Sub Powers On When Radio is Off

[Luna]

I actually had a system installed for me in my new 2005 Accord, I really don't have the time to do it. I had Best Buy install it and low and behold they messed it up big time.

I have some Alpine Component speakers along with an Alpine Type R 12" sub. I have a 2ch Alpine amp for the front components putting out 70wx2 and a Kenwood amp for the sub that's putting out 500wx1 @ 4ohms I believe.

After they got it installed we gave it a listen and the front components have a lot of noise in them. The source does not matter, XM, CD, FM/AM. Even if the volume is set to 0 it still has static. They told me it might have been a defective RCA converter kit. I'm using the stock head unit which has no RCA output jacks so they had to wire in two kits for it, one for the sub and one for the components. I actually fixed this though by turning the GAIN down to 0 on the amp which removed almost all noise (there is just a tiny amount that you can't hear over the car itself while it's running). By doing this though the speakers no longer match the sub and are overtaken (I have no volume knob for the sub yet)

The other problem (main one) I'm having is that when I power the stereo off the sub turns on full blast and will only go back to normal use if you turn the stereo back on or if you turn the car off which will power the sub off. After playing with this I noticed that if I pull the rear seat down this would go away and the sub would hum on and off very slightly. The second I pushed the seat back up into place the sub shot to full volume again. Maybe a wire is being pushed up against something, or there is some kind of interference?

Thoughts are welcome though as I might be able to fix it myself or at least point them in the right direction. I need to make them install a volume knob for the sub anyway as it really overpowers my speakers.

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[Goldenknob 10+ year member]

wow yea they did a job on you... sounds like you nailed your sub problem. have them check where the wires are ran.. one has got to being pinched and grounding out or something. with your components.... check the converter box.. I think there is a gain knob on them too and they may have them set to high... or you have the wires where they are spliced grounding out also.

 

[Luna]

wow yea they did a job on you... sounds like you nailed your sub problem. have them check where the wires are ran.. one has got to being pinched and grounding out or something. with your components.... check the converter box.. I think there is a gain knob on them too and they may have them set to high... or you have the wires where they are spliced grounding out also.

When you say on the converter box, do you mean the crossover? Or for the RCA conversion. I did notice some plugs on those that looked like they could be turned. I'll have to ask them to look at that. I assume there should not be any noise if I increase the Gain.

I've taken it apart the crossover but all I am able to change is the tweeter settings from +1.5 to -6.00

The only Gain I have seen so far is on the back of my 2ch Alpine amp. It has Bass EQ settings and then the Gain. My mono Kenwood amp has no such settings.

I'll take apart the car tomorrow and make sure the wires are not hitting anything.

 

[jsloan10 10+ year member]

The controls for the Kenwood amp are under a removable panel, just unscrew the 4 allenhead screws and you will find the gain ect, controls underneath.

The tweeter setting will have nothing to do with you're system noise,

The line output converter (RCA converter) may have ajustable settings.

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

it also sounds like it could quite possibly be a bad ground on the 2ch amp.

 

[btmorris972 10+ year member]

bad ground or grounds. take it back to best buy let them deal with it.

 

[Luna]

Alright I took the cover off the Kenwood amp and tuned it down. It matches the speakers now fairly well though it's slightly loud still. I had to make it +2 F in order to get the sub at an ok level.

My guess is they may have to turn down the Gain on the RCA converters as well.

I seem to have also fixed the Sub problem by moving around some of the wires.

My only real complaint now for Best Buy is that the volume / audio controls in the Steering Wheel no longer work. If they can't get those up and running again I'm going to be pretty ticked off.

 

[Mr. Loki 5,000+ posts]

as for your stock controls on the steering wheel your probably going to need a conversion kit, but I dont know why unless they have clipped your wires. I run my system (for now) on my stock HU in a 2004 crown vic and my steering wheel controls work fine.

 

[johnecon2001 5,000+ posts]

he's still got his stock HU. They (bestbuy) must have fuked something else up.

 

[Mr. Loki 5,000+ posts]

Yes thats why I said a conversion kit. They (pioneer especially) make kits for you to keep your stock hu using your steering wheel controls and control your after market amps.

I know what your saying, but I wasnt referring to an AFTER MARKER HU with the conversion kit idea.