Amp question.

[NovaBoi92]

I have a 12 inch sub, and 500w amp in the car, all runs fine while the car is running. The amp doesnt work while just the ignition is on, and alot of the time when you turn the engine on and play music, the sub squeaks for a few seconds, sometimes longer - pops and then works fine. i was thinking that there isnt enough power getting into it until the car has been running for a while, but rob (slothsport1) told me that the remote wire may be wired up wrong (although it does do its job fine) connected to the right wire, just in the wrong place :confused:
but can i get your suggestions please on what would fix the problem - squeaking sub and amp not working when just the ignition is on (it works sometimes, you can hear the sub sometimes kicking in very quietly but then cutting out etc..)

[Peanut_119]

thats sounds like your remote wire pal, and the squeek and pop could be the ground wire, when i had my corsa my sub use to do it untill i moved my ground wire.

best bet would be just check over all your wires and see if you can spot anything that could cause it.

[NovaBoi92]

what could be wrong with the remote wire?

[deanwilko]

get a test light and find which wire has power when just the ignition is on and use that wire to connect your remote wire to should work then with just your ignition on does it make the noises with the engine on or off? whilst the vehicle is moving aswell?

[NovaBoi92]

what noises? the squeaking? it happens when i turn the engine on and play music straight away. so i need to connect the remote wire from the amp to the ignition wire that goes into the headunit?

[deanwilko]

yeh thats write where have you earthed to

[NovaBoi92]

i earthed it to the back bumper bolt, after scratching off some paint.

[deanwilko]

the squeaking on all the time if you turn your head unit all the way down

[NovaBoi92]

no, the squeaking stops after about 5 seconds while the car is running

[deanwilko]

all i can say is check your connections then

[marc novataken]

best bet would be to take the wires out and start again. had a similar problem in my fiesta and i just wired it again and it was fine. think my problem was the earth though

[NovaBoi92]

that isnt what is bothering me too much, its that i need the engine running for the amp to work. do you think that fitting a bigger battery/alternator would solve this? or maybe a powercap?

[deanwilko]

do what i said earlyer that will solve not needing your engine running to have your amp on. you shouldnt need a bigger battery or alternator if thats the only amp you are running. are the wires running down the same side?

[marc novataken]

wouldnt have thought so. after reading through again i would say rewire the remote cable to the permanent live at the back of the stereo, that should sort most of it out

[NovaBoi92]

ok ill give it a go thanks, and no they arent running along the same side.

[deanwilko]

just that causes interfrance some times when you first turn them on thats all if he uses the permanent live his amp will be on all the time even with the ignition off

[NovaBoi92]

the remote wire is meant to go to onto the blue wire on back of headunit isnt it?

[marc novataken]

i had mine wired to permanent live and it was fine, just meant i didnt even need ignition on to listen to my music

[marc novataken]

the remote wire is meant to go to onto the blue wire on back of headunit isnt it?
yep usually

[NovaBoi92]

mine was wired on permamnent live. drained the battery constantly.

[marc novataken]

really? mine was like it for 3 years, was fine as long as you turned the stereo off instead of leaving it on standby. maybe my wiring was knackered lol

[MattBrown]

It sounds like it could be your head unit, is it on a line out converter? or on rca leads?

Also what guage wire are you running?

What voltage reaches the amp as most have low voltage cut offs and a fckued battery they will just die, also if you say it whines/make a noise when the car has just started it sounds to me like the battery, because as the alternator doesnt give out linear voltage, more of pule affect, this could be interfearing!

Sorry to waffle lol

Get a new battery imo!

[AlexW]

Before you spend money getting a battery check the voltage!

The amount of times people have said theve bought a new battery and it hasnt made a differance is amazing!

[NovaBoi92]

i tried fitting a bigger battery but it didnt make a difference. how about a bigger battery AND alternator?

[Jack]

i would say rewire the remote cable to the permanent live at the back of the stereo, that should sort most of it out
No. Keep the remote wire where its meant to go to. If you want to use the audio in ignition off conditions, wire the HU into a permanent live.

Re-earth - use a large cable of course - and check the power cable (especially round the fuse area; my celica has problems with the sub cutting out due to a crap fuse connection). I've only brushed over this thread, but have you tried a different amp & sub? i.e. borrow one from a friend, see if that does the same.

Easiest way to check if the alternator is up to the job, turn car on, measure voltage over the battery, then turn stereo on and see if the voltage does anything silly. Or, if you don't have a voltmeter, turn the headlights on and see if them dim in time with the odd noises from the audio.


[edit] Just re-read your original post. Deffo check the power cable, as said the fuse and etc as you have the same symptoms as I do on the Celica (sub cutting out). Could of course be a knackered sub...

[NovaBoi92]

ill check it all, thanks for your help

[Tommydewe]

is your remote lead contcted properly?
it may not be that why it is not telling the amp to turn on?

[the-blade]

when the car is running you produce 13.5v ish.. engine off you produce only 12.5v ish .. sounds to me that your power / earth leads arnt great .. what make is the amp and whats the rms rateing ?
also check your earths /battery... also what power is the sub ?..is it to tough for the amp?
cant see it being the rem unless its installed badly :)