Can't get amp to work.

[CrimsonThunder]

Hey all, run into a problem with my amp. Now I've gotten it hooked up to the battery and the remote, so it turns on properly (the light turns on) but the music doesnt play.

I've gotten the RCA cables connected all the speakers are connected correctly too. There are two things that I think could be wrong.

1. The ground isn't good enough. I scratched it a little bit but maybe it wasn't enough. Should I buy some sand paper (if so what kind?) to scratch it a lot more?

2. I still have the original speaker cables connected. Do I need to cut those wires off? (but not connected to the speakers.)

Not sure if number 2 is a real issue, but I wouldnt know. XD

Hope someone can help! Cheers.

[CrimsonThunder]

Anyone?

[VryNeat]

what did u ground it on rip up the carpet in ur boot take the bolt out that connects the rear seats to the car put ground there thats the norm thing to do anyway

[holdenboy]

The amp is turning on and not going into protect so i'd imagine grounding isnt an issue at this stage.

Try plugging the RCAs into a different pre-out on the head-unit, by the way what head-unit are you using?

Also, are you sure the speakers are connected properly? Maybe try using a test speaker.

[CrimsonThunder]

Im using a Pioneer DEH-P6050UB.

I'll try plugging the RCAs in differently, but how? Do you mean just putting the red one into the current black ones spot? Or switching the red with the red and the black with the black?

I'm expecting that the speakers are set up properly cos my sub isnt working either. I just gathered its the amp thats not working.

[Trayner]

It has to be the RCA's or the speaker terminals are fualty , maybe even the remote wire is on the wrong wire. happend to my mates car , the amp would turn on and light up what not , but no music would play, after closer instection the remote wire was on the wrong wire , sooon as it was swapped to the right one the amp started to play. oh also may sound a bit dumb but have you turned the gain up on the amp?

[CrimsonThunder]

I used to have it all set up in my other car, so I think all those things are turned on.

I'll do the RCA's tomorrow. But I still dont know how to change it. So if I get an answer I'll be able to do it tomorrow.

Thanks for your help guys.

[holdenboy]

I think that head-unit has a couple of different sets of RCA preouts?
i.e. front, rear, subwoofer?

If you were connecting the RCAs to the subwoofer pre-out and the subwoofer was "off" in the head-unit settings then it wont work.

[milkandjuicecomein2litres]

Well if the amp has power, its not a ground problem full stop.

Id try isolating each speaker, making sure that maybe the amp goes into protection mode having them all running or something?

Do you have speakers wired to the amp or headunit?

[CrimsonThunder]

I think that head-unit has a couple of different sets of RCA preouts?
i.e. front, rear, subwoofer?

If you were connecting the RCAs to the subwoofer pre-out and the subwoofer was "off" in the head-unit settings then it wont work.

I have the RCA's connected from the front and rear (head unit) to the Amp.

Well if the amp has power, its not a ground problem full stop.

Id try isolating each speaker, making sure that maybe the amp goes into protection mode having them all running or something?

Do you have speakers wired to the amp or headunit?

The amp never has the protection light coming on.

I have the speakers wired to the amp.

[holdenboy]

What milkandjuice means is just connect 1 speaker (or subwoofer) at a time.

[CrimsonThunder]

and to see if the sound comes through in one speaker? ok I can do that.

[Post Vintage]

$10 Multimeter... test your RCA cables with the audible continuity test, and then your speaker cables. If that doesn't work get two wires right on the amp and different speaker and see if you get output, and try a second set of RCA's.

Only other easy way is check your deck settings if it is just in subout put and that isn't enabled.

[CrimsonThunder]

Thanks I'll see if SCA has a Multimeter tomorrow.

[CrimsonThunder]

Well I changed the RCA cables to every different position I could think of and nothing worked.

[holdenboy]

I would personally check the amp by using a test speaker (just the speaker by itself connected to one of the amps outputs). Did you connect one speaker at a time?


Also, are you running any speakers off the head-unit and if so do you get any sound coming out of them?
What it might be is the speaker wires that are still connected to the head-unit are touching each other or some metal. Try disconnecting all of the speaker wires at the head-unit if this is the case.

[CrimsonThunder]

I didn't connect one speaker at a time, I was going to but it was way too hot.

I have all the wires connected but I think they may be touching so I'll disconnect them.

And nah I dont have any speakers coming from the head unit.

[holdenboy]

Yep disconnect the speaker wires at the head-unit first off, it may be that the head-unit is going into protect hence the reason for no sound through your amp.

If that dosent work then connect one speaker at a time.

[CrimsonThunder]

the head unit turns on and everything, says its playing.

this is confusing me so much.

i tried connecting one speaker at a time today but it didnt work.

and another thing, even if i dont have the ground wire connected it doesnt go into protect mode. so that makes me think even more that its because of that.

[| evaN |]

get one of these plugs, and plug an ipod straight to the amp.
Connect the remote connection directly to the +12V so it'll turn on the amp.
If you can hear the music then theres something wrong with the headunit or the connection from the headunit to the amp.
If you hear nothing then the amp's probably stuffed.

[holdenboy]

Where have you got the amp mounted? It might be earthing through the amps' chassis.

[Mike S]

Sounds like the head unit has gone into protect, disconnect the speaker wires at the deck completely and try again. One bit of advise, never run your amp without the earth connected cos it will try and earth via the RCA shielding and will damage your deck, luckilly it may be earthed by the housing as Holdenboy said. Also don't trust the bolts thay hold the centre seat in, I've found a number of times that it's not a good earth, use one of the holes behind the seat and just use a screwdriver to scrape away the paint.

[CrimsonThunder]

I've got the amp in the boot. Back to the wires i go then. =[

[CrimsonThunder]

Okay I fixed all the wires today and still no sound.

I connected the old wires and old speakers up and they all work. So I know that the head unit is not stuffed. (thank god)

which makes me believe that either I still have all the cords wrong, or some of the cords are stuffed.

OR my speakers are stuffed. So I want to try out some other speakers. (the old speakers have different connections to the ones i have atm so that makes it hard to check.

[swiftymcfeat]

I havnt read any of the posts so im not sure if this is answered but here is what happened to me. When i installed my second monoblock i tuned it before i put it in to save hassle, this was a retarded idea as it does NOTHING IF ITS NOT ON AND RUNNING. So i can to unplug it all and put it back to normal, plug it all back in and tune it while music was playing.

Your problem may be as simple as this. Hope i helped.