Amplifier Trouble

April 01, 2007, 02:36:17 AM

Hey guys,
I've got a question that could have to do with a Fox car (but it doesn't, it pertains to my '98 F150) regarding an aftermarket amplifier. I've gone without tunes in my truck since last summer when my dash unit was stolen out of my truck. It was just a Kenwood CD/MP3/Sirius indash with a small 40W amp under the passenger seat pushing the rear factory speakers. Pretty simple system. Well, I just got around to re-installing its replacement this weekend (the exact model to be exact). I've done these installations a dozen times or more. Everything works just right except for the amp under the seat. I am getting no power out of it even though there's no reason I shouldn't be. The "remote" signal wire is connected from the indash deck, I've got a good hot connection to the battery, and I've got it grounded to the chassis. Still nothing! This same setup worked perfectly before the first unit was stolen. Just to make sure it wasn't just the amp going bad, I have another larger amp that I connected, and the same thing. No power. What is up? All I can think of is that the replacement deck (which I bought second-handed off of Ebay) has a problem with the remote signal output. Am I right in saying that the amp will not power up unless the remote signal tells it to? So if I have a hot +12V and a good ground and it still doesn't power up, it has to be the deck, right? I finally just said "forget it" and just wired up all four speakers right to the indash unit and skipped the amp. I would really appreciate any input or suggestions, because this drove me nuts all afternoon, and it should have been a simple problem. Thanks for any help.

Fordman3

P.S. Somebody help me track down CougarSE. I'm hopefully a lot closer to taking his '83 Cougar off his hands unless he's already sold it. I've wrote a time or two and PM'ed and haven't heard back from him. Thanks.

Amplifier Trouble

Reply #1 – April 01, 2007, 07:12:47 AM

Something I found out when I installed and amp in my car was the Kenwood deck I was using had an antenna and an amp remote lead. Logically, then antenna lead was only powered when you were on the raido mode, so I had a hell of a time figuring out why the amp would power on and then right back off as I switched from CD to Tuner. Just a thought... both wires were blue too.

Amplifier Trouble

Reply #2 – April 01, 2007, 02:22:52 PM

Either that or one of the other wires isn't hooked up right or has a break in it. Try running a jumper wire from the 12+ over to the remote turn on on the amp. If it turns on then the remote wire had a problem or something. If the amp still doesn't come on something else is wrong.

Amplifier Trouble

Reply #3 – April 01, 2007, 11:13:49 PM

Have you checked your amp power wires with a multimeter? My buddy had the same problem when wiring a new deck into his truck after it was stolen, for some reason during the time it was deck-less the amp ground got dirty and wasnt connecting.

Scott

Amplifier Trouble

Reply #4 – April 06, 2007, 04:06:23 PM

to make sure of your deck wiring check out kenwood.com you should be able to down load a manual for your unit:cheers: :flame: