Car Stereo Won't Turn On But It Has Power - What's Wrong?

One way to liven up your mood when driving is to turn the car stereo on and listen to some music. However, there are times when your car stereo won't turn despite having power. So, what gives? Well, there are a few reasons why your car stereo won't turn even though there's power available.

Music problems highlights

• Reasons:power supply, software, radio issues
• Quick fix:check the fuses and wiring
• Price forrepair:$50 - $350
• Time forrepair:0.5 - 1.5 hours
• Howcommon:not that common
• DIYrepair:possible

Reasons Why Car Stereo Won't Turn On Despite Having Power

As mentioned earlier, your car stereo not working despite having power is not the result of an unknown cause. Usually, a variety of symptoms occur that tell you exactly what's wrong.

An example of this is when your car stereo's display and sound work intermittently or out-off-sync. Or, the car stereo shuts off suddenly when making a sharp turn or driving through a bumpy road.

These are just some of the symptoms that you need to look out for when identifying the reasons why your car stereo is not working properly. And in this section, you will learn more about these reasons and what you can do to help resolve each one. Also, if you're personally tech-savvy, you can hire the help of a professional to help identify and fix the issue for you.

1) Low Car Battery

The most obvious reason why your car stereo won't turn on is not having enough juice in the battery. Either it has enough to help run the car or it's completely dead.

Additionally, it's also possible that you're working with an incompatible car battery. Some cars only run on specific battery types, so installing one that doesn't meet the right specifications will not allow the car stereo to work. So if you just installed a new car battery and the car stereo won't work, check the quality and the state that your car battery is in.

So if you notice that you're having trouble starting the engine of your car first thing in the morning, then it's highly likely that you need to change out the car battery. Or else, a non-functioning car stereo is the least of your worries.

2) Parasitic Drain

Another reason why your car stereo won't turn is that there's too much going on at once. What this means is that other electrical devices inside your car also take power from the car battery. And the amount that they take is substantial enough to cause other electrical systems, like your car stereo, to not function properly.

The result is a parasitic drain. These devices drain the car battery rather quickly over time and prevent the proper distribution of power throughout the car. Not only that, but these devices can also cause your battery to die overnight if you're not too careful, especially if you only take short trips.

What happens then is that some devices are functioning correctly while others show little to no performance at all. To resolve this, try to unplug any excess devices that you have inside the car. Also, try to limit their use as much as possible so that you can enjoy your car's other features, like the stereo.

3) Faulty Power Button

Sometimes, the issue lies with the car stereo itself. More specifically, the issue lies with the power button on the display panel of the car stereo.

A faulty power button will prevent you from turning on the car stereo despite having enough power to do so. If you suspect that this is the case, check the conditions of the other buttons and knobs as well. Too much pressure and improper handling usually cause this issue.

To fix this, you will need to replace the broken parts. In some cases, the entire car stereo will need replacing.

However, if you don't have the time or money to replace the broken parts, don't fret. As long as you have the car stereo manual, you can still turn the stereo on and use it despite having a faulty power button. If you don't have the manual, you can simply check what to do online, as there are plenty of guides available to help you.

4) Blown Fuse

A blown fuse is another probable reason why your car stereo won't turn on. Your car stereo comes with built-in fuses, either at the back or on the sides, which helps make the car stereo work. But due to either extreme temperatures outside or inside the car, those fuses can blow, causing the wiring to melt.

To check if this is the case, you will need a multimeter and a test light. Then, if a reading shows up on the multimeter, it's proof that there is indeed a blown fuse.

If you want to repair this, your only option is to replace the blown fuse with a new one. While doing this, check the condition of the other fuses and wires as well.

5) Protection Mode Triggered

Some car stereos sport anti-theft measures. This helps dissuade thieves from trying to break into your car and steal the stereo.

However, this can also provide you with a whole slew of problems under the right conditions. A sudden power outage caused by a dead battery or loose wiring is enough to trigger the car stereo's protection mode. When that happens, your car's stereo won't turn on at all.

The only way to fix this is by inputting the correct code to unlock the car stereo. You will need to follow the guide provided by the stereo manufacturer to help you troubleshoot this issue.

6) Wiring Issue

Another reason why your car stereo won't work is because of a loose wire connection or damage to certain parts of it. Either of these will prevent your car battery from supplying power to the car stereo.

If you suspect that this is the case, check the pigtail connection and the adapter, if your car stereo comes with one, before taking an overall look at the system. First, uninstall everything and inspect for any obvious signs of wear and damage. Then, if there's none, carefully reinstall everything back in place after waiting for at least ten minutes.

Make sure to secure the connections so that there are no loose areas. Normally, doing this is enough to recalibrate the wires and turn the stereo on.

7) Head Unit Troubles

Sometimes, the fault lies mainly with the head unit. There are several reasons why your head unit is causing you problems.

First, there's a loose connection or damage somewhere in the head unit. Similar to the previous talk about wiring issues, this will also prevent your car stereo from working properly.

Another reason is that the wires inside the head unit do not carry any voltage at all. Conduct a bench test to determine if this is the case. Then, either replace the faulty wires with new ones or replace the entire head unit.

8) Past Its Prime

Sometimes all you need is a new car stereo. Either your current stereo is malfunctioning or has deteriorated due to age. If that's the case, then you're due for an upgrade.

Electrical devices, like car stereos, don't last forever. As technology improves, it will become obsolete one day.

If you plan on replacing the car stereo, visit the nearest auto shop and consult a specialist on the matter. They will advise you on what to get, and if you have a valid warranty available, you can even get a new car stereo for free.

Conclusion

If your car stereo suddenly stops working, there's no need to panic and immediately look for a replacement online. Instead, try to figure out what caused this to happen. And if you get to the problem at hand, all you need to do is apply the correct measure to help solve it.

Replacing a dead battery or simply reinstalling the wires are just some of the ways you can try to fix the issue at home. Sometimes, you will need to buy a new wire or part to fix the problem. Once you exhaust all the options you have at home, go visit your local auto shop to have them fix your car stereo problems.

Remember, the car stereo is your friend when on the road, especially during long drives. Having it down will not only make things boring for you, but it will also give you an unpleasant experience at times. So, make sure to take care of your car stereo and immediately take action when you spot something amiss.