Car not starting after head unit/speaker/amp install? HELP!
 

So this has got to be the weirdest and most concerning thing I've seen on my car in the 4 years I've had her. Basically I had a new head unit, all 8 speakers upgraded, added an amp and sub, and had all installed professionally. I'm no good with car electronics so I had everything installed by a professional.

Everything seemed fine and the speakers sounded great but after taking my car home from the shop that installed everything, my car no longer would start. I'd turn the ignition all the way and it wouldn't even click. The engine wouldn't even attempt to start. It definitely wasn't the battery because all the electronics in the car work. I'd have to play with it for almost an hour to get lucky for it to start. This has me really worried as the FRS is my daily.

The day after the install it kept doing the same thing. I got it to start and took it back to the shop that installed everything and they said everything checked out ok. My car then didn't start again as I was leaving but they said they had no clue what it could be. Mind you I've never had any issue like this at all in the past.

Then my car finally started and the check engine light came on. Mine is an automatic and the light in the gauges that signify if the car is in P or N or D didn't light up. And if I'd put it in drive the car would jerk really bad.

Today I woke up early to take it to the Toyota dealer and the car started perfectly and everything. Once I got there it continued to start normally and they couldn't find anything. The only thing I notice now is a minor high pitched whine that seems to go along with the RPM's of the engine, not too sure. However I don't believe an issue like that will just autocorrect itself so I'm still very worried. If anybody can please pitch in I'd greatly appreciate it.

My FRS is like my baby and I just want everything to function normally.

How old is your battery ? Are battery post clean ? The fact that it worked fine after the stereo shop gave it to you indicates their work was fine. Either battery or some other issue just happened.

22R

Sounds to me like it was the anti thief device kicking in. A while ago another frs owner went through the same thing after getting an audio upgrade. If I recalled the trouble was with his key fob not communicating with the alarm brain. In the end I believe the dealer had to reset the key fob or something like that so the car can start.

The minor high pitch sound is a common problem, that's an easy fix it's just a ground loop. One of the amps just needs a new grounding point or needs to be metal on metal contact that's all. Although maybe that could also cause your problems if there was a bad ground somewhere and it was messing up with the ecu.

Either way might be better off taking it back to the audio shop or, if it was me take it to a slightly better shop to have it looked over.

Maybe some one else might have some better ideas. That's my 2 cents on the matter.

Ya, I'd suspect that the battery is getting weak.

I'd suggest you take it to a shop and have the battery "load tested". If it doesn't pass ..... time for a new battery.


humfrz

It's most likely your battery. Your electronics can still work. Chances are you battery voltage is low and can't turn over the engine. Also, check the alternator. Make sure it's outputting around 14 volts. Also, your new sound system can be wired incorrectly causing it to draw too much current, so the alternator wont be able to keep up with charging the battery.

This has nothing to do with the battery. If it was battery related, it'd try to start and fail. No noise, no click but power to the car means that something else is going on.

The shop that installed the stereo is responsible to fix this. Force the issue. They also have to fix that ground loop (the whining noise you hear). they were sloppy and should have picked that up right away.

Bet you a beer it is the battery. It doesn't have to click or try for the power to be too low to activate the starter but high enough to run everything else.

Wish I had a dollar for everybody that said it can't be the battery because everything else works just to find out it was the battery or connections to it.

The battery should ALWAYS be the first thing checked and never ruled out because accessories work.

That was what I thought too but the battery is almost new, probably less then 500 miles on it

Doesn't mean it could not have been drained just enough to not start the car. They were doing work that involves electrical after all.
If it happens again give it a check and actually rule it out.
Sound like it just managed to get charged up enough and that is why it fixed itself.

Again I said it is probably the battery it could be something else but charge the battery first and check the voltage then go from there

definitely have the shop correct the ground loop whine (aka alternator whine)
This can come from having the gain adjusted too high too, but it's their job to figure out if you paid for professional work.

You're gonna owe me a beer, bud. The starter will at least make a noise and try something. If the starter isn't even budging AND you have power to the car, it ain't the battery. I know that you can have power to everything and the starter won't turn the car over, but it'll do something. I spend all day explaining this to people at work.

Either the starter is bad(or there's a connection isue with it) or it's a security issue. Unless it's some sort of ECU issue which I am not familiar with. But since the stereo system on most cars is tied in closely with the infotainment system, my money's on the shop not reconnecting everything correctly.

Nah. Loads of times there isn't even a click or buzz or anything.
He already has it up and running and the only thing that was changed was it charged itself up once started.

He had already said it was an intermittent problem- it's not fixed. And how do you explain that it started in the first place without a jumpstart?