Is my amp dead/dying?

[colodude18]

I'm running an Alpine PDX-5 on a Pioneer deck with Focal speakers and sub for about 2 years now without any issues. Since a few days my amp started cutting out at high bass loads and medium volume, and also when hitting a bump in the road. In each case, the sound cuts out for about 2-3- seconds and then restores. When the vehicle is stationary and I pound my fist on the amp, it does the same thing. Any suggestions? I asked on my car specific forum and was told my amp was most likely broke... Let me know if more details are needed or I'll even post a video of the symptoms. Thanks!

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[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Sounds like something could be loose inside the amp...is it mounted to a box or something?

 

[colodude18]

It's bolted to the back seat in the trunk.

Here's a link to my install page: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3835837/2010-chevrolet-cobalt-ss-coupe-2d/page-6

 

[Morals 10+ year member]

sounds like either the ground or power is really loose. hit bump turns amp off, takes couple sec to turn back on. At high bass loose connect isnt supplying enough juice.

 

[oldschool4me 10+ year member]

i agree that something is lose. i would narrow it down by seeing if the power goes off or just the music stops. if power goes off then likely something loose on power supply, if power stays on just output stops....likely something loose on rca input or less likely but possible output side. once you find out open her up and see whats loose and then solder it again. should be simple.

 

[colodude18]

I just checked the power and ground connections to the amp, but they're both solid. Again, everything has worked flawlessly for about 2 years... I guess I'll check the RCA in connections next. BTW the cutting out happens regardless of the source; whether radio, iPod, or SD card (all inputs through my head unit). Should I try to connect my iPod directly to the amp and see if it still happens then?

 

[oldschool4me 10+ year member]

yea you can but what i was saying is that if when it cuts out....from you punching it lol. does the power go off or just stop playing music?

 

[colodude18]

Haha, I'll check that right now as well, stay tuned.. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[Spooney 10+ year member]

I just checked the power and ground connections to the amp, but they're both solid. Again, everything has worked flawlessly for about 2 years... I guess I'll check the RCA in connections next. BTW the cutting out happens regardless of the source; whether radio, iPod, or SD card (all inputs through my head unit). Should I try to connect my iPod directly to the amp and see if it still happens then?

You could try that but all that will do is let you know if your rca cables are the problem and in this case I don't think that's what is going on unless the rca connectors on the amp are broken and making intermittent contact. I think it is more likely that you have a loose power/ground/remote wire somewhere. Like was mentioned above you need to see if the amp is actually powering off or if its going into protect or just not putting out any sound. You said you checked power and ground connections at the amp.......did you check to see if they are tight on the other end of the cables?

 

[Donniehowell]

the cutting out has got to be in your power cables ,fuses,or even in your remote wire from your head unit, if it gos out and in a sec or 2 comes back on, i would start with the ground and power and go from there.when it dose it look at your light on your amp to see if its coming on or off. i have had the same thing befor and it was my fuse housing was lose.maybe that will help you

 

[colodude18]

Well I can't get it to cut out now, lol. Turned up the volume and bass and punched the amp again, nothing....

Come to think of it, when this happened last night the amp was really hot (not too hot to the touch, but just very warm) which I though was normal. Could it be cutting out because it's overheating? That would be weird since it's not that warm out (seventies yesterday) and I haven't had any issues in past summers when it was triple digits...

@ Spooney: by connecting the iPod directly I was trying to rule out that the issue was with the head unit as opposed to the amp... Can't check that now since it's not cutting out at all. And yes, I did check both ends of the cable. Power is still solidly connected to the battery and ground is still solidly screwed to the vehicle chassis...

I guess the next thing for me to do is go drive around for a while, heat up the amp and then try these things again...to be continued!

 

[colodude18]

Alright, I think I got it!

Couldn't get it to do it after driving around for a while although the amp was about the same temp as last night. So I found a quiet street (so as not to **** of my neighbors, lol), turned the volume and bass way up, and started messing with wires going into the amp. Turns out the one wire I hadn't checked, the remote, made it cut out as soon as I wiggled it. Drove home, and tightened it with an allen wrench. I could give it a half turn! I guess the heat must have had something to do with it, as the terminals heated up it probably had more room to move or something. Anyway, looks like problem solved. Thanks all for your time and advice!!