Friend in Arvada wants help diagnosing electrical problem: 73 Corvette

[Scott Y]

350/auto, mostly original from what I understand.
She is the original owner, and the car is experiencing some electrical issues. She took it to BestBuy to have a CD player installed, and now if the stereo is 'plugged in' it kills the battery. Some of her dash lights in the main cluster have gone away as well, probably just dead bulbs. And the passenger power window switch doesn't seem to be working, probably a dirty switch.

Sounds like a simple miswire of the stereo that might have popped some of the dash lights when the BB guys messed it up. She's had it back twice, but they haven't done anything to fix it.

With my current work schedule I am unable to help, anyone else available to check it out? She's not expecting free help, but doesn't want to take the car to a stealership for a potentially simple fix. BB is doing nothing to help her.

Give me a shout if you have a few hours one night to help her out,
Scott Y

[magikgsx]

Sounds like they messed up the dim wire when they connected the wire harness. Usually when I install after market radios I dont hook up the dim switch to the radio.

[drcustom]

I don't have a lot of time myself these day but I work in Arvada, so I might be able to swing by after work one day at least to see if it's something quick. I used to do a lot of car audio/electrical work (how I got into cars really), including many fixes of the 'installs' done by the big box shops.

A few questions in advance:
1) Has anyone checked fuses? I'm thinking they must have done this but always like to ask.
2) Is she certain the pass window issue related (wondering if maybe it was just discovered at the same time)
3) Does everything work, but the battery just dies after some time? If so, how long? A few hours or a few days?
4) Regarding the dash lights...is that just something that needs fixed or did it start happening immediately after the install?

I can help regardless of what the answers are, just trying to get an idea of how much I need to research the other electrical issues before I have a look at it.

PM sent with phone number.

[Zeppelin]

With the older cars their stereos didn't have the 12v constant wire that is used now to save clock and radio stations. They probably piggybacked into the dash lights and that might be what is causing the issues.

[magikgsx]

With the older cars their stereos didn't have the 12v constant wire that is used now to save clock and radio stations. They probably piggybacked into the dash lights and that might be what is causing the issues.

I second that. I use a inline fuse and hook the constant power wire into the batt plug in the fuse block. Ive done this with all my early model chevy and never had issues of the problems spoken of.