shorten the life of the pump. Replacing the vehicle side connector should solve the issues with poor connections, but sometimes causes another problem.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
new stereo unit not working, interior lights and fuel level not working or showing up
ANSWER : Following the colors of the wires is not a full proof method to be sure you have made the correct connections. You clearly have some connections that are not correct. The only way to figure out what is what in the wiring harness is to find yourself a wiring diagram for the car and hopefully you have a detailed wiring diagram for the stereo. With the two of these, disregard the wire colors and confirm the power connections go to power connections, grounds go to grounds etc. This can be time consuming so give yourself time to study the diagrams.
When wrong connections are made, the symptoms that follow are always going to be random and unpredictable, so don’t worry yourself to much with what is happening with the car. First you need to start with the correct connections. I recommend starting with a few wires at at time. First power and ground then maybe speaker wires and antenna. If you make these connections and the stereo begins to work, you will know your on the right track. Make one connection at a time and observe if there are any problems that occur. If a problem occurs, you can isolate it to the last connection you made.
The use of a test light to confirm power with the key on or off is valuable with such an installation. Be patient and I’m sure you can figure this out.
If you find that this is more than you bargained for, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can help you sort out the issue with your electrical components.
Good luck!
All dashboard lights and tail lights do not work after driving through a lot of snow. Headlights work. And brake lights work.
ANSWER : Hello. We’ll be happy to help you. There are a few things that I recommend checking to discover why your lighting system is malfunctioning. The headlight dimmer switch should be checked. Along with the wiring harness above the right front tire behind the fender well cover. Also
the main fuse under the hood should be inspected because other people with your particular vehicle have had similar lighting issues if that fuse goes bad. It will be a great idea to check the rest of the fuses in that area too while checking the main fuse. Once the fuses are checked inside of the main fuse box then I would check the fuses inside of their interior fuse box. The interior fuse box should be located on the driver side of the dashboard near where your legs would be. If you need more assistance with repairing your vehicle please keep in mind that our organization provides Mobile Mechanics who can help you diagnose and repair your vehicle, all at competitive rates.
Okay so when I turn my lights on at night my brake lights do not work, when I don’t have my lights on they work fine.
ANSWER : Hi there. Based on your inquiry, it’s highly probable that you have a damaged light switch or some electrical fault inside the turn signal relay. However, it’s also possible that the brake switch above the brake pedal could also be the source of your problem. Due to the fact that multiple electrical components might be causing this issue, it’s a smart idea to first have a professional mobile mechanic complete a brake lights are not working inspection, so they can determine what’s causing all of these issues and recommend the right repairs.
Just replaced head gasket, changed crack sensor new plugs. The check engine light is on, but dim, the only other light that the dash is a normal battery indicator. The fuel pump is not running when switch is turned on, the power windows don’t work, it turns over but not firing. It’s like only one part of the system is working. Also the heater fans work even if the switch is off.
ANSWER : I would first look at the diagnostic trouble codes. Those codes are available because the check engine light is on. If the fuel pump is not running (momentarily) at key on, that fault alone will prevent the car from starting as there will be no fuel pressure. Pump output and pressure can be directly tested and you can also check for electrical power to the pump. To find out why the engine will not run, the recommended diagnostic is a no start diagnostic. If you request that service, the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Dash, Tail/brake, dome, trunk, glovebox, and door lights won’t work, dash doing weird things.
ANSWER : Hi there. Sure would appear a lot is going on electrically all at once. This could be, a problem in the PDC (power distribution center). The PDC is typically located under the hood and contains numerous fuses and relays. I don’t believe any one fuse will resolve all of the electrical issues. There is a possibility, it is not a power supply issue. It may be, the result of a poor electrical ground common to the inoperative components. Proper circuit testing should be performed. This would confirm the cause of multiple electrical failures. I recommend having your vehicle’s electrical problems be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.
No dash lights, back right tail light is out, no parking lights. Brake lights work though as does head lights.
ANSWER : Hi there. In many cases, when you have electrical problems like you’re describing, it’s caused by multiple electrical component failure. It’s likely that a few electrical relays are not working; especially if you have systems that utilize the same components (such as your brake light and tail lights). I would recommend having a professional mobile mechanic come to your location to complete an electrical problems inspection first, so they can pinpoint what is damaged and recommend the right repairs.
Electrical problems after upgrades
ANSWER : Hi there. From the description you have provided, all of your vehicle’s electrical problems began with the "upgrades". Unfortunately this could be a can of worms to repair. Assuming, you had a qualified technician install the vehicle’s radio and lighting upgrades and all was fine after the installations. This would lead me to believe your vehicle has several problems. The first place to look would be fuse(s) for the inoperative components. Next, to look for shorts to power the components staying on. If you can find the problem yourself, I recommend having your vehicle’s electrical problems diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic.
My dash board don’t work my front light work when I change my light into high beam and my back window won’t go down
ANSWER : As unfortunate as it is, your vehicle would be considered flood damaged. Diagnosing electrical problems in a flood damaged vehicle is nearly impossible. This would take many hours or even days to determine which wiring harnesses and circuits have been affected. Then nearly all of the wiring under the dash would likely require replacement as well as many sensors and switches. On a BMW vehicle, the amount of wires and switches are likely more than that of a lower end vehicle. Due to the inefficiency in cost, you would likely be able to purchase another BMW like yours for less than what it would cost to fix your car. Many insurance companies would consider this type of damage to total out the vehicle unfortuantely.
