Car Random Splutters And Stalls

[me_larr]

I'm having a bit of a problem here and would like some help.

I've recently installed an Alpine IDA x-305 into the car replacing some cheapo Sony (very basic).

While I've never done a headunit installation, it seemed pretty straightforward to me....took out the old unit and just replaced the sony loom with the Alpine loom....wire for wire while checking and cross referencing with the Alpine installation manual.

The Alpine works perfectly but now, my car seems to splutter and randomly stall for no apparent reason.

Would the Alpine have such a draw on power that it would affect the car?

I think I've grounded the headunit properly. I just screwed the ground to where the sony unit was grounded previously. Would bad grounding of the headunit have an effect on the car's performance? Common sense would say that only the headunit would be doing funky stuff if I got the ground wrong.

Suggestions and tips please

[Carbon 34]

look elsewhere it's not the radio or current draw from a radio, amps maybe but not a radio, I doubt you wired it so wrong the car won't run, unless you shorted a wire ?

did you use a tester or some kind ? maybe a test light ?

or did you pull on the wire harness a lot ? could be bad alarm wires but once again not enough info.

does it sputter at idle or ?

does it actually die ?

what car is it ? engine type ? S13 or ? maybe post on hardtuned.net, NS.com

sounds more like a fuel,spark,battery ground issue or failure of a sensor.

check the ECU for fault codes ?

and post this in the other section for more help. hope this helps , but it wasn't the radio unless you shorted something using a test light or yanked out some other dodgy wiring ?

[me_larr]

My bad, should have included more info.

Here goes:

Car = 96 180sx.

It doesnt splutter on idle. Idles just like it always has.

It randomly splutters when driving normally and has stalled on me when coming onto the brakes with clutch in.

I did not use a test light or anything. I just wired the Alpine wire for wire based on how the previous owner wired the Sony.

I'm made sure I was gentle enough on the wires and not to yank them although some needed a little persuasion because I needed to reach deep into the console cos the previous idiot cut them really short.

Lets just say there's a whole heap of wires in there which I suspect was even stuff leftover from a sub/amp setup previously in the car.

Also found some old school SAFC (lots of manual dials) which seems wired up.

Its because it dies when I'm on the pedals with headunit on/aircon on that I use that has led me to believe that its the current draw; hence my post in this section

And don't the IDA X-305s have an internal amp? (small as it may be) Could this be the extra draw in current?

BTW, the NS electrical section is dead. This is still a Nissan forum and most here have probably owned an S series vehicle before.

So if no one else can give possible suggestions to why this is happening I will do as told (check sensors, fuel, spark etc)

Cheers

[Carbon 34]

judging from what you found under the dash, I would gather bad wiring from the previous owner , also check the battery voltage, connections tight and clean ?

or a coincidence , check the computer error codes , I would suss your airflow meter or Idle control valve is playing games on you

does your car do it cold or hot ? both ?

bet your car is belting out black smoke before it dies (similar to a stuck closed choke ) do you see stained black haze near the tailpipe or really sooty looking inside it ?

carefully remove the old wiring from old stereo , it may still have power on the amp wires ?????

but the ecu codes should be a place to look after you clean up the above ?

[me_larr]

Mate, at this point in time, what you've suggested and pointed out seems right on the money.

I've cleaned out the AFM and the connections (1 pin was oxidized green), battery terminals and even went as far as to clean the CAS and TPS plugs for kicks.

Also sprayed some Nulon carby cleaner down the idle screw into the IACV. It all appears to have worked a treat except I believe the IACV might be filthy cos the screw had some nice carbon build up on the inside.

Sadly, I cant clean the IACV as its such a chore to do on an S13 SR. Looks like it involves removing the top half of the intake runners.

An easier and more effective suggestion to clean would be lovely.

I havent had the time to fully test out the car cos its purely a weekend thing (only drove couple times round the block). Might give it more of a run this ANZAC weekend and see how we go.

ECU codes are next if it still plays up and I'll ask here again should I get lost.

Your help has been much appreciated!

cheers

[Carbon 34]

Mate, at this point in time, what you've suggested and pointed out seems right on the money.

I've cleaned out the AFM and the connections (1 pin was oxidized green), battery terminals and even went as far as to clean the CAS and TPS plugs for kicks.

Also sprayed some Nulon carby cleaner down the idle screw into the IACV. It all appears to have worked a treat except I believe the IACV might be filthy cos the screw had some nice carbon build up on the inside.

Sadly, I cant clean the IACV as its such a chore to do on an S13 SR. Looks like it involves removing the top half of the intake runners.

An easier and more effective suggestion to clean would be lovely.

I havent had the time to fully test out the car cos its purely a weekend thing (only drove couple times round the block). Might give it more of a run this ANZAC weekend and see how we go.

ECU codes are next if it still plays up and I'll ask here again should I get lost.

Your help has been much appreciated!

cheers

Your Welcome, I will send you the bill..

thank you come again..hahaha

[JoelyMoley]

i still vote for AFM, got anyone local that you could borrow their AFM for 10 mins?