Can an amp blow a head unit?

[mazdakid 5,000+ posts]

I decided to mount my amp to the sub box a few years ago and after about 5 minutes I smoked the amp and the rca's are messed up now. If I try to hook up an amp to the head unit, the amp will shut off every time I go to the next song.

 

[pawn man 10+ year member]

if the amp is not properly grounded it can damage the head unit. if the amp has bad ground it will try to ground itself through the shield ground of the rca cables. this will damage the internal ground on the rca's of the radio. in most cases it causes alot of engine noise but it can do other damage to the radio. so it may have been his fault or it may have been the fault of the amp. have you personally tested the amp since? if the amp works now it was probably his faulty wiring.

 

[The HACKER 10+ year member]

Yeah bro Id just write it off as installer error, i mean it sucks for him but i think it would be pretty messed up for someone to put this one on you. Most everyone here knows you should disconnect the rca's and power b4 trying to remove or install a new/used amp and then take care to not touch nething u shouldnt with the wires on the install (u know what i mean //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif)...I think a lot of people overlook the importance of doing so.