JL 500/1 sound cuts out randomly

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

My JL 500/1 just randomly started giving me problems. After about 30 min or so of music (not even really bass heavy) the sound will cut out for about 10-30 seconds, itll come back on eventually if I put the volume down, then will cut off and come back on etc. Now when I noticed this I thought maybe I was pushing it too hard, so I turned of the bass eq (set moderately on the amp at around +2.5). Gain is set properly, slightly higher than half way. After I took off bass boost, same thing, maybe it'll take a bit longer for the sound to cut off but it will. The funny thing is itll cut off whether its something bass heavy or not. Another funny this is that when the sound cuts off, the amp is not heated at all, the protect is not on, the low ohm load light is not on, the green power light is on!

I'm using 4 gauge wire, stock alternator/battery on a 03 matrix. Now what I think the problem is, is the capacitor. It's a really old Phoenix Gold 1 farad cap. Now is it possible that the cap is choking the amp, I've heard that this series of amp in particular is not meant to be used with capacitors.

Any suggestions? I wanna try to remove the cap tomorrow but I've noticed that the negative terminal on my battery is stuck somehow, it wont come out :/. Is it possible I could work on the car with the positive terminal out. Or is that a safety issue?

Click to read more...

 

[LosIsATool 5,000+ posts]

No amp is meant to be ran with a cap.

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Pull the cap and redo grounds. Good first step. Try to monitor voltage at the amp terminals when it cuts out.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

sounds like that propriatory chip may be taking a dump

 

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

whats that

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

there's a circuit in the jl amps that allows them to play and get the same power at 2-4 ohms.i've been told they have the patent on this ,any way one of my jl amps along time ago started doing some funky sh..t it was cutting in and out at higher power and then finally shorted out my boston pro comps,i was pissed,so i took the amp in to a shop in san jose ca and thats what they told me.they also told me that it was very common in the jl amps and it would have to be sent direct to jl and it would cost $300 to fix.

 

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

isn't jl's warranty lifetime?

and my ohm load is 4ohms

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

jl is not lifetime never has never will,at most 2 years if installed by a authorized dealer

would still check grounds first like keep hope alive reccommended

 

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

fcuk, better not be the amp. so nobody else suspects the cap? or something in between the amp and sub?

 

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

so is it safe to work on wiring with just the positive terminal of the battery disconnected?

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

pull the ground or make sure you drain the power from the amp ,so that you dont short it out even worse

 

[godisanatheist 10+ year member]

how would i drain it?

 

[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

If ur therejust disconnect both.....and yes remove the cap

 

[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

If ur therejust disconnect both.....and yes remove the cap

 

[Imtjnotu 5,000+ posts]

If ur therejust disconnect both.....and yes remove the cap