Amp Goes into Protect when Power Windows are Used

[joelb 10+ year member]

Hey Guys,

I have eliminated the Powered LOC from being the culprit by wiring the remote turn on right into the amps 12+battery.

My system plays full volume without any issues...

If I put the power windows up or down, sometimes the first time,or then maybe the 3rd time, its never the same, the amp goes into a protect mode. All I do is turn off the radio and turn it back on and the amp works again...

Any ideas... I dont think a bad ground would cause this, since the system plays at 75% volume with ease and never cuts out. But with volume at only 1 or 2 out of 40 (max) this happens...

I am going to my install shop on Monday to check this out... Hoping to solve it with your help !!

Thanks !!

Joel B

Click to read more...

 

[boomzilla 10+ year member]

maybe something shorts for a second when you hit the window switch?

or maybe your electrical system is strained just enough already from driving and listening to music, your windows might drop your battery voltage to unsafe levels for your amp. check it with a dmm and see what voltage it drops to when you bump it.

 

[BoomBoomBoy 10+ year member]

More than likely rolling your windows creates an undervoltage electrical condition and your amp goes into protect mode.

How many volts does your battery show with the engine running at the amps power input with music playing at 3/4 volume?

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Power windows draw a LOT of current. I could hear my a/c blower motor slow down when I ran my windows up or down. If you have a small alt and a weak battery, it could easily trip the undervoltage protection on the amp.

 

[GearGuy2001 10+ year member]

Power windows draw a LOT of current. I could hear my a/c blower motor slow down when I ran my windows up or down. If you have a small alt and a weak battery, it could easily trip the undervoltage protection on the amp.

x2

My windows take alot of power, have you ever tried to power down or up 2 at once look at how much slower they both go. My guess is that you system is taking alot of your power and the windows might normally need some of that to roll up or down.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

A bad factory ground wouldn't surprise me at all.

 

[joelb 10+ year member]

Thanks For The Replies...

I will be regrounding my amp and Powered LOC and re-crimping them one more time in a little while.

I have a feeling its too much draw on the battery and I am going to test that out next with a DMM to see what voltage drops to on the amp when it goes into protect.

Thanks Again All !!

Joel B

 

[joelb 10+ year member]

OK guys... Here's the update...New ground made no difference..

Funny... this only happens when the car is on..

When the car is only running on battery, I can roll down/up the windows all day and no issues... so I have to call into Honda or let my car audio dealer look into this.

When the amp cuts, it still has full power when I measure it with the DMM, so I am assuming that its the Pacific Audio Trunk-LOC that is going into a protect mode and it stops sending the signal to the amp through the RCA outputs...

If you have any ideas, let me know...

Thanks !

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

Not talking about the amp ground but rather the ground for the window regulators.

 

[joelb 10+ year member]

Any ideas why this would only happen when the car engine is on and not just running off the batteries ?

Thanks

 

[electropro 10+ year member]

A bad factory ground wouldn't surprise me at all.

Ha , yeah I had a S-15 once that had electrical problems , It took me a while to find one small ground hooked to a loose dash mounting screw was the culprit. Tightend the screw and electrical problem solved. Def check factory grounds.

 

[dave_damage 10+ year member]

Let me guess? Its a GM? Im gunna go one higher and guess its a Monte Carlo?

 

[crawlinYJ 10+ year member]

i recently saw a lincoln LS that was having issues with the stereo. well, it was really the charging system but it was showing up mostly in the stereo. the guy would drive for a while and listen to his stereo, then sitting with no stereo at idle, he would turn on the AC and lose all of the electronics in the car and the motor would almost stall. the alternator was too weak to keep up and the stereo was draining the battery to the point where turning something on would just about kill it. then to make things worse, since it was too weak to power up the cars electronics, it would trip the weird *** main fuse/breaker style setup it had to protect the vehicle.

sounds to me like your charging system isnt up to snuff. how much current are you pulling with the stereo alone. does this problem happen after you have listened to the stereo for a while? try driving for some time, like a 30-40 minute trip with the stereo completely off. then turn it on while idling and try it. then try driving at a higher rpm (2500-3000) range and try it.

 

[boomzilla 10+ year member]

yeah its gotta be the charging/ electrical system, since i saw this thread, i turned off my amp (disconnected the remote wire), and its been that way for about 3 days now. i have all stock engine components (batt and alt, i have some 1/0 under there for grounds), and running around 1000wrms. my windows used to creep up, now they kick it into gear and close faster, my lights are brighter, etc. get a new alternator, or have one rebuilt to put out more amps than what you are now. get a new battery (doesnt matter what kind right now) and see if it persists.

 

[joelb 10+ year member]

So its a new 2007 Honda Civic Coupe...

I will check the grounds, but remember what I said... This happens with the stereo volume at 1 or 2 (40 is max volume) so my Alpine Amp is not even pulling much power from the battery. It also only happens when the car is running, not off with battery.

I will call Honda and ask about the window regulator ground.

Otherwise I am bringing the car into my local Audio Shop for troubleshooting.

Thanks

Joel