What Am I Going to Do Right - Audio Version

[tbst]

I'm sorry dude but I have to say this. Did you thoroughly read the Alpine manual that came with your amp? The english section is only 15 pages at most. READ IT.

If you cannot get it to work then google "how to install an amplifier" and read some guides.

I'd be glad to help but we have no way of telling what you are doing wrong based on this description.

As a final resort call Alpine on Monday. They offer free english speaking tech support for their products.

The Alpine amp is working just fine.

Meaning the Pioneer is the one that is not working.

That is the one that is connected to the d-block when I shorted it.

So I am thinking I am SOL.

 

[BrianSD_42]

troubleshooting....

disconnect the subwoofer amp 's power and rca cables.

test the system and report back. there is no pointbin troubleshooting with two amps until you get it working with at least one.

Divide and conquer.

 

[OHP]

Nah. You won't see 12volts at the RCA's on a multimeter. Run the door speaker RCA to the sub amp and see if you get sound. Also check your amp manual and see if the amp might be in protection mode. What were you doing when you blew the fuse?

 

[tbst]

The Alpine amp is working just fine. See above post.

 

[tbst]

Being a dumbass.

Long story short, well it is really a short story, the second amp power cable got touched to the ground.

However, I believe I was having this problem before I did that. I can't remember though. I was trying to conquer one problem at a time.

 

[OHP]

Amp diagnosis is pretty simple. If you have 12 volts at power and remote, ground is good, and you have audio signal; then that only leaves two possibilities. Amp internal issue or something wrong with the sub. Did you check wiring to the sub?

 

[tbst]

Yes. There should be voltage coming out of the amp speaker inputs as well though, right? And there is nothing.

So we are saying amp is toast?

 

[OHP]

Do you have a spare speaker laying around that you can hook up to the sub amp? A home audio speaker would work. If you hook up that up with no luck and you met all the conditions in my previous post, then I would bet on the amp being the issue. Amps are pretty tough to fry usually, because you have fused protection under the hood and in the amp. Did you replace the fuses in the amp?

 

[tbst]

No I have not changed the fuses.

On Sunday, before the whole short issue, when I installed the amp, it worked great. And then it was just barely moving the sub.

Same thing today, so I started taking things apart to figure out what it is, and this is where I am now.

I just checked the RCA cables by running the ones plugged into the sub amp to the other speaker amp. Worked.

So the last thing to do is change the fuses? Could they possibly be bad even if they aren't blow?!?!

 

[OHP]

I have seen amps that have multiple fuses only blow one or two, still power up, but not play audio. Replace the amp fuses. If that doesn't work, amp is fried or its a sub problem.

 

[OHP]

Usually if a sub is blown the amp will go into a protection mode. That's why I suggested trying another speaker.

 

[tbst]

Not trying to go round and round, but I don't have another speaker other than the door speaker... Wouldn't I be able to get voltage from the amp using a multimeter if it was working?

I do appreciate your help

 

[tbst]

PS, on the back of the amp, you can see pages back, it was manufactured in December 2008. It was sold to me as new.

 

[OHP]

Honestly In all my years of car audio I have never measured the amp output with a multi-meter. I know you will get voltage but I have no idea how to interpret that into whether or not the amp is working properly. Read through this thread from an audio forum:

how do i get watts with a multimeter?

Not sure if that will help or not.

I've always just used a test speaker if I suspected the normally used speaker was blown. Have you still got the OEM speakers that came out of the doors?

 

[tbst]

Got the new fuses. Will try them tomorrow.

I will see if I can get old speakers out of trash.

The forum article was good.

 

[tbst]

Ok, so I got everything work. For the most part. Replaced those fuses and now they are working. See attached pictures of the old fuses. I don't see how they are bad, but what do I know. (The one is dirty from being on my floorboard, mostly.)

Regardless, I do now have a new problem. It could be one of two things, I think.

When I have the Alpine amp and the Pioneer amp connected at the same time, the sub doesn't "hit". Or even sound like I have a sub. At first I thought it was the Pioneer amp itself, however when I unhook the RCAs from the Alpine, it "hits hard". When I have both connected and I turn up the HU past 21 or so, it cuts out. (Note I don't like using brah terminology, thats why I use quotes. "**** hits so hard, brah...")

Does this mean I need a good power supply to the HU or that my car cannot keep up amp wise with the requirements of both going at the same time?

Went through and crimped all the connections as well. Looks MUCH better.

OHP, the video is for you.

OEM speaker hooked up to amp - YouTube

 

[iowajosh]

It sounds like something is wired out of phase? I just built a new box and hooked up a 10" outof phase on the amp and it was really weak sounding Flipped the wires around and lots of boom.

 

[tbst]

It only happens when I have one set of RCAs from the heaunit disconnected. And I checked the wire to ensure I did not have it out of phase.

 

[mitch.bomb]

Good Sub set up

I was wondering if any of yall had a good sub recommendations and set ups that wont break the bank and take away much of my cargo space. I've been tempted to install a sub in the rear door like I have seen other people do but I was wondering if any one else had experience doing it or had any better ideas.