Need very fast help for remote wire problem

[nole16k 10+ year member]

Hey guys. I just wired my friend's sub amp, but I have a slight problem with the power. The power LED doesn't stay on constantly, but it will flash whenever the bass hits hard on a song. Everything seems fine but the remote wire. I tested the voltage on the power wire and it was +12V, but the remote wire only has 6V. I know it's the current that turns on the amp, but if not enough voltage, then not enough current, correct? So, I guess I need to find another switched power source that I can hook the remote wire to because it's pretty much impossible to get back behind the head unit again. In the mean time, could I just run a jumper wire from power input on the amp to the remote input just to see if I can get 12V? Or will that provide too much current? His car is a GM Jimmy ('98 I think) and I'm now thinking about running the remote wire to a switched 12V source in the fuse box. Is there an easier source that I can use?

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Where are you feeding the remote activation input from that it's only seeing 6vdc? Yes, for temporary testing purposes you can run a jumper from the power input to the remote activation input to see if that cures your problems.

If getting at the back of the HU isn't an option then I can't really see that there would be any more easily accessible switched 12vdc source than somewhere in the fuse box.

 

[nole16k 10+ year member]

Thanks for the quick reply. I soldered the remote wire onto the yellow wire that connects to the factory wiring harness. I looked at installdr.com guides to see which color the ignition wire was, and it said yellow for this vehicle. However, I'm only getting 6V. Lemme go run a jumper really quick then I'll get back.

 

[nole16k 10+ year member]

Ok, bad news. I ran a jumper from power input on amp w/out disconnecting neg. battery terminal, but as soon as I did, the amp immediately turned on and I disconnected the wire real fast. Then I disconnected neg. battery, screwed the jumper wire down, reconnected battery and absolutely nothing. I also tried running a temporary wire on the outside of the car from the positive battery to the remote input but no luck either. Do you think that the amp could have had some protection from jumping from the 12V input to the remote input? The amp doesn't want to turn on now no matter what I do. I'm really confused and have no clue what the problem is. I also checked the fuses on the amp and they are fine. Any suggestions?

 

[Bake 10+ year member]

Do you have 12v on the power line and the remote now? Did you check it again with your meter to be sure? Unhook the outputs and see if it will turn on for you.

 

[nole16k 10+ year member]

I checked both the remote and power w/a DMM and both read 12V. Unfortunately, we gave up for tonight and will go around to local audio shops tomorrow and see if we can get some advice or get them to finish the install for us. Man, I don't think I've ever been so pissed in my life. I'm just completely clueless right now. I was going to hook up my old amp is his car real quick just to see if something happened to the amp, but my brother has it in his car right now and he's away from the house. Keep the suggestions coming if possible and thanks for the advice.

 

[Bake 10+ year member]

If you have 12v on the power and remote inputs and your ground is good you probably aren't going to like what you find out. Unhook the outputs and rca's and see if it will power up. If it doesn't,,,well,,, you know.

 

[nole16k 10+ year member]

Man, I thought the amp would have a good enough protection against this crap.