Please Help

[tha_rocker]

I've just spent 2 days trying to install a new H/U with a sub and amp. It seems I have done everything correctly, (triple checked it all) but my sub won't produce any sound at all. The green light on the amp is on the the H/U is working fine... I have no idea what's wrong.

Thanks muchly

[Joe Peeps]

Could be one of a few things, need more details. Do you know for certain that the amp/sub actually work? Are your RCA's plugged in? Is the sub getting the appropriate frequency signal? Is the sub turned on at the HU if its a model that has that function? What HU/sub/amp?

[tha_rocker]

Firstly, thank you for the quick reply.

I have used the sub and amp in my vn/vk for a while now, but the wiring was very dodgy, so I bought an amp kit with all high quality leads and such.

Amp = 200w clarion
Sub = 800w Kenwood
H/U = 50x4w Pioneer

I have all leads plugged in where they should be, RCA's and remote etc. and I have tried fiddling with H/U incase it did have a sub control which it doesn't...

I'm unsure what frequency signal is so i can't answer that one :P

[Joe Peeps]

By frequency signal i meant to make sure that the amp wasnt high passed or anything like that.

Seeing as the only thing youve changed is your cables, and that your connections are all good (including: wiring to sub, earths, power, remote wire) which seeing your amp is powering up fine and not going into protect should be the case, your new RCA's might be ****ed. Test them with a DMM (multimeter) I had forgotten how so i had to look it up Set the DMM to 20v, then put the positive probe on the pin and then put the negative probe to the outer metal sheath. As you increse the volume at the HU, the voltage should increase. Or if youd prefer use your old RCA's and see if they work. Try that and then come back. Good luck

[tha_rocker]

Ok, I'll try both my other RCA's and let you know what happens.... Geez I'd hate to do this as a job. Its a damn pain in the ass lol.

Thanks for your help.

[tha_rocker]

Hey there, just got back from trying 3 different RCA leads still without luck... Any more ideas?

[Joe Peeps]

Hmmm. If your certain that your wiring is all good, all i can think of is that there is something wrong with some of your gear... Hopefully someone with more knowledge then me can think of something

Does the sub move at all? If you touch it can you feel even the slightest vibration? Is there a possibility that the gains have been touched- if so they may need rechecking?

If you got a mate who has gear that is known to be working, try temporary swapping them over one at a time. eg. connect his sub to your amp. If it doesnt work, then connect his amp to your connections etc. Go through the components systematically to figur out the source of the problem.

It could even be in the HU - check the ends of the RCA's as above with a multimeter to check that there is actually output from the HU RCA outs.
So hard to do these things over forums!! Where bouts are you located?

[StoneX]

What model head unit... If it's a low-mid range the sub RCA's can be set to low pass or turned off, you may need to turn them on in the initial settings.

[tha_rocker]

Hey guys, after another few hours fiddling around my mate came over and jiggled my ground wire resulting in......... BASS! I can't believe that was all it was. Sorry if I sounded like an idiot, I feel a little silly. Thanks again for your help

[Joe Peeps]

lol, im sure its a relief that all your gear is working. Most of us have made oversights at one point, its all part of the learning process - Sometimes all it takes is fresh eyes to spot the problem.

Interesting that the amp didnt go into protect and im curious about this point, but im glad that it all worked out for you and you have your bass back Peace