Strange problem. Left channel w left speakers causes protect mode, swaped chans work!

[oxi]

Hi,

(Note im talking front channels only)

I installed this Sony XPLOD 600w long time ago. Several months after, amp was going into protect mode if volume too high (not really high). I rechecked all wiring including ground. I checked voltage running on batt alone(11.65v) and with engine on(close to 14v).

One day the left tweeter started working on and off. And I was sick the amp going into protect, so I tried different setups at high vol and the tweeter died in the process. Now i realised itd go into protect only when left channel was playing. So I thought maybe its due to the broken tweeter and proceed to remove right tweeter to check wether it would behave the same. It didnt. When I played right channel only without tweeter i would play just fine.

TO THE POINT: After trying several different wiring setups i realised it only goes into protect mode when left channel speaker is connected into left channel amp outputs. If I swap channels, it doesnt go into protect! So I'm lost in that I dont know whether its a wiring or speaker problem or a problem with the amp!

Oh, also, when I wire the front left channel alone, plus both rear channels, i get some burst sounds coming from the rear speakers, even though rear inputs are not connected to amp! Is it because the amp thinks I connected a sub and its putting too much power or something and some of it is escaping to the rear speaker?

What to try next? This is really confusing for me being a total noob on car audio! Help or ideas please?

Thanks

Oh yes, and I checked polarities as well...

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[oxi]

Nobody? Not even an opinion? Maybe i didnt word it very well?

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

just gotta be patient over a weekend.

1. i don't like Sony Xplod amps, they are notorious for issues and are very poorly designed/made.

2. likely a short in the wiring, can be intermittent, and will cause the issues above. a short can be a simple as one wire strand almost touching terminals or wire strands for another wire or ground (metal)

 

[oxi]

Thanks!

i understand i bought a cheap amp. I wouldnt expect a great performance, but normal functioning at least?

I dont see a reason why the wires should he broken, but nonetheless ill chek the full wiring instead of just terminals. However im still wondering why would it short only when using left speakers with left channel?

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

I would think that the speaker is grounding out on the metal of the speaker opening..I have had that issue more than once

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

yea, it can look ok, until you inspect further and see a few wire strands flying loose. usually, when it only shorts at high volumes means a wire strand isn't touching, but close enough to arc. even at the speaker, if a wire strand touches the basket. along the wire run, wires can be pinched or nicked when putting panels back on.

 

[mylows10 5,000+ posts]

could be a bad rca too

 

[oxi]

Thank you very much for all replies! Ill definitely check all the wiring plus the speakers and will report back! TY!

 

[oxi]

Hi everybody!

I want to thank you all for your replies. I finally solved the problem!

The front left channel wire was pinched against a screw, and though I couldnt see any strands out, apparently the pinching broke the inner side of both positive and negative wires and they were touching a little, that's what I figured out! Or maybe it was touching against the screw.

I separated neg and pos in that section and proceeded to put tape around each of them. This solved the problem! Then I fixed them a bit off the place they were before and made sure the amp was behaving correctly at high vol.

Ill never forget this experience, how a little pinching in wires could cause the amp to go into protect. I still dont understand why using the left chan wire with the right chan output wouldnt cause the amp to go into protect, but nonetheless i wont take anything for granted from now on and always fully check wiring.

I also replaced the broken tweeter so i couldnt be happier!

Thank you so much guys!

Cheers!

 

[Joseph7195 10+ year member]

A lot of people talk bad about entry level equipment, but this is where it is better to learn the hard way with a cheap piece of equipment, than with an expensive piece! I am glad you found the problem! Since you have a better idea of how the equipment really works, and the really cool feeling playing with audio can be, take a look around the classifieds and see if you might be ready do a more complex install.

It only gets more and more fun the more you learn!

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

2 things here -

1) It's gratifying to see a noob come back and report success & say thanks. From Spain, no less.

2) It's amazing how often the dreaded pinched speaker wire shows up. BTDT.