Thread: Shorted stereo wires, now car won't start. Help!

Hey guys, just found this forum in my desperate search for answers! I'm working on my brother's 05 gt, putting in new rear speakers. I was trying to determine the polarity of the wires and had my VOM on DC instead of AC, which I guess shorted the wires. I heard a pop that I think was from under the front passenger seat. Now I'm getting error messages for ABS, Traction Control and Charging System. The car also clicks like the battery is dead. From what I can tell, I did some actual damage. I figured a fuse would have popped, but this doesn't seem to be anything caused by a fuse. I'm going to go check them now just in case, but any ideas?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Update... Pulled every fuse, one by one and put the key in ACC and same issue each time. The other symptoms I'm getting are while the key is in ACC, the lights (interior and exterior) are flashing like turn signals and I can hear a relay clicking. Also, there's an occasional thump coming from the same area under the passenger seat I heard the pop. I'm now thinking I fried some kind of relay/junction box.

Is there any kind of peripheral computer that's located under the passenger seat. Is there just the one PCM in the engine compartment or are there separate controllers for the ABS and TCS?

Sorry for so many questions! I'm familiar with cheaper (simpler) cars. This is way too much electronics for me! Done some searching, but not finding anything relevant.

Thanks again!

Originally Posted by dbextreme

comfort convenience module (or whatever it's called), if these cars have one??

So I did a little research and it looks like you might be talking about the BCM?

A fried BCM seems like it could be causing my problems with lights and radio, but could it cause the charging issues too? It seems like the electronics are totally destroyed. The car is making random buzzes, clicks and flashes from every relay and light bulb on the car. I can't pinpoint any symptoms because everything is going crazy. The trunk release is even "flashing" with the lights sometimes. I'm pretty good with electronics (installed various stereos, remote starts, PATS bypass modules, even a standalone computer setup on an older car) but I really don't even know where to start here.

I don't understand how shorting one stereo channel could cause this. I'm ready to rip my hair out lol.

Originally Posted by 99XC600

The BCM "Body Control Module" controls all functions not related to the engine and transmission. Everything you mention points to a flaked out BCM. I just don't understand how a Multimeter with a 9v battery could cause enough amperage that it would take out the BCM.

Have you checked all of the simple items first like grounds, battery cables and trying another battery in it? I know when the battery in my 2004 GT1 went to a dead short all sorts of weird things would happen at the cluster.

Yeah there's something seriously wrong with it. I was getting about 11.9V on the battery so I tried to jump it thinking maybe undervolting the PCM was causing the other issues and making me overlook the obvious.

I was jumping it from my 2001 Eclipse and when we tried to crank the Grand Prix it just clicked and didn't turn over and my car stalled. My car started right back up, but one of my HID's and the halo around it are burned out!

I gave up and had it towed to a shop. I have literally no idea what the problem could be.