'04 Base Amp vs '07-'08 Amp differences?
 

I was curious if anyone knew if there was a difference between and 04 amp and the newer, 07-08 Amps. My car has quite a bit of static which I believe is coming from the Amp. Ive read a few threads of people with the same issue that remedied it by changing the amp. But I dont want to buy another 04 amp that would be more likely to fail due to age. Id rather try put one in from a newer TL that might have a few more potential years before failing. I feel like the issue is just luck of the draw, but id like to wager that a newer amp would last longer than an older one

Any input/advice is appreciated. If you have a working amp that you'd like to sell, or let me use to test to confirm that it is the issue, id definitely be interested.

Easy enough to check the part numbers and see if they changed. Just use oemacuraparts or similar.

2004 : 39186-SEP-A01
2005 : 39186-SEP-A01
2006 : 39186-SEP-A01
2007 : 39186-SEP-A11
2008 : 39186-SEP-A11

So different model numbers, but something as simple as an amp, I dont feel like they could/would change much. I guess next step is tracking down wiring diagrams.

Hello Sutitan,

Did you manage to find the difference between the 04-06 amp and the 07-08? They look the same on diagrams. I wonder if you can swap them. My amp on my 04 is dead. If anyone knows where i can get a working used 05-06 amp please let me know.

Regards,

Rolan

Post a WTB in the black market or check with Ack. Friend of mine recently posted an ad on here and he ended up buying a used amp from Ack.

All I ever found out was that the wiring was identical (besides a few wire colors).

04-06 TL Amp wiring diagram (pin config)
http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/2...pg223942lx.jpg

07-08 TL Amp wiring diagram (pin config)
https://i.imgur.com/yKOnV.jpg?1

One thing that I am unsure of is the similarity of the speakers (resistance values). It would be unfortunate to swap amps and find out that the swapped 2ohms for 4ohm speakers or vice versa.

I haven't gone as far as going out and buying a 07-08 Amp and trying it. I dont have any friends with newer TL's, but if anyone in south florida is willing to let me use their amp for a minute or two, id be willing to test it.

At the moment, I was just looking at an aftermarket amp to drive the stock speakers. I would prefer the OEM amp if I could get a newer one for cheap.

just look at this as an opportunity to upgrade to a decent amp!

Aside from the forum, check ebay, junk yards. A working amp pulled from a totaled '05 or newer should run around $100. Try the following query on ebay:

had the ssame problem described for a bad 2004 amp. static at low volume and low volume output / no sound from left channel.

replaced my amp today with a 2008's oem amp and got my sound back. have not been able to test it thoroughly but my volume is higher at 20 than it was at 40 with the bad amp and I can tell im getting sound from all speakers!! happy camper to say the least

thanks to AckTL05 for the amp and quick response.

good luck everyone!

Peace,

Rolan

Sweet^. Well since were on the subject, I know this would be a longer shot than going from an 04-06 amp to an 07-08 amp, but I wonder what the similarities are between the 3G OEM amp and the 4G OEM amp. Reason I ask is because the 09+ TL tech package with the higher end audio system sounds VERY good. I would LOVE to get a little better sound and even add the newer sub as well. The 09+ TL also uses a 8" sub on the rear deck and I think it only costs like 89 bucks new from acura parts. Would probably be a direct drop in, now if I only new if the amp would work.

Is that amp from the 08 still working out for you? Trying to decide whether or not to get one. I'm having the same freakin' problem... buzzing and low vol even when it's at max. So annoying.

I'm also curious about this, as I think the wattage is a little higher too.

Yes. Its working fine. Go for it, you wont regret it. Good luck.

Rolan

^^ thanks man, ordering today. you rock.

UPDATE:

Just installed the 08 amp. Worked like a charm. No buzz, volume is back to normal, everything is good!

If you haven't already done it, do it!

I found my amp off a wrecked 08 TL in CA. Shipped was 110 bucks. Way better the the 350+ from the OEM Acura/Honda sites.

Here is the website: http://www.ahparts.com/index.shtml

I think they still have one from an 07 if anybody wants it.

I know this thread is over a year old but thanks for the 411 guys!!!

I was able to find an amp on eBay for 100 bucks. It took weeks of waiting because there weren't any out there but I finally found one.

The amp I got was off a salvaged 07 TL, installed it into my 06 and it worked!! Just like you guys said!!

I've had it in my car for 5 days now and no problems.

So glad I was able to find this thread.

Just checking to see if it's still working well for you. My '04 TL amp is following suit. Time to replace.

Yeah, I've had it since April and it's still working great!

Go for it... find one and it will work!

Update...
Purchased a used one from AckTL05 for $85. Installed it this morning, working great.

Just wanted to thank everyone for posting. I have an 04 TL and had the radio whine for YEARS. No shop I asked could tell me what it was without a diagnostic and I was just too cheap to pay so dealt with it since the system was fine otherwise and I became used to the whine. A few weeks back, max volume got cut down by about 1/4, no bass, etc. That's when I found this thread, bought an 07 amp (39186-SEP-A11) and all is awesome! Amazing how much you appreciate a properly working audio system. Thanks again!!!

Hey guys- glad to hear that you're getting your systems fixed up. I wanted to propose a DIY option as well since this seems to be happening to a LOT of the 04 TL stereo amps.

I've posted a howto HERE that describes how to replace the capacitors that are failing and causing the noise/buzzing/no volume issue. If you're handy with a soldering iron, this can be fixed for less than $20!

This blog totally solved my problem!

I too had the 04 bad amp...buzzing radio, tinny sounding radio, no power in the base sounds. Read this blog, and figured it was the amp. So I looked up the part number, and considered buying a new amp, but the price was approximately $500 from an online dealer. So I figured roll the dice, take a chance, and buy a used amp off of eBay.

The part number for 04-06 TL is: 39186-SEP-A01, while the part number for the 07-08 TL is: 39186-SEP-A11. I strongly believe that the 39186-SEP-A01 in our 04-06 TL is a defective part, prone to failure. So I bought the 39186-SEP-A11, which is the part for the 07-08 TL. I figure that part has been improved, with the failure prone part fixed. Even if I was wrong about that, I figure that I am getting a newer part, with presumably a bit more life left in it. I can tell you that the 39186-SEP-A11 from the 07-08 TL will fit perfectly in our 04-06 TL. So anyone our there considering replacing your amp, buy the 39186-SEP-A11 from the 07-08 TL. Stay away from the 39186-SEP-A01 from the 04-06 TL.

So I bought the 39186-SEP-A11 off of eBay, $75 delivered. In other parts of this blog, there are tutorials on fixing the bad capacitors of the existing amp, but that wasn't for me.

I installed it myself. Looking at the videos on how to remove your amp, the biggest issue was accessing that 3rd screw at the top of the amp. The video even states, that accessing the 3rd screw at the top of the amp, is the most difficult part of the job. It took a while, but it is do-able. And I am not even that handy. I originally asked my trusted mechanic to do it for me, but he declined because it was not in his area of expertise. I could have gone to a local auto radio shop, but I did not know of any that I could trust. Plus I figure that they would have charged me at least $100 labor. So, total cost to fix this buzzing radio: $75 (and my own labor).

Now I have a buzz free radio, and kicking base when I want it !!!