my amp isn't turning on!

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Oct 17, 2007 10:30 pm

ok, i've had the same subs and amp problem free for about 8 years now. this is the 3rd car they've been in. i was driving to work yesterday when all of a sudden, all my bass disappeared! i checked real quick when i got to work to see if the fuse blew, it looked fine. when i got home later, i checked the big fuse under the hood that is right after the battery and it was fine too. all the wires are still connected to the amp, so i have no idea why it's not getting power. i don't have an on/off switch, it just automatically powers up when the key turns. anyone have any ideas what else to check for? is it possible that my amp just finally bit the dust after all these years?

Kamikaze · Post by **Kamikaze** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:12 am

Get a tester and first test to see if you have power at the amp. I've had a fuse blow but it still looked good (the big one)Then turn on the car and test the remote on wire to make sure it has power... if you can verify that power is getting to the amp, then check if the amp has a power light that its on. if it isn't, check your ground.If still no worky.... bye bye amp, get a new one.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 12:19 am

thanks man! by the big fuse, do you mean the one under the hood? it has a power light, and it's not turning on. i'll do an update after checking!

chevelle_lover · Post by **chevelle_lover** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:06 am

If you find that you have power to the amp check the remote wire coming from the head unit. In my old car the connection came loose and it stopped turning the amp on.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:17 am

I can help you..... OVER IN THE AUDIO FORUM... yep, there is one, you missed to by a mile... I'll forgive you though, this one and only time..... So, you have a fuse holder under the hood with a power light? hope it's sealed well... that would definitly be the place to start... I would grab some screw drivers and/or hex wrenches and go and tighten all the connections to the amp as well, even if that's not the problem, which i think you might have found...

millster · Post by **millster** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:21 am

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind Â»I can help you..... OVER IN THE AUDIO FORUM... yep, there is one, you missed to by a mile... I'll forgive you though, this one and only time..... The audio forum and other forums on this site are for Vibe-related posts. So it's where it belongs, thank you.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:45 am

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind Â»I can help you..... OVER IN THE AUDIO FORUM... yep, there is one, you missed to by a mile... trust me, i know.under the hood, i have a big fuse right after it comes off the terminal. it looks like a glass tube with metal in it. it looks fine and seemed tight.the power light is on the amp itself, which is screwed to the back of the speaker box.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:49 am

Quote, originally posted by millster Â»The audio forum and other forums on this site are for Vibe-related posts. So it's where it belongs, thank you.Actually, he doesn't own a Vibe.... So, can i ask how to change my oil in the Audio forum, without getting a IM from you saying it was moved or deleted?I don't want to be a stick in the mud, BUT, do you always gotta be a "stick in the mud"??? LOL... I was not being serious.... and there is a place for audio related questions, in the Audio Forum... my 2nd home... lol... I "almost" missed this, and that would be BAD BAD BAD BAD.... lol.........

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 2:55 am

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx Â»trust me, i know.under the hood, i have a big fuse right after it comes off the terminal. it looks like a glass tube with metal in it. it looks fine and seemed tight.the power light is on the amp itself, which is screwed to the back of the speaker box.Ok, you got any fuses in the AMP?? They need to be checked, more than just looking at them, you should pull them and take a proper look... Next, do you have any sort of test gear, like a multimeter? a VOMeter? A 12v test light?? You can easily check if the amp powers up but making a paperclip jumper and jumping from the power line to the remote turn on lead... the RTO only need to see 12v to turn the amp on, and you have 12v right there... If the amp turns on, you have a problem with your RTO wire, somewhere, if not, you may have bigger problems...Start with tightening connections, and checking all the fuses, even them metal ended glass fuses CAN blow on the ends and you can't properly tell by looking at them, look a little bit closer... then do the jumper thing.... then let me know... I do this a LOT on other "audio" forums.. I don't understand WHY this isn't in the AUDIO forum.... is someone pulling my LEG???

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:01 am

there is a fuse in the amp, a yellow "20". i have pulled it and it looked fine too. it blew once a few years ago, so that was my first thought, and my hope.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:05 am

Ok, well, and way of testing FOR SURE you have 12v on your power line?? Like i said, you could always to the paperclip jumper... It quick and easy test to see if the RTO has power or not...

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:10 am

i don't have a tester.the RTO, sadly is over my head, i don't know what you are talking about. how about i snap some pics when i get home tonight and we can go from there? i know nothing about this stuff, i am one of those who pays too much to have it installed.once again, your help is appreciated.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:14 am

RTO= Remote Turn On It is what is connected to the Head Unit (HU) and tells the amp to turn on or off, depending on if it has 12v on it or not... Turn the HU on and the RTO should have 12v on it... Now, 90% of the time the RTO is on the amp between the power and ground wires, or at least on the same end... all the other connections are usually on the other end... Like i said, if you make a jumper from a paper clip, you can jump from the power wire to the RTO wire and see if it comes on.... or you can burn your car to the ground..... Psych... Capisch....

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:20 am

do all HU's have that? i never checked if my amp turned off with the HU off. i still use my factory HU, no aftermarket. -edit-after more carefully reading what you have there i figured out what you meant. i'll try that when i get home!

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:21 am

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx Â»do all HU's have that? i never checked if my amp turned off with the HU off. i still use my factory HU, no aftermarket. -edit-after more carefully reading what you have there i figured out what you meant. i'll try that when i get home!There should be some sort of wire coming off of the HU to the amp, letting the amp know when to turn on or off with the HU power, BUT, sometimes it can be connected to the ignision to make it work with the key... If it doesn't get turned off, you get a dead battery in the morning.... So, you finially figured out that i knew that you knew that i knew what you were saying was known by the both of us beforehand...

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 4:44 am

exactly, i think. i hope i get this resolved soon! my stock stereo isn't bad at all, but i miss my extra bass.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 7:52 am

you sweet sweet man, i tried the paperclip thing and the damn amp powered up! now that i know that is the problem, what would be the next step you would take? i am so excited that it's not the amp!

damronjr · Post by **damronjr** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:05 am

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx Â»you sweet sweet man, i tried the paperclip thing and the damn amp powered up! now that i know that is the problem, what would be the next step you would take? i am so excited that it's not the amp!If you mean, out a paperclip where the fuse is supposed to be, then obviously the fuse is blown! Replace it! lol

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 9:50 am

before you laugh, read the thread, it has nothing to do with a fuse. "LOL"

damronjr · Post by **damronjr** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:45 am

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx Â»before you laugh, read the thread, it has nothing to do with a fuse. "LOL" I DID read the thread, must have somehow missed the part what the paperclip jumper was all about as I went back looking for it. I assumed it was to jumper where the fuse was and see if power was passing through as you had no other way to test it, but NOW that I have gone back and seen this little tidbit of info, I see you need to check your remote connections and wire!

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:29 pm

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx Â»you sweet sweet man, i tried the paperclip thing and the damn amp powered up! now that i know that is the problem, what would be the next step you would take? i am so excited that it's not the amp!Very cool... very cool... nothing like long distance troubleshooting... and to think, i almost missed this cause it's in obviously the WRONG forum... but hey, i'm not a MOD... i don't make the decsions... Anyhooo, you have to follow the RTO wire to the front, where ever it connects to either the HU or the ignition... sounds like a simple bad connection and/or a TNT jerb (twist-n-tape, which almost ALWAYS blows something up, hense TNT)Check the wire color at the amp and then look under the dask and near the center console to see if you can find where it pops up, it shouldn't be that hard to find, it'll be the "odd man out" as the rest will be neatly harnessed... Good luck and hopefully by tomorrow you'll have your bass back..!!

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:34 pm

alrighty then! i'll let you know when i'm rattling teeth again!

millster · Post by **millster** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:35 pm

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind Â»...but hey, i'm not a MOD... i don't make the decsions... Thank God for that. I'm not going to say ANYTHING more about this subject. If you have an issue with it, IM me. It's not up for discussion so there is NO point in making these childish little jabs at the staff here.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Thu Oct 18, 2007 11:43 pm

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx Â»alrighty then! i'll let you know when i'm rattling teeth again!You might, if i don't get banned for helping with an audio related issue...

Kamikaze · Post by **Kamikaze** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:06 am

Glad to see it wasn't the amp.. Sorry I dropped off on this one.by the time I got back into it I see Sublime figured it all out.This was basically where I was going, I figured it was something with the amp not powering on.

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Fri Oct 19, 2007 2:09 am

hey man, it's the thought that counts!

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:37 am

So, I'm still here, did you get to look at it over the weekend?? Is it fixed??

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 9:26 pm

well, i traced the wire and it's wired to the HU, but i don't trust myself to take the plastic off the dash and pull out the HU.my cousin, who i don't necessarily trust was telling me it could be something wrong with my head unit. i'm not really sure what i'm going to do about this, but i tell you, it's driving me crazy.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:25 pm

can you snap a pic of the dash?? it's CAN'T be that hard to take apart, mots time it's just push clips... if it's anything like the Vibe, i could steal a HU in like 25sec... lol...

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:57 pm

it's all one big piece, i'm just afraid i'm going to break the plastic. i tried for a bit and it didn't seem to want to budge.

Kamikaze · Post by **Kamikaze** » Tue Oct 23, 2007 10:58 pm

Break it! Break it! Break it!

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:22 am

Quote, originally posted by Kamikaze Â»Break it! Break it! Break it!LolLook under the lower edge, are there any screws?? If not you "should" be able to grab it at the bottom and pull it towards you, and let me tell you, sometimes you would think that only the hulk could do it...

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:28 am

i might give that a whack tonight, we'll see. it gets dark so damn early, i might not have time after supper. ( i cook it)

Kamikaze · Post by **Kamikaze** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 12:57 am

I have NO idea if this will help with the removal of the trim around the stereo, but so far it was the only good thing I could find:http://www.bracketron.com/xmai...4.pdf

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:10 am

wow, that is a lot of crap! thanks, but i think i may have to find a place to do this for me. i can't afford to break something, if they do, they have to pay for it.

Kamikaze · Post by **Kamikaze** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:38 am

Good luck man! Sorry that they couldn't make it easy like the vibe.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:40 am

Quote, originally posted by drunkenmaxx Â»wow, that is a lot of crap! thanks, but i think i may have to find a place to do this for me. i can't afford to break something, if they do, they have to pay for it.Let me ask about on some other forums, before you go spending money...

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 1:50 am

Just posted question on DIYMA.com, should have answer soon....

drunkenmaxx · Post by **drunkenmaxx** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:04 am

alrighty, thanks man!

damronjr · Post by **damronjr** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:18 am

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind Â»can you snap a pic of the dash?? it's CAN'T be that hard to take apart, mots time it's just push clips... if it's anything like the Vibe, i could steal a HU in like 25sec... lol... Close but it was more like a minute for the guys who stole mine!

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:33 am

Quote, originally posted by damronjr Â»Close but it was more like a minute for the guys who stole mine! They must been amatures... lol... I can assure you of one thing, i've never stolen a stereo in my life, baaaaddd mojo, just being a former installer, you really get a "feel" of how cars are put together...

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:53 am

Ok, my install friends say it's just that herd to pop off, like REALLY hard... they sited using a "panel" seperator, which is a spreading tool for removing door paels and such... if you put even force on it you "should" be able to get it off, you could break it to, so i guess it's up to you to decide... Let us know how it goes..

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