Amp keeps shutting off
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Amp keeps shutting off
5 channel amp, Pioneer Nav unit, 10" sub, all new door speakers.
Everything wired up and works fine. The other day I was driving and my Amp shut off and the headunit started displaying "AMP Error". I got home and checked all the connections and had no idea what it could be.
Now it does it every time I get the car out. The amp is not going into protect mode, it's just turning off. I triple checked every connection. The part that confuses me is that there is no set amount of time before it happens. Sometimes it shuts off before I make it out of the driveway, and other times I go drive a half hour before it shuts off.
Any suggestions?? I contacted Rockford Fosgate and they said it must be a problem with the remote turn on wire being loose. Checked that and it's fine.
04 Z06 if that matters
Everything wired up and works fine. The other day I was driving and my Amp shut off and the headunit started displaying "AMP Error". I got home and checked all the connections and had no idea what it could be.
Now it does it every time I get the car out. The amp is not going into protect mode, it's just turning off. I triple checked every connection. The part that confuses me is that there is no set amount of time before it happens. Sometimes it shuts off before I make it out of the driveway, and other times I go drive a half hour before it shuts off.
Any suggestions?? I contacted Rockford Fosgate and they said it must be a problem with the remote turn on wire being loose. Checked that and it's fine.
04 Z06 if that matters
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,293
Likes: 137
From: Hazel Green, Wi www.doubledmods.com
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
Its prob the amp...
the RF amps are not what they used to be. I have people complaining to me about them all the time and switching them out.
the RF amps are not what they used to be. I have people complaining to me about them all the time and switching them out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Thanks
Former Vendor
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 18,293
Likes: 137
From: Hazel Green, Wi www.doubledmods.com
St. Jude Donor '12-'13
I have been selling the new Kenwood XR900.5 5 channel amp
awesome amp.
How much are you wanting to spend?
This will give me an idea of what I can get for you
awesome amp.
How much are you wanting to spend?
This will give me an idea of what I can get for you
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
I'm going to see if I can borrow an amp from somebody and see if that's what the problem is.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
The only things connecting the HU to the amp are (should be) the RCA's and the trigger wire. If the HU is telling you the amp has issues, then I'd have to say either one or more of the RCA channels is shorted together inside the amp, or the trigger wire is somehow pulling way too much current and causing the HU to go into some type of self-protection mode.
You can test for the trigger over current by disconnecting the trigger wire at the amp, then install a temporary jumper from the amp B+ to trigger. That would make the HU happy, but the amp may still have issues, so keep checking it to see how hot it is.
You can test for a shorted RCA inside the amp by removing one or more from the amp, then go for a drive. I'd try removing rears, then test. If OK, reconnect rears and disconnect fronts, then test. If you get lucky you may be able to recreate the fault at will, then you can switch HU inputs to the bad amp channel to verify that it's the amp and not the HU.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
I wasn't even aware that a HU could do that
The only things connecting the HU to the amp are (should be) the RCA's and the trigger wire. If the HU is telling you the amp has issues, then I'd have to say either one or more of the RCA channels is shorted together inside the amp, or the trigger wire is somehow pulling way too much current and causing the HU to go into some type of self-protection mode.
You can test for the trigger over current by disconnecting the trigger wire at the amp, then install a temporary jumper from the amp B+ to trigger. That would make the HU happy, but the amp may still have issues, so keep checking it to see how hot it is.
You can test for a shorted RCA inside the amp by removing one or more from the amp, then go for a drive. I'd try removing rears, then test. If OK, reconnect rears and disconnect fronts, then test. If you get lucky you may be able to recreate the fault at will, then you can switch HU inputs to the bad amp channel to verify that it's the amp and not the HU.
The only things connecting the HU to the amp are (should be) the RCA's and the trigger wire. If the HU is telling you the amp has issues, then I'd have to say either one or more of the RCA channels is shorted together inside the amp, or the trigger wire is somehow pulling way too much current and causing the HU to go into some type of self-protection mode.
You can test for the trigger over current by disconnecting the trigger wire at the amp, then install a temporary jumper from the amp B+ to trigger. That would make the HU happy, but the amp may still have issues, so keep checking it to see how hot it is.
You can test for a shorted RCA inside the amp by removing one or more from the amp, then go for a drive. I'd try removing rears, then test. If OK, reconnect rears and disconnect fronts, then test. If you get lucky you may be able to recreate the fault at will, then you can switch HU inputs to the bad amp channel to verify that it's the amp and not the HU.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
It's a relatively simple concept, the amp is doing something the HU doesn't like, so disconnect wires between them one or two at a time to see if the problem goes away.
If you get lucky enough to isolate the issue to one of the amp RCA connections, try using a different source wire from the HU on that same input (switch front/rear) to make sure it's the amp and not the HU.
If you get lucky enough to isolate the issue to one of the amp RCA connections, try using a different source wire from the HU on that same input (switch front/rear) to make sure it's the amp and not the HU.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
It's a relatively simple concept, the amp is doing something the HU doesn't like, so disconnect wires between them one or two at a time to see if the problem goes away.
If you get lucky enough to isolate the issue to one of the amp RCA connections, try using a different source wire from the HU on that same input (switch front/rear) to make sure it's the amp and not the HU.
If you get lucky enough to isolate the issue to one of the amp RCA connections, try using a different source wire from the HU on that same input (switch front/rear) to make sure it's the amp and not the HU.
Pioneer emailed me back and this was their response:
Thank you for contacting Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.
If no speakers are connected to the speaker wires of the unit and you are getting an amp error, the unit will need service. Please click on the link below to locate a service center in your area.
http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Support
Sincerely,
Luana
Customer Service Representative
It's a brand new headunit... I can't imagine it needing serviced
I'm going to disconnect the external amp completely and just turn the headunit on and see what it does.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
Racer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 497
Likes: 15
From: Niagara Falls NY
I didn't read this thread too closely, so I'm probably off base. Back in the 90's I had an amp in my car that kept turning off on me and it took forever to find the problem. The installer had put in a big fancy clear case fuse holder in my engine compartment. I can't remember if it was when the engine got hot...or when I turned on the A/C....but I do recall that changes in the temperature around the fuse holder caused it to lose contact. Hence, my amp would shut down.
Just a thought....
Just a thought....
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 7,035
Likes: 134
From: North Augusta, SC
Yes. Pull it out and separate every unused wire that's connected to the back of the HU. Cover the end of each wire with a folded over piece of tape, even if none are shorted to each other one of them may just be touching the frame.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
One thing I did notice though...
When I originally installed the HU, i had it powering the speakers for a while. After I installed the 5 channel, do I need to disconnect the wires in the back of the HU that go to the speakers?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
I didn't read this thread too closely, so I'm probably off base. Back in the 90's I had an amp in my car that kept turning off on me and it took forever to find the problem. The installer had put in a big fancy clear case fuse holder in my engine compartment. I can't remember if it was when the engine got hot...or when I turned on the A/C....but I do recall that changes in the temperature around the fuse holder caused it to lose contact. Hence, my amp would shut down.
Just a thought....
Just a thought....