Help, Amp Is Cutting Out..........

[954RR]

Got a Kicker DX350 hooked to a single CVR 12" sub. It's been fine for about 4 years now. Settings are about midway, the amp is nowhere near maxed out, no problems until lately.

Now, anytime I turn the volume up even a little bit the amp cuts off for about 5 seconds, then will come back on for a few seconds until it cuts off again. The green "OK" light on the amp is on.

What do you think? Time for a new amp?

[mogo21]

Yeah prob just time fo a new one or trace you wires could have a short somwhere or you sub could also be going bad

[954RR]

Yeah prob just time fo a new one or trace you wires could have a short somwhere or you sub could also be going bad

I doubt it's a short...I was very meticulous in doing the wiring with solder and heatshrink and all that.

Maybe the speaker but this "system" has never been close to maxed out. I just put it in to sound nice and for a fun project.

Like I said, it's been fine for years until now. I guess the amp is the most likely culprit.

Anyone know what I could test on teh amp to make sure?

[the727kid]

Check the ground, may of came loose. Try replacing the fuse as well.

[Kyleisme]

What is it powering? What kind of amp? Check your remote wire.. check your fuse. check you ground. is the amp going out or is the speaker/sub w.e it is..?(way to tell is if the amp has any lights and they go out) if the amp isnt going out then it would be your speakers or connection to your speakers.

[NT_Hardcore]

pull the amp and put it in a diff car. and/or - disconect the sub and turn the volume up to see if it still powers off. ?

[dhudson247]

if its not getting hot and not bridged than it might be a loose grown or ur rca wires will go out on u as well mine did that try ur RCA wires put ones u know work

[MiDiablo]

DHudson, what if it is bridged? Does that change your assessment? I've heard that bridging will cause some amps to go into "safety mode" or whatever, thus cutting power for 5-10 seconds. :dunno:

[PussixD10]

Look at the voltage between the amplifier positive terminal and the case and observe as the amp cuts out.

Does it drop substantially?

No... move on to something else

yes... check this...
Check for voltage between the metal casing of the amp and another grounded exposed body part with such as the door jamb catch, preferably with a needle type volt meter on 2v range, but digital will do.

Make sure you have the meter connected well by checking that that it reads 0v. Bump the system nearly or until it cuts out. It should remain within a fraction of one volt.

If this jumps with sound, you have a poor ground connection between the car and the amp.

yes.. loose ground
no.. loose positive ground