Help Please!!!

[wingwang99]

Hey, well i have installed my amp and new speakers a few weeks ago. I have had to mount the amp on the underside of the boot (as in the part of the boot that opens). All is fine so far however initially i only grounded it to the boot, i was ten getting engine noises and every now and then a loud distorted sound would come through. So i piggy backed this ground and ran another (from this ground) to where the rear tail lights are grounded. Ran ok for a few days, and now i can't have the amp on. Every bump i hit, or when i close or open the doors of the car a distorted noise comes through that could deafen you. So i have read that the best place to ground is the bolt on the rear seats or something... But i have also read that your ground wire should be as short as possible. (If i was to run a wire to the back seat, it would be over a metre.

If someone could post pics or give good directions on where to find the boot bolt. Or any other advice about this problem i would really appreciate it. The last 2 days i have had to drive to and from my jobsite (about an hour and a half each way) with no music.

Thanks in advance

[Vg-ute-mad]

Hey, well i have installed my amp and new speakers a few weeks ago. I have had to mount the amp on the underside of the boot (as in the part of the boot that opens). All is fine so far however initially i only grounded it to the boot, i was ten getting engine noises and every now and then a loud distorted sound would come through. So i piggy backed this ground and ran another (from this ground) to where the rear tail lights are grounded. Ran ok for a few days, and now i can't have the amp on. Every bump i hit, or when i close or open the doors of the car a distorted noise comes through that could deafen you. So i have read that the best place to ground is the bolt on the rear seats or something... But i have also read that your ground wire should be as short as possible. (If i was to run a wire to the back seat, it would be over a metre.

If someone could post pics or give good directions on where to find the boot bolt. Or any other advice about this problem i would really appreciate it. The last 2 days i have had to drive to and from my jobsite (about an hour and a half each way) with no music.

Thanks in advance

So have you mounted the amp on the boot lid itself? Have a look and see if you can use the baby capsule bolt underneath the rear partial shelf.

[Philthy]

I would think the shock of closing the boot would damage the amp in a very short time

[StoneX]

As long as the ground is as thick as your positive, it doesn't matter if it's 1m long. Mine is ground to a bolt under the rear seat that holds the backrest of the rear seats in place. I have a VT though.

[wingwang99]

I would think the shock of closing the boot would damage the amp in a very short time

I'm the only one who closes my boot and i don't smash it around. It gets no more shock than any other part of the car.

So have you mounted the amp on the boot lid itself? Have a look and see if you can use the baby capsule bolt underneath the rear partial shelf.

I can't get to the bolt i don't think because of my lpg tank. I might have a look though, thanks

[holdenboy]

Yeah try another earthing location.....the underside of the parcel shelf isnt the most ideal location, as it may be spot welded or even glued in.....providing a poor connection to the chassis.

Go with somewhere like the seat/seatbelt bolts etc, even if you dont run the wire properly and just leave it dangling in the boot....just to test and see if the noise goes away.

Also, what type of amp is it and where does the cabling run into the bootlid, are the RCAs and power/earth seperate?

Mounting the amp in this location is unusual, but do-able.....opening and closing the boot shouldnt do any real damage, provided its mounted properly and as youve said, you dont "slam" the boot when closing.

[wingwang99]

Yeah try another earthing location.....the underside of the parcel shelf isnt the most ideal location, as it may be spot welded or even glued in.....providing a poor connection to the chassis.

Go with somewhere like the seat/seatbelt bolts etc, even if you dont run the wire properly and just leave it dangling in the boot....just to test and see if the noise goes away.

Also, what type of amp is it and where does the cabling run into the bootlid, are the RCAs and power/earth seperate?

Mounting the amp in this location is unusual, but do-able.....opening and closing the boot shouldnt do any real damage, provided its mounted properly and as youve said, you dont "slam" the boot when closing.

I know the spot isn't ideal but i have the gas tank in the boot, and didn't want it under the passenger seat or didn't want to start screwing into the side of the chassis.

The rcas and power cables run along the hinges next to existing wiring (opposite sides, RCAs down passenger, power down drivers).

Any idea the easiest way to get to one of these bolts in a vy?

[SAV_117]

hmmm if RCA's and power is run down opposites i cant see why this is occuring maybe call in a proffesional to diagnose

[Vg-ute-mad]

Any chance you could take a photo of your boot, to get some idea's?

[MX_Leigh]

try looking for a bolt behind the spare wheel or something.

[wingwang99]

Any chance you could take a photo of your boot, to get some idea's?

Will do...

[wingwang99]

Here's the pic, the rcas are usually attached to the other bracket like the power leads. On the rhs of pic you can see where i have the 'piggy back' with the ground. If anyone has any more advice i would really appreciate it as i still cannot listen to music

[Farlig]

I struggled to remove all the engine noise from my system, I went out and got a new optima yellow top battery and everything is crystal clear. I was amazed, even thou my battery was pumping out the volts, it had a **** negative, new battery stronger earthing for the car.

[SweetWagon]

Did you scratch back the paint on those bolts you earthed it on? The boot hinge isn't ideal at all. run a new one back into the boot/backseat area and make sure its clean of paint and making good contact

[SAV_117]

Did you scratch back the paint on those bolts you earthed it on? The boot hinge isn't ideal at all. run a new one back into the boot/backseat area and make sure its clean of paint and making good contact

exactly what i was thinkin try that

[wingwang99]

Yes the paint was scratched right back on one, the other was attached to the same screw that the rear lights were earthed to. I have now got rid of all the old earth wire and used a new wire (same gauge as power) and earthed it on the back seat bolt. The problem is still there.
So i thought to myself maybe its the +12v. When the amp was installed i wasn't sure how to get through the firewall, a mate of mine who owns a vz said he hooked up his amp so i let hm do the 12v while i wasn't there. Turns out he ran it underneath the car, following along the brakelines.

I'm thinking that maybe somewhere underneath it is either interfearing with something or it has spliced open and is touching something else? Either way I'm going to remove it and run it along the drivers side with the remote cable. Can someone tell me (pics would be even better) of exactly how to get through the firewall on the drivers side. I had a look around but couldn't see any grommets or anything.

Thanks for everyone's help so far guys, i really appreciate it

[StoneX]

So do you have exactly the same fault still? Popping ocassionally still or has the fault changed?

Don't let that guy touch your car again... Running the power wire under the car is really f**king dumb.

[wingwang99]

So do you have exactly the same fault still? Popping ocassionally still or has the fault changed?

Don't let that guy touch your car again... Running the power wire under the car is really f**king dumb.

Yeah i know... Still the same problem. Basically if its not the 12v cable then there's problems with the amp, hopefully its just the power cable hey?

Thanks BTW

[Vg-ute-mad]

Yeah i know... Still the same problem. Basically if its not the 12v cable then there's problems with the amp, hopefully its just the power cable hey?

Thanks BTW

Yeah, run the cable through properly and see how that goes.

Just a rehash, so your tail light electricals aren't earthed at the same point as your amp anymore, as you have moved the earth to the seat bolt right?

That spare r.c.a that I see in the pic, wrap some electrical tape around it. I can't see why it would be active, but wrap some around anyway.

[wingwang99]

The rca wasn't spare it was broken, i've replaced it since that photo and fixed up the rcas so they run along the bracket.

Yes you correct, the amp is only earthed at the seat bolt.

Can someone Please please tell me exactly where the firewall grommet is. I have looked through posts and my car, i can't find it!!!

[holdenboy]

If your car is an auto you could use the clutch cable grommit.

Also, what head-unit are you using and how did that RCA get damaged?

Could try temporarily wiring another unit up to the amp and see if that fixes the problem.

[wingwang99]

If your car is an auto you could use the clutch cable grommit.

Also, what head-unit are you using and how did that RCA get damaged?

Could try temporarily wiring another unit up to the amp and see if that fixes the problem.

It is a auto but can't find the grommet (hence why i have been asking).

The RCA came damaged, i was just waiting for a replacement.

I could try this but i don't have anything i could use....

[holdenboy]

OK, someone with a VY will come on and let you know of its location...i cant remember excatly.

What brand head-unit are you using at the moment?

[wingwang99]

OK, someone with a VY will come on and let you know of its location...i cant remember excatly.

What brand head-unit are you using at the moment?

Stock headunit with Phreddy's pre outs

[holdenboy]

You could always try running a set of RCAs from a mates car if you cant get a unit to try. Its worth a shot anyways.