Stock head unit, smoked! Literally! - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

Rusty Shackleford · 01-17-2026, 03:42 PM

Installed the ST t-harness, amp, and 2-10" subs last weekend.

FF to Wed evening on the way home from work.....Cruising down the road in heavy traffic, Listening to "Voices" by Russ Ballard at a very moderate volume I hear some crackles in the audio, everything stopped, and smoke comes out of the dash, Not a huge amount, but it's always concerning when the smoke escapes anything. It stopped smoking after about 30-45sec's. Factory radio, dead.

Now I've been around aftermarket car audio for a few decades. Stuff piggybacked onto oem, and full custom installs. I'm not a pro on the matter or an audiophile. But I've seen amps smoke a few times, a couple that I thought would start making flames. Seen plenty of speakers fry too, both highs and lows. Never once was the head unit damaged. So I'm on the fence whether this was just weird timing, or if something in the install components caused this? I know the actuall install itself was good. I did it myself and am experienced in line and low voltage electrical work.

The sub amp is still lit up, all fuses properly sized and intact. No apparent damage to the subs. Just a blacked out radio and AC control backlighting. AC controls all still work, but not backlit at night. No sound, of course.

So a couple of questions:
1) Any opinions on whether this was caused by the addition of the amp?
2) If yes to above, please elaborate?
3) Or just coincidental timing?
4) Odds that the factory amp is damaged too?

What are my options moving forward? Aside from replacing the radio.... I know about the f a r k kit, and see plenty f options for head unit replacement. Just not sure if replacing the head unit requires replacing the factory amp, or if that can be retained until I get to that point?

Thanks,
Jay

01-17-2026, 03:42 PM	#1
Rusty Shackleford Drives: 2012 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Jun 2023 Location: Texas Posts: 86	Stock head unit, smoked! Literally! Installed the ST t-harness, amp, and 2-10" subs last weekend. FF to Wed evening on the way home from work.....Cruising down the road in heavy traffic, Listening to "Voices" by Russ Ballard at a very moderate volume I hear some crackles in the audio, everything stopped, and smoke comes out of the dash, Not a huge amount, but it's always concerning when the smoke escapes anything. It stopped smoking after about 30-45sec's. Factory radio, dead. Now I've been around aftermarket car audio for a few decades. Stuff piggybacked onto oem, and full custom installs. I'm not a pro on the matter or an audiophile. But I've seen amps smoke a few times, a couple that I thought would start making flames. Seen plenty of speakers fry too, both highs and lows. Never once was the head unit damaged. So I'm on the fence whether this was just weird timing, or if something in the install components caused this? I know the actuall install itself was good. I did it myself and am experienced in line and low voltage electrical work. The sub amp is still lit up, all fuses properly sized and intact. No apparent damage to the subs. Just a blacked out radio and AC control backlighting. AC controls all still work, but not backlit at night. No sound, of course. So a couple of questions: 1) Any opinions on whether this was caused by the addition of the amp? 2) If yes to above, please elaborate? 3) Or just coincidental timing? 4) Odds that the factory amp is damaged too? What are my options moving forward? Aside from replacing the radio.... I know about the f a r k kit, and see plenty f options for head unit replacement. Just not sure if replacing the head unit requires replacing the factory amp, or if that can be retained until I get to that point? Thanks, Jay