Repairing Guides

how to repair a car amp

by Adriana Renner I Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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How do you fix an amp that won’t turn on?

  • Turn the car off for 30 minutes.
  • Access the car battery.
  • Remove the ground wire from the battery.
  • Remove the housing from the amplifier.
  • Check for loss wiring on the amplifier.
  • Test all the wires running from the amplifier.
  • Check for a blown fuse.
  • Replace the fuse.

Full Answer

How to fix a car AMP?

  • The most common protection circuit is the thermal shutdown circuit. It is designed to shut the amp down if it gets too hot.
  • Most amplifiers also have an over-current protection circuit. ...
  • Some amplifiers have DC offset protection. ...
  • Over and under-voltage protection is employed in some amplifiers. ...

How to install an amplifier in a car?

Steps

  1. Raise the hood on your vehicle and look to see which side your battery is located on. Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
  2. Look along the firewall and see if there is a good spot to run your power wire through. ...
  3. Take out your cordless power drill and steel drill bit. ...
  4. Protect the drilled hole with paint from rust. ...

More items...

How much to repair a car alternator?

Used alternators carry more risk, and realistically can either already have an issue, or go out at any minute. The cost of the three options typically ranges from about $300 to $500. The replacement itself should only take about 2-hours. Add this all together, and you have a total cost for an alternator replacement of between $480 to $940.

How to run multiple amps in car?

Wiring Multiple Amplifiers To One Source

  • Method #1. Today many head units have many preamp outputs that you use to connect to the amplifier. ...
  • Method #2. As all the head units do not have many preamp outputs, you should check preamp pass-through functionality in your amplifier.
  • Method #3. ...
  • Method #4. ...

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Can car amplifiers be repaired?

If you want your amplifier repaired promptly, be sure to follow instructions and include repair slips and repair numbers. - Every amplifier we repair goes through a rigorous stress testing protocol before we ship it out.

Can amps be repaired?

Modern audio equipment is built using delicate components that cannot be repaired; instead, they are replaced. Your audio professional will know which ones to replace, where to get them, and how to do the job. Use a clean pencil eraser to clean cable pins on a regular basis.

How do you fix a bad car amp?

0:171:47How to Fix a Car Amp - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipTest the connections with a multimeter set to measure volts. Step 3 inspect the amplifier for looseMoreTest the connections with a multimeter set to measure volts. Step 3 inspect the amplifier for loose Hardware screws or nuts. Step 4 reconnect the speaker wires. And RCA cables.

How can you tell if an amp is blown?

These are listed below: There is a noticeable distortion in the sound. There is no sound even if you have already turned on your audio system. Your stereo system starts making bizarre sounds such as farting sounds.

How do you fix a broken amp?

0:2318:28Simple fix for a blown audio power amplifier - Save your $$$! - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo reset the circuit breaker plug it into a new outlet. And if it keeps tripping. And you might haveMoreSo reset the circuit breaker plug it into a new outlet. And if it keeps tripping. And you might have a problem. But that could be the issue right there. The other option is that the internal fuse.

How much does it cost to fix a car amplifier?

Replace the amplifier: $30 to $300 for the part, and $50 to $200 for labor. Replace a speaker (woofer or subwoofer): $50 to $500. Remove a stuck CD: Try removing it yourself to save money!

How do I fix my amp no sound?

0:175:38amp truble shooting how to fix no sound - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt fix ups for that for those issues troubleshooting so first one is in being first thing you'reMoreIt fix ups for that for those issues troubleshooting so first one is in being first thing you're going to need is you're going to need to have a tester. You find them at any auto.

Why is my amp not working?

To diagnose a blown car amp fuse, replace the fuse with everything turned off. If the fuse blows, there's probably a short between that fuse and the rest of the system. Next, replace the fuse again with the amplifier disconnected. If the fuse still blows, there is a short somewhere in the wiring.

How do you troubleshoot an amplifier?

Amp Has No OutputMake sure the amp is turning on, with the above steps.Connect a new set of RCAs. ... Attach an external speaker to the system. ... Check the amp's crossovers and settings. ... If your amp has a master and slave setting, make sure you have it set as a master, unless it's connected to another amp.

How do I know if my car amp is bad?

Test the sound by unplugging the sound cables or colored RCA wires.Hissing and crackling are often easy to fix by rearranging the wires or getting complimentary speakers.If the noise doesn't stop, then you probably have a faulty amp to replace.5 Ways to Troubleshoot an Amp - wikiHowhttps://www.wikihow.com › Troubleshoot-an-Amphttps://www.wikihow.com › Troubleshoot-an-AmpSearch for: How do I know if my car amp is bad?

What can damage an amplifier?

The two most likely possibilities for damage are: - Connecting the speakers incorrectly, putting a heavy load on the amplifier and overheating it. Usually one channel goes before the other. - Cranking up the volume on the amp and ruining loudspeaker driver(s).Feb 27, 2015How easy is it to damage my amplifier or speakers? - diyAudiohttps://www.diyaudio.com › community › threads › how-...https://www.diyaudio.com › community › threads › how-...Search for: What can damage an amplifier?

How can I test my car amp at home?

1:0315:40How To Test An Amp (Watch this before buying a used car amplifier)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou're going to need a jumper wire to jump the remote. This will let you jump from your constantMoreYou're going to need a jumper wire to jump the remote. This will let you jump from your constant power to the remote just to get to ant the trigger. On.How To Test An Amp (Watch this before buying a used car amplifier)https://www.youtube.com › watchhttps://www.youtube.com › watchSearch for: How can I test my car amp at home?

How do you fix an amp that won't turn on?

To diagnose a blown car amp fuse, replace the fuse with everything turned off. If the fuse blows, there's probably a short between that fuse and the rest of the system. Next, replace the fuse again with the amplifier disconnected. If the fuse still blows, there is a short somewhere in the wiring.

How do you diagnose amplifier problems?

Most amplifier problems fall into one of the following categories:The amp doesn't turn on.The amp makes no sound.The amp passes signal but makes strange, non-musical sounds.The amp passes signal that sounds distorted.The amp is extremely noisy.The amp has low volume.The amp smells like it's burning.More items...•

How do I fix my amp no sound?

0:175:38amp truble shooting how to fix no sound - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt fix ups for that for those issues troubleshooting so first one is in being first thing you'reMoreIt fix ups for that for those issues troubleshooting so first one is in being first thing you're going to need is you're going to need to have a tester. You find them at any auto.

What can I do with a broken guitar amp?

You can take the speaker and amp portions and bring them to a recycling center that accepts electronics. Maybe put the speaker on craigslist for a minimal amount, so it stays out of the landfill. The wood parts can go into the normal trash.

What to do if your amp has no sound?

If all else fails, and your amp has power but no sound, unscrew the covers to expose the printed circuit board (PCB). Examine all the components carefully. If you notice a transistor, capacitor or resistor that seems to have burnt out, replace it and check the amplifier.

What to use to fix amp not getting power?

Electrical contact cleaner spray. These are a few of the necessary tools that you are likely to use for fixing an amp not getting power. However, the list is not exhaustive, and you may find some additional tools that come in handy while performing your troubleshooting operations.

How to check a resistor?

You can check each resistor with your multimeter. Set your multimeter to ‘ resistance' or ‘ohms.' Now, power the amplifier and place the probes of your multimeter on either side of the resistor. The reading on your multimeter should show the corresponding measurement in ohms for the rating of the resistor within a 5% variation. If not, then the resistor needs to be replaced.

What does it mean when an amp goes into protect mode?

If your amplifier detects that there is something wrong with the circuitry, it may go into “protect mode” which you can observe by seeing the light that glows indicating protect mode. Protect mode is an inbuilt safety feature of your amp to avoid damage to internal components.

Why does my amplifier go into protect mode?

The amplifier may also go into protect mode if the grounding is insufficient, possibly due to faulty RCA cables. Just replace the existing RCA cables with good ones, and if the protect mode light goes out, you know that the problem lies in faulty RCA cables.

Why do you need to take pictures of an amp?

Photographing your amp’s internals serves two purposes. Firstly, if you are going to dismantle any parts, it will help you re-assemble the amp later. Secondly, if you find that you are unable to fix it, you can send your photographs to an expert who will be able to help you out , especially if you have clear images with all the necessary details visible .

What to do if playback doesn't begin?

If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

What to do if you don't know where to get an amp repaired?

If you don't know any local repair shop or you don't know which repair shop is reliable, call all of the local car audio shops in the area and ask them who they'd recommend to have an amp repaired. If you find that most shops send their work to one particular repair shop, that shop likely does quality work.

What happens if you break the warranty seal on an amp?

If the amplifier is under warranty and you break the warranty seals, the amp will not be covered by the manufacturer. If it's under warranty, you should send it back to the manufacturer for repair.

Where is the power supply on an amplifier?

Most amplifiers have switching power supplies. Generally, the power supply will be on the end of the amplifier near the B+ and ground terminals. The audio section of the amplifier is generally on the other end of the amplifier (most commonly the end where the RCA jacks are located).

What is the short on a 3 legged rectifier?

The short you're reading is actually the windings of the power transformer. If there is no short between the center and outer legs of the rectifier, it's likely OK.

Why are parallel components used in amplifiers?

In most amplifiers, you'll find groups of parallel components. The components are used in groups because a single component can't handle the stress. When in parallel groups, the components MUST have virtually identical characteristics.

Can a differential amplifier swing its output from rail to rail?

A differential amplifier can't swing its output fully from rail to rail but the voltage amplifier can (or at least get very close to the rails). The voltage amplifier drives the driver transistors and the driver transistors (2SC3421 and 2SA1358) drive the output transistors. The output transistors drive the speakers.

How to connect amp to stereo?

Run the wires from an amp installation kit along the sides of your vehicle so you can connect them to power and the stereo system. Once you plug all the wires into their matching ports, adjust the volume settings on the amp to prevent distortion and finish the installation.

Where to mount amps?

Mark the amp’s mounting holes on your vehicle’s floor where you want to mount it. Choose a place that has flat floors, such as your trunk, in the passenger seat footwell, or under the rear seats. Check underneath your vehicle to make sure there aren’t any wires or pipes on the other side of where you want the amp.

Why do you need a ground cable for an amp?

The ground cable will allow the current to travel through the amp so it doesn’t shock you when you use it.

How to remove stereo head from dashboard?

Take the stereo head out from the dashboard with a screwdriver. Slip the pry tool between the seams of the trim panels around your stereo system. Lift the handle of the tool to pop the trim off to expose the screws supporting the stereo head. Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the stereo head before you pull it straight out from the dash so you can see the wire connections plugged into it.

What to do if you didn't remove trim?

If you didn’t remove the trim pieces, use a pry tool to push the wires underneath the trim.

What to do if there's something attached to a bolt?

If there’s anything attached to the bolt, be sure to support its weight when you attach the cable so it doesn’t fall and break.

How to remove a battery from a car?

Open the hood of your vehicle and locate the battery near the front of the engine bay. Use a socket wrench to loosen the nut holding the negative terminal to the battery, which is usually black and marked with a negative symbol (-).

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