Stereo running too hot.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,191
Likes: 243
From: Guelph Ontario
Stereo running too hot.
I installed a Kenwood KDCX789 stereo head in dash and amp in rear compartment. It works great. But if I am on a long trip the head kicks out-after about a 2 hours drive-I imagine from over heating-as it will cycle back on --and there is a thermostatic switch in the head that will cycle it down if it becomes too hot--have had back to the dealer and even swapped heads with another same Kenwood---don't know if I have to install a muffin fan on the back of it or what---anyone else had the same problem???? Any cures???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
Cruise-In I Veteran
Are you sure its the head unit kicking off, or is it the amp?
The head unit should not generate enough heat by itself to shut down.
If the head unit really is shutting off, I would check the power supply wiring first. Did you pull it straight from the factory harness, or did you splice from some other source, or did you run a dedicated wire to the fuse box?
Also check your ground point as well. If the ground attach point is very far from the batt. or has a high resistance, to ground, it will make the deck work harder and generate a lot of heat.
Good luck.
The head unit should not generate enough heat by itself to shut down.
If the head unit really is shutting off, I would check the power supply wiring first. Did you pull it straight from the factory harness, or did you splice from some other source, or did you run a dedicated wire to the fuse box?
Also check your ground point as well. If the ground attach point is very far from the batt. or has a high resistance, to ground, it will make the deck work harder and generate a lot of heat.
Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Lowflyer has some good advice to look at first... something to add to that..
I never had any head unit shut down either (just amps)... i've also owned quite a few kenwoods. They can get hot, but I've never had one that shut down on me.
Make sure everything in the dash is cleared away from it, ziptie all cables out of the way, cut away any slack carpeting or insulation padding, make sure there are no other large heat sources that are heating the area up around the head unit. Strapping a fan to it wouldn't be a bad idea if it is just the fact the dash area in there is too hot for your head unit (and not so much the head unit itself).
get a 120MM fan from newegg.com or somewhere, put something in the screw holes on one side to act as spacers (use the screw that come with it perhaps and just tighten them in a notch to make them stick out like feet) then ziptie that biotch down to the hotter side of the head unit (top or bottom whichever is hotter) and have the air blowing AWAY from the head unit. Power should be easy to find since those fans are all 12v anyway.
I never had any head unit shut down either (just amps)... i've also owned quite a few kenwoods. They can get hot, but I've never had one that shut down on me.
Make sure everything in the dash is cleared away from it, ziptie all cables out of the way, cut away any slack carpeting or insulation padding, make sure there are no other large heat sources that are heating the area up around the head unit. Strapping a fan to it wouldn't be a bad idea if it is just the fact the dash area in there is too hot for your head unit (and not so much the head unit itself).
get a 120MM fan from newegg.com or somewhere, put something in the screw holes on one side to act as spacers (use the screw that come with it perhaps and just tighten them in a notch to make them stick out like feet) then ziptie that biotch down to the hotter side of the head unit (top or bottom whichever is hotter) and have the air blowing AWAY from the head unit. Power should be easy to find since those fans are all 12v anyway.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,702
Likes: 254
From: Woodinville, WA
i have been worrying about my HU quite a bit since ive installed it because there is always a lot of heat coming through the center console. And that heat + the heat of the HU means one hot small space with minimal ventilation. Thats not a good situation for any electronic device :/
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Run it with the console trim off so when it happens you can touch the HU body and see if it is actually heat causing the problem.
If it is a HU heat problem, then:
Do you have a modified engine that puts more heat through the tunnel compared to stock?
If so, put more insulation on the tunnel. If not, try a different brand/model head unit.
If it is a HU heat problem, then:
Do you have a modified engine that puts more heat through the tunnel compared to stock?
If so, put more insulation on the tunnel. If not, try a different brand/model head unit.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,394
Likes: 0
From: Bay Area CA
I have never had a HU shut down from heat either. I have had some units get pretty damn hot however.
As was mentioned double check the ground. My second thought is how do you have your speakers wired? Could you be sending too low an ohm load to the poor internal amp causing the heat and eventual shut down?
Give us some more specs of what you are running and what speakers (model etc), it might be something other than the common ground issues.
Fej
As was mentioned double check the ground. My second thought is how do you have your speakers wired? Could you be sending too low an ohm load to the poor internal amp causing the heat and eventual shut down?
Give us some more specs of what you are running and what speakers (model etc), it might be something other than the common ground issues.
Fej
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,793
Likes: 9
From: VA
Originally Posted by fej
As was mentioned double check the ground. My second thought is how do you have your speakers wired? Could you be sending too low an ohm load to the poor internal amp causing the heat and eventual shut down?
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 5,572
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles Ca
Originally Posted by fej
I have never had a HU shut down from heat either. I have had some units get pretty damn hot however.
As was mentioned double check the ground. My second thought is how do you have your speakers wired? Could you be sending too low an ohm load to the poor internal amp causing the heat and eventual shut down?
Give us some more specs of what you are running and what speakers (model etc), it might be something other than the common ground issues.
Fej
As was mentioned double check the ground. My second thought is how do you have your speakers wired? Could you be sending too low an ohm load to the poor internal amp causing the heat and eventual shut down?
Give us some more specs of what you are running and what speakers (model etc), it might be something other than the common ground issues.
Fej
also, what kind of speakers do you have? some speakers are 2ohms your head unit may not be happy. i'm not sure i believe that it's directly a heat realted issue. It seems like two hours is an aweful long time to wait for something to get to its max temp... i could be wrong though.
