I'm just trying to get some feedback, where to start looking...
I thought it was the amp, because i had been moving the old one around...

Last month, a few speakers went out (one or more) at different times. I thought it was a loose wire. I took it to a stereo place I trust, and they found a bad channel in the amp. I had just moved the amp because I fixed some plastic in the hatch. I blamed myself, because I stowed the amp into the wheel well with the spare, & had been fine til then! I should have left it alone.
(The sub is seperate, 6" has its own amp - everything is about 3 yrs old, speakers in stock location, size etc.)

I bought a new amp to replace the old junk, nothing special, same specs. But the new amp is acting up, all 4 speakers go out now. For like one second, then it comes back. Totally at random times, hot or cold. It's light goes out. I don't think I'm over heating it, been careful not to play any louder than the old one. (The old setup would drain the car if I played it loud for too long, so I keep a limit!) I haven't noticed any other electrical problems in the car, so I don't suspect the alt...

The stereo place checked for a bad ground, etc, and even replaced it with a totally new amp! Also have it in a more stable place, (installed on a board under carpet, no glue yet) on top of gas tank.

The bad part is, the sub/or its amp are also going bad, they cut out too, at different times. Seems like the sub does it when its actually overheating, not just when ever. But I swear I am not playing it louder to compensate, (I don't trust my ears & keep track of the volume levels of everything,) and it never cut out before.

I feel like I traded one problem for another, but I know there's got to be something at the bottom of it.

(I saw in another post it could be the deck, well mine is over 2 years so it could be.)

 

well if the ground is good, and it cuts out on both amps, sounds like a remote wire, possibly the power wire.

This is from a thread a while ago posted by gummie:

"What size power wire did you run for your first amp? If you ran 4 gauge or larger (smaller numerically) you should just buy a fused distribution block and split your existing power wire by your amps to get the additional power line. Find a block that works with the wire sizes you’re using.

Remote wire: the right way of doing this is to use a relay to turn both amps on or to install a switch to turn them on. Headunits don't provide a lot of current on the remote wire and two amps is pushing it."

This is why im thinking remote wire and when the system drains the battery a little the remote doesnt have enough juice anymore to keep them on. I could be wrong

 

I agree also check for any loose wires in your head unit's harness, or even on the amp and speakers them selves. Or for parts where the instulation on the wires might be missing.

 

OK. Thanks! The wires aren't new... I'll let you know what happens.

 

I didn't see any make and model info. What the make and model of the amp AND the HU.

 

HU is an alpine CDA 9183 at least 2 years old!

The new amp is a JBL, I know it's an off brand, but I don't really care! It's not for looks. As long as it works...

My subwoofer is an old school Bazooka tube! It has some kind of crossfire amp. My old amp (spks)was a Pioneer. (That was just the first stuff I did to it, you know!) Until I moved the amp, everything was hunky dory.

I had the new one install at Tweeter, and I totally trust the guy there!He says the wiring is OK right size etc. (I've been to a couple other stereo places...) He is very determined to solve the problem. The HU was done there a while back and also the Ipod cable, (but a different installer, lately it's been the same guy!) (Everything else was done at least 3 yrs ago at the neighborhood stereo place, by the stereo mafia.)

I think I'm dealing with more than bad wiring though. When the problem showed up, I even watched him test my speakers, etc. to make sure everything worked. I don't think its a bad ground.

Today he put on some kind of relay between the HU and everything else. I'm sorry I don't know alot about wiring. I asked him what it did, basically he thinks the old HU doesn't put out enough to support the new amp and the subwoofer and its amp. He said something about old school set-ups... Anybody?

But it's exactly the same. I drove the car home, let it sit, and at night took it out and about 15 minutes later it (amp) cut out. I think it has something to do with the way the car handles. I think it hit some bumps in the road? I didn't think amps were that fickle...I don't have the A/C on, fog lights on, anything! Anyway, after it cut out for a few moments, it was fine for about 2 hours afterward, including any other road bumps, til I gave up and went home. Same music, vol, sub, etc. The new amp has a blue power light, which turns off when the cut off happens. It's supposed to turn on a green light when it is in trouble, but so far I haven't seen it! The worst problem is not being able to make it do it when the installer can see!

I still think its the head unit but that's a few hundred bucks... so far I'm only out what the new amp cost! I think the installer is trying to save me some trouble too. He used to own a camaro himself... I'm checking out the other posts here...

 

It sounds more liek a remote or ground wire now. If there is no power at all, not a green trouble light, there is a power issue. Especially since both cut out.

 

If the power light on the amp is going out check the rem wire back at the amp. If this is a vary intermittent problem it may be easer to run some spare speaker wire back to the amp, small gage, just over the carpet. One wire to the ground on the amp and one to the rem terminal. Run that over the seats upfront to a DMM/voltmeter. Then drive around and see if when the amp cuts out if the rem wire still has 12V on it. If it's loosing that 12V on the rem terminal we need to trouble shoot from there.
The other thing you can try is run a wire over the seat to the rem wire from the amp to another power source, other then the HUs rem out. You can use an ACC switched power source or a B+ source with a switch.

 

 

if your amp is under your carpet,make sure you are not putting pressure on your rca jacks.also,whenyour amp turns off again,run a screwdriver from your power cord while its connected in the power slot to the remote slot,dont have the remote connected tho..that will give your amp power

con-connected



screwdriver accross
{power} {remote} {grnd}
con not con