My head unit remote out line only puts out 5V?

[akoakoako]

All,

I am trying to troubleshoot why is it my amp is not working. Here are what I did so far:

1) I used multimeter to measure the voltage between the amp ground and positive when the head unit is off. I get roughly 12V - Good

2) I used multimeter to measure the voltage between the amp ground and positive when the head unit is on. I get roughly 5V - Bad

3)I used multimeter to measure the voltage between the amp ground and the power remote cable when the head unit is on. I get roughly 5V - Bad

My question is: why is it my head unit remote cable only puts out 5V? Also, why is it the voltage between the ground and the positive on the amp drop to 5V when the head unit is on? Please help me to shed some light..

My head unit is Nakamichi CD400. My amp is Orion 7005. I tried to switch the amp, and it also do not turn on. I am assuming this is a problem with the head unit.

Thanks!!

Click to read more...

 

[galacticmonkey 5,000+ posts]

Pop a wire from the positive terminal to the remote terminal. If the amp turns on, your head units remote is all messed up.

 

[akoakoako]

ok, i'll try this...

 

[akoakoako]

i am sorry guys, I measure the voltage incorrectly. The remote cable actually gives out roughly 12V too.

I do not understand, why is it my amp doesnot turn on. I already try it with 2 different amps, and both of them doesn't turn on. One of the amp is brand new.

 

[modskwod 10+ year member]

Is the amp going into protect?

 

[akoakoako]

no it's just not turning on. I thought my old amp was bad. Then I get a brand spanking new amp, and the new one doesn't turn on either.

 

[akoakoako]

Guys, this is what I did.

1) I measure the power cable and ground with the head unit turned off- 12 V good

2) I measure the remote cable and ground with head unit turned on and I didn't connecting it to the amp - 12 V good

3) I measure the power cable and ground with the head unit turned on- 3 V bad

4) I connect the power cable to the remote terminal - 3V too

my question is, why is it doing this? I can understand why is it the amp doesn't turn on since there is only 3V going in to the amp. But why is it doing this?

The funny thing is, at one point my setup was fine and then when I was driving all sudden it clip and shuts off.

I did the above steps with a brand new amps, and it exhibit the same behavior (voltage wise)

 

[Worlddre 5,000+ posts]

bad ground......check all your wires using a ground tied direct to the batt...If problem does not persist as i think it will not you have a bad ground.

 

[akoakoako]

dre! I think you got it right.... I think I will just rewire my car. Thanks Bro!