I have a 92 RS, with the 305 TBI engine. I swapped in a new cd deck and a 8" powered sub. I installed all the components and did all the wiring. I then hooked the battery back up. I turned the ignition to see if I had all the connections done properly and everything worked. As I was adjusting the clock on the deck, the deck power went out. I checked the fuse but it was fine. I tried again, but still no power. I checked all the fuses, all were fine. I have power everywhere except in the deck. I tried to start the car and now it won't start, there is a loud grinding sorta noise coming from the engine bay. I think it's the alternator. I put new speakers in yesterday and they worked fine and the car started no problems. I need help. Hope someone can help.

My guess is that there is a short somewhere that drained the battery...

Now you don't have enough power to start the car so the starter is making a ticking sound (grinding).

Turn the key part way and check the battery guague reading.. it should be around 12 if you want to start the car.

What did you use for a ground to power the amp...?

That sounds like what the problem is. When I try to turn the car on the lights go dim and that ticking noise happens. Must be short in the stereo wires, cause that's the only thing with no power. The 8" sub is self powered, it runs a lead from the battery and I grounded it on a bolt it the bottom of the hatch. Thanks.

also be sure to double check that you have the battery wires on tight.

edit:

one more thing is. what turns you powered sub on and off.
all amps have a remote wire that the cd player uses to turn it on and off. so the amp is not on all the time and kill your bat.

You should have an inline fuse in your amp power wire.... put it as close to the battery as possible.

sounds to me something draining the battery

like trigger said there should be a wire on the powered sub that is hooked to some kinda switch so it is turned off when the key is in the off position. you hooked the powered sub right to the battery? sounds like it is draining the battery. also, like johnyIROC said, put a fuse on the line to the battery.

Hey I got it to start, Sweet. I must have drained the battery. The car had the original battery in it, so I guess it wasn't that good. I bought a new battery and put it in and it started with no problem. But I have unhooked the cd player. Does anybody have a wiring diagram for the radio in a 1992 RS, I want to know what exactly what I'm cutting and putting together. Thanks for all your help.

hold on. dont cut the factory harness!!!!!! you can buy an adaptor that will plug into the factory conector. that way you can always change it back over and not have to cut wires. it makes it WAY easyer and only cost about $15-20. it will also have the codes for the factory wires on the out side of the bag. you should be able to get the adaptor at any car audio shop.

Aw nuts, The wires are already cut. Did it old school style. Thats why I wanted the diagram. What's done is done.