JL 500/1 amp problem

[CleanPrix 10+ year member]

I have a JL 500/1 amp I purchased off craigslist. I opened it up to make sure nothing looked bad. Caps blown, burn marks, burnt electrical smell, exc. Everuthing seemed good. I hooked it up and as soon as power and ground was hooked up (no remote) the amp arced more than usual and the power light came on. Something wasnt right so i took it out again and looked at the inside, still everuthing looks as it should. Said screw it, hooked it up and let it sit with power to it, light stayed on for about 45 secs then started to go dim slowely, then out. Hooked up everything else, turned on headunit and she didnt light up first time. Tried again and got the green light. Played music and it puts out very VERY little power to my subs. Never got warm or anything, let it sit in there for an hour playing with settings with music going. Anyone have any idea whats up with it? I have fixed amps before, small things like caps and resistors, but nothing ever puzzled me like this one.

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[assassin1840 10+ year member]

is your input voltage on high or low? jl does it differently so if your hu rca voltage is about 2vs you need to put it on high i believe

 

[CleanPrix 10+ year member]

I played with the gains, the input switches, everything. Been googleing all night trying top figure it out. while its hooked up, it will get a small, split second burst of power to the subs then go back to very little. Pulled the amp and tore it apart. The 4 big capacitors look good, but they are the ones with the plastic cover over the top. The one that felt like it was lifted on top, i cut the plastic around and took off the top cover off it. It is raised a little. only one is flush from what i can feel. May end up replacing the caps unless someone with more knowledge on here says thats not the problem.

Also, its not my wiring or headunit, i have a 300/2 i play daily in my car now.

 

[okiedokie 10+ year member]

The amp has a Amp input section

Input Voltage= I would have it on low

low or high

Signal Sensing= This will allow you to not use a remote to your deck.

off or on

ohm= What subs are useing?, What ohm load are your subs?

Subs or mid bass

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Id sell it for parts, or open the lid on the trash can and drop it right in.Repairing that amp might cost you some money, that you could possibly buy an old school amp for, and generate just as much power, if not more.Just my opinion.Sounds like you got taken on Craigs list.Id look on the forum, and then e-bay before Craigs list, you may have found a better deal.Sorry to hear you got scammed

 

[Why So Cereal? 5,000+ posts]

Play with that signal sensing switch. It screwed me for a minute too. Also check the Rcas

 

[CleanPrix 10+ year member]

Electrical and rca's are good, I have a 300/2 i play regularly in the car and it doesn't have the issue. I bought the amp in a lot, so really dont have any money invested in it. Bought the lot for the eclipse 88120 sub that he had, also a 6ch kicker amp. Ill play with it some more tomorrow seeing how I am off then.

 

[CleanPrix 10+ year member]

Can A cap go bad if its rounded on the top? I checked everything on the amp and none of the switches make much of a difference other than the one that turns on the remote circuit board. It does have power going to the sub, but its very low with a random THUMP from the sub.

 

[saucej120ls]

did you ever figure out the problem with the amp?

i just got a jl 500/1 and a jl10w6 and when i hooked it up

there was very little bass to the woofer. The amp turns on

and stays on. I went to a car audio place

and the guy couldnt look at it because he was too booked =(

i told him what was going on and he said "MAYBE YOU HAVE THE SUB WIRED WRONG AND THERE FIGHTING EACH OTHER AND THAT'S WHY YOUR NOT GETTING BASS"

i have not a clue what hes talking about. well i'm still in the same hole

have sub and amp but no bass =(.....

well let me know if there's anything you guys can help me with