How to Troubleshoot Your Car Amplifier *Tech Time Thursday*

[@georgenaughty7857]

finally a 'Car Stereo man' who can understand clearly and actually solve a problem

[@untimelyballistics]

Best troubleshooting checklist video I've seen. Cant believe this doesn't have soooooooo many more views. Very informative. Much appreciated

[@Tony-nz8xx]

Definitely the best video on KZbin on how to check if the wiring to your amp is correct, I recommend also watching his video on, “How To Troubleshoot Your Subwoofers”. These videos are very informative and helped me when installing my two subwoofers and amp.

[@alanstant9356]

Yeah i want to see that video on protect mode and how to get it out of protect when you know you fixed the issues with everything else. That seems to be the hardest thing to figure out for most people.

[@jasonmiller8474]

I have a Sundown SIA-3500 amp on 2 Sundown X-10 subs. This has been a great setup. It was working perfectly, I parked the car overnight, the next day the amp would scroll through its test sequence twice and then go into protect mode. It's got 14v at power, the ground is good, and it has 14v at the remote wire. It stays in protect mode with everything disconnected except power, Ground, and remote. Any advice?

[@RichardEarlPixearl]

You sir deserve a medal. That is by far the best explanation over the entire net. Thank you so much this will most definitely help me locate my issue

[@jessesibley4001]

Very good video I’m an electrician I know how to use a multimeter, but I didn’t quite know what I needed to do to troubleshoot my system and did not want to pay an audio shop $85-$100 an hour to troubleshoot. It’s a new system. Everything is brand new except for the RCA cables. I wanted to be able to troubleshoot without tearing the unit out of the dash And this video helps out a lot. I appreciate it. Thank you so much soon as I get the chance I’m gonna put this new knowledge to use.

[@RichardEarlPixearl]

Step by step I’ve followed your videos and today I established the speaker wires from amp had been cut. Also cut at the speaker end. No idea why you would do that but leave everything else connected. New wires installed and new rca cables and my 2 x subs are working a treat. Thank you so much for your vids they are very much appreciated 👍🏻

[@ashleydubs5702]

Thanks for the advice 🎉🎉 mine would cut out when I start to drive it was the remote cable

[@boominc0420]

Exactly how I trouble shoot lol I recently had my saz3500 v1 let go and it was a smoking mess . It went into protect and I turned off the radio and let it sit for a minute, then turned it back on and it started popping and smoking . I very quickly pulled the power wire out . After that I took the amp out and opened it up. A bunch of power supply fets let go .looking at that burnt up mess broke my hart. I had this amp a long time and love it , but I cant afford to rebuild or replace it due to being on a tight budget. But in all I love your products and videos . Great job . Keep it up.

[@luisvillalobos4976]

Good lesson on using the DMM. Learned a few ways to know if power was going thru wires.

[@Bassotronics]

Awesome video as always! Great info here for troubleshooting. 👍🏻😎👍🏻

[@noahmx9051]

Hoping for a video on short term protect mode problems/solutions. My sub bumps, and has been sturdy for a year, but when I crank the volume now the amp will put itself into protect mode. This is happening at volumes far lower than I used to be able to play songs at.

[@OutlawEntertainmentlmc]

@noahmx9051 , did you ever figure out the issue you was having ? Mine is doing the same

[@jordanciaramitaro6351]

Back on the day I can’t even tell you how many times I would find agu fuses that the element would come undone under the cap where you can’t see. I saw this on name brand and cheap agu fuses, was super happy when my wiring supplier JL Troy started shipping mini anl fuses

[@hectorcardona3453]

Good job u really explain what to check when ur system acts up thanx 👍🏼

[@AcidDeathRitual]

Still wish you guys would go to hex set screws...the little things.

[@coledaddy818]

What if my subs, connection,ground etc is good with another amp but the other amp hooked up makes the sub sound blown at low volume but at high volume it's kinda ok with some clipping/knock sound. But the sub isn't bad. I tried 3 subs to be exact. But my small amp sounds fine

[@miltondearmon]

Did u find out

[@coledaddy818]

@Milton Dearmon the Amp was bad. I never found out why or what happened but it was under warranty so I got a new one and it's been working fine. So check the warranty first and get it replaced, as a first start. Then go from there.

[@DaBadNewz]

Very informative video! Any update on the video about troubleshooting an amp in protect with nothing but power ground and remote?

[@cody6.6max]

I’m not getting any out put from RCAs from.kenwood head unit swapped out RCAs still nothing , when it does play I have voltage but most of the time it don’t work

[@superdwarf]

My subs will go quiet but almost always come right back after a few seconds. Amp always has power, Ive checked connections 50 times over. Some times it just goes quiet and wont come back until I shut the truck off and back on. Could happen right at the start of the drive or the middle or it could go a whole day without doing it. Im fairly lost at this point aside from pulling the amp to check for internal damage. Just doesn't fully line up since its so intermittent. I've had this amp/sub combo since 2014 issue free. Now im dealing with this intermittent sub cut out for 2 ish months now.

[@danielkmit4145]

Why did you cut out the part where it could’ve been the amplifier in to protect with nothing hooked up

[@Str8statiK]

Phenomenal video brother!! What happens when the amp is not in protect but the music cuts out and sometimes wiggling the RCA wires that are firmly seated brings signal back in? Also, is there a video on how to troubleshoot why an amp is in protect after grounding issues caused the amp to go into protect and then the amp was removed from the car for weeks without any wires attached but it remains in protect when it had only power put back on it and no speaker/RCA wires connected?

[@ewlhtown7669]

Damn man thats the best explanation yet!! Hands down.. great job bro!!

[@cody6.6max]

So if I have no output from RCAs and I swap then still bad that means my head unit is at fault if everything else checks out on the other side correct ?

[@thebeats3122]

Good info!Veryyyy good info and we'll explained great job my friend!

[@MadDragon75]

Pioneer head units: Check the Sub Woofer selection.. If it's not on on REV or NOR the signal is not sent to the amp. 😉👍

[@wilfredbushpy9770]

What if there is no reading at the speaker output channels at all?

[@buddykiller]

i wanna know how you figured out load sharing on those psu 's if they aren't the meanwells with load sharing built in. i know it's possible because i've seen the ham guys build amps out of them but never found a video covering it.

[@Donediddat]

@unofficialaudio or anyone with knowledge , here’s one problem u haven’t mentioned that I’m going thru. My amp turns on works good and recently just recently itll lose power , if I hit the amplifier lightly the power will cut back on , what would I recommend the issue would be that I’m going thru?

[@gopyyanusdev3486]

How much amperage is your ac dc converter in that video

[@chinglito8886]

Hello boss. you got everything in step that's happened to some people. like me. that SECOND FROM last part, rite before RCA checking power. got sign of music playing, but remember RCA is taking over the SUBWOOF. so plug in rca SUBWOOF is GOES OFF. WHY IS THAT ? help if you can please

[@equanox100]

Blinking protect light, short blink of the blue and back to blinking red. A friends sfb 1500.1d. Any feedback?

[@JbirdlLester]

I got a question. my Amp stopped working so I got the handy power meter out as you suggested! so this is on the amp itself ground to positive I get 8.63 volts with ac on. ok from ground to Rem I get 10.68 volts what could be the issue still scratching my head.

[@cody6.6max]

I’m only getting ac at the out put on my amp when the volume is over 14 anything under subs won’t come on and have no volts but soon as I turn it up to certain volume they cut on but not good it’s distorted and can tell it’s not properly working

[@josesosa1628]

My battery reads 12.6, connection at amp neg and pos 12.6, but when I ck power remote it reads 11.6 what can be wrong? The amp testing is a hifonics Brutus ? Thank you

[@AlecLawrence]

Did they ever do the protect video.?

[@robertisamazing123]

So my bass was always good. My alternator went out, I replaced it and now when my bass hit, my amp goes to protect mode. Could my alternator wire be loose? I noticed the alternator wire to the battery melted a lil bit, can that be a problem as well? Could my amp be bad?

[@unsafesk8erm]

Would a bad loc cause an issue where at somewhat higher volume, the amp kicks off, then it will come back on?

[@raymondtatters1682]

Every time I turn my amp gain remote past a quarter turn it puts the amp into safe mode but if I turn it back to a quarter turn or less the amount is now working again. What do you think is wrong?

[@timnowlin1]

Power is on green light or blue light comes on no soumd i bought it from b stock. From car auto dealer i never got to use the thing. ... What would you recommend. ..

[@timnowlin1]

Already. Trouble. Shoot. It. Best. I could. In both. My vechles. I changed. Rca. On it. Been doing. Car audio. For. 15. Years. Lol. Did. Have. One. Them. Handy. At the time. I. Have my remote. Wire. Hook. To. Fuse. I kinda. Figer. Was. That. Remote. But i wven. Changed. It out. Tires. It. In my car. Źt Everything. To. Tes

[@oclaothug69]

Mine amplifier act up today it's a 2000.1d sundown running on 1 ohm gain not even half way, amplifier started smoking and protect light and clipping light stays on even when I disconnect RCA on in put blue light keeps flashing on and off question is did the amp blow ? Keep in mind the protect light clipping light stays on

[@chrisbennett8538]

Good info I've got a issue I've got a 4 channel 360.4 kicker to run my front and rear replacement speakers capable of 65 watts each when I turn gain up on amp 1 and 2 the music cuts out goes into protect mode so I am forced to barely turn both gains up just a hair and turn volume up then it don't go into protection mode any ideas why I can't get the higher volume I want???

[@hectorgodoy4513]

Flashing blue light on aSFB at higher volumes and no sound until I turn bass down

[@tonysnow9747]

Same issue with my sfb 3k

[@Tabossco]

Is there a video of if resetting the stereo turns the amp back on out of protection

[@Ronco160]

Didn't watch the whole vid, but good for others that don't know. good job sundown

[@Lhartman]

So my SCV-2000D took a dump on me after almost 5 years. I have voltage, ground, remote. I have voltage from my RCA's from my LC2i. The blue power light is on. But I have no output to the subs. It was working good after I replaced the LC2i with a new one and then it would work some times and then sometimes it wouldn't. Now I get nothing and I did all the diagnostics. Is there a common fix for this issue? Is it the mosfets or possibly a capacitor? I am also interested to know if you happen to have an idea of what it would cost to have it repaired? I haven't removed the amp to open it or anything. I love the amp and I am running 2 SA-12's. I just ordered an Apex CAB 22 to replace it for now.

[@Jamesbeatty1990]

I just bought a sfb 3000d and it says it rated for 1ohm and what do you know had it set by shop and it still blowed trying to get it repaired or replaced.

[@haroldwoodmancy8649]

Yep just put a sub and amp/capacitor in my truck and have power everywhere but no sound from sub. Eliminated sub and enclosure. Need to check for signal on rca’s and from speaker terminals

[@kamikazikaizer]

I'm getting very low output. Subwoofer barely moves. Brand new head unit and amp. Any idea?

[@tyte90]

What if I have output from the amp but it is not as loud as it should be? Example: was playing normal and went in to store came out and now it is not loud as normal. Sub reads 2ohm on each coil.

[@tubamoraz1670]

@sundownunofficial you think you can do a video on how to wire or the proper stuff needed for a agm starting battery for primary and a lithium batteries for secondary?

[@ceavalencia4767]

We need this video fast. I think I just fried my 3500.1 skar from running at 11.89 V with an AGM primary and Down4Sound lithium

[@chrisfiske]

So checking the voice coil and the impedance is all over the place.. zv5 d2 one side reads 1.8 and the other is 1.8 to 6 ohms sitting still...it hard and then it sounded weird from then on

[@steveaguero8483]

Bought a sfb1500d pushing 2 10" solobaric l7. On one side it starts clipping after a certain volume but on the other sub it plays perfectly. Swapped back to my old amp and both subs hit perfectly no clipping nose. What could be causing this with the amp?

[@Soulgasm08]

If you had no idea what to look for or how to look for it, this was definitely informative.

[@gopyyanusdev3486]

How do you use car audio at home what do you use

[@mattwilsey7520]

I have a soundstream TXP1 6000.1 monoblock amp running 2 soundstream T5 tarantula 12’s wired down to 1 ohm. Everything was working fine and then the subs cut off. When I looked at the amp I noticed the power light was still on, but the clip light is also lit. The protect light is not on. The clip light stays on even when I unhook the speaker wires. What could be the problem?

[@fernandolara8710]

Very well explained! Thank you for your informative videos! Sundown or die!

[@imurbrother2128]

Subbed for a while now. I've watched videos multiple times mainly because it's advice I didn't think of or I'm using it as an instruction

[@josegaribay9962]

My amp started going crazy I was driving and then my subwoofers just went full blast and would not turn off even after I turned off the radio and turned my truck off it still kept bumping full blast and wen I opened my door it cut off?

[@Xvinfajtr]

My mono block should put out 1250 watts on 2 ohm and I do get sound from my subwoofer but It's barely anything, can't hear it while driving. I measured AC volts from the speaker outputs and it's only putting out 10 volts at MAX gain! Is my amp blown?

[@moabs10blowthru41]

Rca voltage reads 22volts DC at any volume on sub out? What's wrong?

[@bournelucid]

My worst fear: No Bass

[@ajstruhar2048]

Where can i get the power/ground input terminal for a sax 100.4 needs to be through hole

[@andrewking8471]

Mine is still going into protect after I turn it up a lil but it plays at low volume I went over everything and it’s still going into protect when I turn it up

[@tatuado5875]

II got a kicker KX 1200.2 and keep going into protection mode there's no speaker wires on it no RCA any time I add the ground and the hot and the remote and goes straight into protection Mode I changed the hot wire brand new the ground is brand new and even the remote is brand new and when the stereo headsource turns on it turns on the app and it goes straight into protection mode nothing is on there like I said no speaker wires no RC a's nothing has just a hot ground and remote what do you think I even put my old amp it's works

[@slimsaiyan4215]

What do you do when you have power going to the amp but no lights on the amp turn on?. My amp was working this morning at lunch time I unhooked my external crossover to hook up a new better one i got everything hooked up and since then I've had nothing.

[@johnny787]

One channel of my amp is intermittent. Sometimes it works when it turns on but most times I need to momentarily crank the volume way up to get the connection to happen or tap the case of the amp. Bad solder connection somewhere?? ideas?

[@tonymosley6951]

Check the RCA cable. Cable could be shorting out at the ends. Try switching cables L/R for R/L to verify if the other channel is doing it. If so, bad cable.

[@ACKLLR-mc8tw]

What about if there’s no AC voltage output from the amplifier??

[@rizzymaina5997]

Hi,my amp is that One channel not working and the amp is brand new what could be fauity

[@tankdog03ify]

Forgot to say to check for to low of impedance, alot of times if it's to low it will send an amp into protect.. I cant believe believe people dont actually know how to trouble shoot there stuff, blows my mind!

[@tankdog03ify]

And thermal protection happens too, when amps get hot from running on low voltage or running for hours and hours long in the heat.. most good amps will protect themselves before any damage can happen, other crappy amps will just self destruct

[@bassbrother101]

@@tankdog03ifyexactly im 15 and i already know all of this

[@jesseprince6181]

Best troubleshooting video 👌👌👌

[@escorza1126]

What about the bass controller, I have no sound on my subwooffers

[@stevenbasshead17]

To check to see if the sub is blown check impedance at the amp.

[@raulcervantes3595]

With people like you live is much easier. My amp stop working like 2 months ago. I couldn't get a new one cus kids, holidays, etc. I finally took my amp to Audio Express in Phoenix AZ, on Bell Avenue and 51Av. My budget was 200. I took my old amp, I asked them if it still work and if not how much will cost me a new one. They took the amp and came back with the bad new that it didn't work. For a new amp and labor was 450. So that was a no go. I bought an amp for 95 in amazon but it didn't work neither and it was to big that it didn't feet under my seat. I bought a Pioneer for 170 that is on his way. Since i have the weekend off i found your video and i follow step by step. I found power coming to the amp, power in the remote, but nothing on power and ground, i follow the ground cable it was loss and rusty. I created a new ground for the cable, in preparation for my new amp next week, i connected all the wires just to see what could happen and OMG light went on in the amp. I play music and the amp was working perfectly find. It was just a bad rusty bolt. Thank you your video i save money and i was able to do it myself. Sadly i found out there are some audio car business they can tell you otherwise and sell you 450 amp and labor, knowing my amp was working.Thanks for taking the time doing this video and sharing with us.

[@joseguerrido2098]

Thanks for the video. Very very helpful. One question, What if your speaker outputs reading come up with no readings. Should I change the wire connecting it to the sub?

[@beast9731]

Hey derrick I have a question. I have 4 4500 watt subs but only 1 ns1v2 so I need another amp. Can I push 2 subs on my ns1 and the other 2 subs on a salt 8k or do I need matching amps? I want to buy a salt 8k instead of a second ns1 but im not sure if the amps have to be matching. Obviously id tune the salt 8k down to keep all 4 subs seeing roughly the same power. will that work?

[@ansonrivers36]

I’ve seen numerous videos of people unplugging a wire harness on the alternator because something in the wire harness is sending amplifiers into protect. Have you heard anything of this?

[@ansonrivers36]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnrFoWepqcx0n68

[@NerdyBassHead]

i got a alpine amp pdx 600 and it says its 2 ohms but whenever i wire it to 2 itll go right into protect mode and stay in protect until i turn it completely off

[@moderngunguy3666]

my sfb 8000 reads 2 volts when the car is on and then 12. something volts when the car is off what could cause need help bbaaaadddd!!!!!

[@20team73]

I just ran into this problem where my automatically went into protect. It was all fine the day before. I checked my sub with an AA battery and sub had movement. So sub is not blown. But then my amp got hot n started smoking. I immediately unhooked the power wire from battery. But I'm wondering if my cheap coca wires have anything to do with it. Still trying to trouble shoot it with out an DMM is a hassle. Lol Mahal (thanks) for the video.

[@landonmurphrey4293]

Ik I sound like a broken record but I had a similar issue. Check and see if the ground has actually loosened. Like if it was grounded on a seat bolt, check if it came kinda loose. Checked the ring terminals on both power and ground if there are any. If you're using a line out converter with a remote wire turn on built in, see what voltage its giving. I had a issue with mine doing similar is reason I say. If that is the issue, use a add a fuse for remote.

[@bobdodge3171]

Because the battery made the speaker move does not mean the vc is good. You can put a dmm on the coil carefully pushing down on cone and find a bad spot in the coil. Bad wires can be a issue.. When running the system feel the wires if they get hot replace them with some better. Or bigger gauge.

[@eazy69ful]

When u checking do car needs to be in the acc mode

[@hellraiserharry]

Thanks tomorrow I'm gonna see what's up with my tweeters. Gonna check the ac volt output on the amp if I see it works then it's the speaker wire. Cause I put the tweets on my other amp and they seem to work

[@liufox1292]

This is glorious, been searching for "amplifier troubleshooting flowchart" for a while now, and I think this has helped. You ever tried - Giyathan Bewildering Gratification - (search on google ) ? It is an awesome exclusive product for discovering how to repair your electronic items like a wizard minus the normal expense. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my work buddy got excellent results with it.

[@25hztolife86]

Make that video on protect mode. Mine for 3-5 seconds goes into protection then everything is all fine. What can it be?

[@stevenbasshead17]

You played watching voltage?

[@bobdodge3171]

3-5 seconds? When does it happen when you 1st power it on? Or

[@25hztolife86]

@@bobdodge3171 When I 1st turn it on.

[@bobdodge3171]

@@25hztolife86 i find that normal.. For newer amps.. 5 seconds is quite long.. Think my scv3k is around 1 or 2 seconds maybe not even that long. But the protection light always comes on when powering up.

[@always_evolving_collectibles]

Great video watched the whole thing and I'm afraid my amp blew, I'm not getting any power or lights at all but all my fuses are still good, I'm starting to think the enclosure my amp is installed in trapped hot air and it over heated internally...

[@zombiesalami8377]

Anyone know why my remote cable isn’t turning off an amp when I turn off the car. Someone told me run it high to low instead did that everything works fine it just won’t turn off so for now I have the remote cable cut and just twist it when I get in. I tried hooking it up with the ignition and anything else you can think of.

[@Magneto_502]

What about him and checking rca connections on amp

[@Juan512Parra]

Do you have a video for short term protection causes and possible remedies ? Love all my Sundown Audio gear and always smile when ppl are droppin jaws at a single 10" hittin lows that they swear are a couple of 15's , lol

[@rockjeep_tj9692]

First!! Love your videos Derrick 🔥🔥🔥👍

[@riveralley]

Second

[@rcwildman9255]

So my amp, it’s new, been working good for like a month now, however it’s been randomly shutting off for a second or two and turning back on as my bass knob is flashing when it’s doing that, could it be my voltage is to low and it waits till it charges again?

[@jondoe6618]

This vid reminded me of what happened to me about 2 yrs ago. I was jamming on my way home from work and the subs just cut off. Looked in my mirror and seen smoke! Thought my amp nuked. Took it out ad it was literally 1 week out of warranty. Took the back plate off and nothing was wrong!? Turns out i nuked the speaker wire to the subs.. And it was pretty big wire...Melted through the rear carpet....

[@donaldtrump1845]

what is an RCA?

[@godsgrace6351]

I’m having issue is it possible the amp broken

[@10krms8]

When will u b dynoing the salt 6-4ks

[@markcasillas2166]

Hello my names mark, the problem I’m having,amp turns on fine but when volume turned up amp go’s in protect,when I lower volume it turns back on,running 0 gauge wire ground is straight to chasie,amp says it is 1 ohm stable so that’s how I have woofer wired it 12” duel 4 down to 1 ohm please help lol

[@jasonmorrow8813]

Ok I was unhooking my speaker and the car was on and when I took out the positive the wire fell and hit the positive on my second battery and aferg that it made my amp make a weird sound in the speacker I put it on another amp it's fine so I know speacker is good idk what the problem. Is

[@slimjack3270]

What if power won't turn off and can't turn up gain or volume without clipping

[@00Z71-h7q]

My amp hasn’t been turning on for a month, now it turns on randomly, and it will play music for a little bit, and then I hear what sounds like clipping and the amp shuts off. What could it be?

[@marshallmill5597]

I have power to my amp but no power from amp to sub... Can you help please

[@jonathanwakumoto5029]

What could b the problem wen it jus blows fuses?

[@tonywatkins9021]

Amp over heats up and burn the fuse out playing at high

[@moneyhouser5190]

Will u all fix my cab audio 1600.1