I have a really confusing problem. Its a long read but theres something weird going on here.

Ok so im installing a system in my friends Z and i cant figure out what the problem is. I cant get the amp to turn on. I wired an 8 gauge wire directly from the positive battery terminal to the amp. Then the ground wire to the chassis. I used the same spot as in my Z, and i have a fully functional system. I then hooked up the remote to the headunit. The amp would not turn on.

I thought it might be the remote wire or headunit so i ran it to the headunit in my car. Had them parked side by side. Turned my car on, amp still doesnt turn on. I swap the amp back into my car with my + - wires and it works. Wires are set up exactly the same as my friends Z.

I then put the amp back in my friends car. Wire positive and negative up again. I touch the remote wire to the Positive power and the amp turns on. So its getting power and will turn on, but when its in my friends car no headunit can turn it on. Her headunit or mine wont do it. When its hooked up to my positive and negative my headunit will turn it on. Sorry for the long read but i wanted to explain it fully.

Any advice on what it could be? its really confusing the hell out of me

 

take volt meter find a 12 volt accersory souce in your fuse box

then run a 12 to 16 awg run from the 12 volt accesory fuse using a fuse tap to the remote on the amp

though voltage is low it is still a power run so fuse with a 1 amp blade fuse so you don't start a fire

 

and i hope your fusing the power run from the battery to the + input on the amp as well

fuse all wires that carry power always

 

You can't use just the remote wire from one car to turn an amp on in another car - you would have to connect the grounds of the two cars together first.

The obvious issue here is that you are not getting voltage on the remote wire - a volt meter will confirm this, although the test you did by touching the 12vdc to the remote wire pretty much does the same thing.

Where did you connect the remote wire? How did you connect it? If you have a volt meter verify that it is showing 12vdc when the radio (or accessory) is on.

 

I like Kevin’s comment:
I'm only guessing, but if the volt meter is showing < 12v, it could be a bad cell in the battery causing the problem you describe.

--Spike