Expert: Peter G. Lee - 7/31/2006

Question
Honda Accord 1996--kind of shorted acc wire when installing stereo. Fuses ok and everthing works on car but get no accessory power to radio when turn key. Thanks               Bart

Answer
Well, didn't you do well.
Without info on the stereo I will have to give general advise, sorry.

I take it when you say fuses are O.K. you are talking about both the stereo inline fuse and the one in the fuse box? If you shorted the wire between the radio and the inline fuse it can only be the inline fuse but if you shorted it before the inline fuse it must be the next fuse down the line, usually in the fuse box, as you say you have no power on the acc line it could be dead from the fusebox.
Just to check the head unit is ok first, disconnet the acc wire from the cars loom and connect the acc input wire to live input on the radio so the set is 'on' all the time and make sure it's ok. (this is normal on cars that don't have an acc connection), before you waste time looking for the problem in the wrong place.
Head unit O.K.? good carry on looking at the ACC line.
Head unit still not working? Oh dear, repair shop unless you are lucky and there is a mini blade fuse in the rear of most stereos these days, next to the connector block, check that.
Using a 12v test probe or a multimeter set at 20vdc, check the dead acc wire back from the stereo untill you either come to a break or a blown fuse, has to be one or the other, double check the fuse box, sometimes a fuse can look good but have a fine break.
Hope that lot helps. Peter