# Bmw starting issues because of stereo wire **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** bmw, 525\ **Created:** [January 16, 2023, 5:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511 "2023-01-16T05:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![willdenson10\_183746](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@willdenson10\_183746](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willdenson10_183746)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 5:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/1 "2023-01-16T05:34:24Z")
Asking for a friend, one of my friends who drives a 2003 BMW 525i has an after market stereo and he was doing something with the wiring and a wire came unplugged he doesnt know where from but now his car wont start without that wire being plugged in what should he do? ---
**Author:** ![Darron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/darron/32/21829_2.png) [@Darron](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Darron)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 6:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/2 "2023-01-16T06:32:59Z")
If it’s anE39 5 series I can’t see a radio wire causing a non start, it’s more likely it’s blown a fuse somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 4:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/3 "2023-01-16T16:12:20Z")
Does the engine turn over when he tries to start it? Do the dashboard lights come on as usual? ---
**Author:** ![willdenson10\_183746](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@willdenson10\_183746](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willdenson10_183746)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/4 "2023-01-16T16:31:53Z")
Ya all the dash lights come on but it wont start and the stereo face gets no power ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 4:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/5 "2023-01-16T16:34:17Z")
Obvious question - can’t they figure out where the wire goes? That’s the first thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![willdenson10\_183746](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@willdenson10\_183746](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willdenson10_183746)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/6 "2023-01-16T16:35:00Z")
He tried but he doesnt know where it came from or where it goes back into ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/7 "2023-01-16T17:08:57Z")
That’s the cause of the problem, most likely, so nothing else matters at this point. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/8 "2023-01-16T17:17:32Z")
> [@shanonia](#): > > Does the engine turn over when he tries to start it? This might be important info. ---
**Author:** ![willdenson10\_183746](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@willdenson10\_183746](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willdenson10_183746)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 5:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/9 "2023-01-16T17:18:33Z")
The dash lights will turn on but it will not fully start ---
**Author:** ![jeremiahcornell1\_183749](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5fc32e/32.png) [@jeremiahcornell1\_183749](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jeremiahcornell1_183749)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/10 "2023-01-16T17:34:36Z")
His friend here, the dash turns on, it doesn’t turn over or even click. The radio I have is the android replacement from [amaseaudio.com](http://amaseaudio.com) also the radio doesn’t turn on or even attempt to. It flickered a few times as it went out and it’s Ben dead since ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 6:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/11 "2023-01-16T18:24:00Z")
Time to remove the new radio, see if you can find the socket for the loose wire, and put back in the old radio to eliminate the radio as a possible cause of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/12 "2023-01-16T20:20:51Z")
Chinese low budget garbage, what do you want for $289. Probably be lucky if some permanent hasn’t been done. Check and re-check your installation and check all your fuses. ---
**Author:** ![NYBo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nybo/32/17281_2.png) [@NYBo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/NYBo)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/13 "2023-01-16T20:35:39Z")
What were you doing with the wiring when the problem occurred? Did the car ever start after installation of the aftermarket stereo? My guess is you accidentally shorted out something. ---
**Author:** ![willdenson10\_183746](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@willdenson10\_183746](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willdenson10_183746)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/14 "2023-01-16T22:42:06Z")
It started and ran fine with the aftermarket stereo in since i have known him since august of last year. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/15 "2023-01-16T23:00:30Z")
??? Then when did the wire come undone? August of last year? Or just now? ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/16 "2023-01-16T23:07:32Z")
What did he mess with to pull a wire loose? And he is responding now, why are you? ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2023, 11:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/17 "2023-01-16T23:11:22Z")
If the car was running fine with the new stereo, then stopped running months later, then the loose wire was just noticed, I think it’s a red herring and nothing to do with the problem. ---
**Author:** ![willdenson10\_183746](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/85e7bf/32.png) [@willdenson10\_183746](https://community.cartalk.com/u/willdenson10_183746)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 1:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/18 "2023-01-17T01:04:43Z")
He got it fixed it was a dead battery ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 1:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/19 "2023-01-17T01:08:13Z")
Good. Always check the simple things first. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/bmw-starting-issues-because-of-stereo-wire/188511/20 "2023-01-18T01:39:23Z")
A loose/disconnected battery wire is usually pretty obvious where it goes.