ok. I have an '02 TLS w/ Nav. I kept the stock deck. I added subs and amps. I bypassed the EQ. I used all the information from this forum to bypass the EQ. I cut the stock (door) speaker wires behind the deck. I used these for my signal / RCA's. I used a line level converter for the RCA's and sent it back to my truck (where my amps & crossover are). I wired it all up in the truck and sent a pair of wires (from aftermarket amp) back to the dash area. I tapped into the stock door speaker wires there. I also setup two 12" subs but that is beside the point. Everything has been fine but all the sudden when I turn up the volume, the sound cuts off. Also noticed when I turn the lights on at night and dim the dash I get an annoying noise through my system. Is this a bad ground? Did I screw something up along the line? I installed all this about 2 months ago and didn't seem to have a problem until a week ago.

Brian

PS. I tapped into the fuse box on the drivers side for my remote. Maybe I used a bad switch? I don't know.... just an idea. Someone help.

 

ya sounds like a bad ground to me. If it turns off when you turn it up, then thats a good sign.

 

it sounds like either a the ground may have come loose. that or your amp/s are clipping, kind of a low voltage protection mode. I would checkthe ground first, unless you have a Digitall multimeter handy, in which case you would be able to check for voltage drops.

 

Yeah... it's fine at low volumes. As I increase volume it clips. In and out of sound. The lights on the amp stay on the whole time too. Both amps clip... not just one. I wonder if it's a bad ground on the crossover?

Brian

 

are you running a common ground for everything? if so, it may be a possibility. I would be more inclined to believe that it is voltage drops that are causing it though. How old is the batttery? and do you often play the system with out actually starting the engine?

 

It's not a common ground system (I think). Are we talking speaker ground? Is the stock wiring common ground? I don't think it is. All my amps have independent grounds and they're bolted to the chassis in on the truck floor. It's been fine for 2 months but could it be voltage drop? It's an '02 TL-S w/ 22K miles on it. I wouldn't think it's voltage drop. I had this same system in 3 cars and it's never been an issue. I also keep the car running when the system is on..... very rarely is the radio on when the car is off.

Brian

 

Here is another thing to ponder......

I kept the stock subwoofer hooked up so when the audio clips, there is still audio coming from the stock subwoofer. First I thought it may be the headunit but it can't be if the stock sub is still going. Could it be the EQ bypass? I know I sometimes get popping through the speakers when I put the car in Drive or turn the headlights on.

Also, like I mentioned about... weird (constant) noise when I dim the dash lights. The lower the light intensity, the louder the noise in the speakers. When the dash is at full bright, the noise is gone. This makes me wonder if it's a complicated ground issue and it's throughout the whole electrical system in car now.

Brian

 

well the age of the car leads me to believe that it isn't a voltage drop caused by the battery or alternator (unless one or both are defective, but I doubt that). The reason I asked about the "common ground" was in reference to if the amps wer all grounded to the exact same bolt or screw. if so then that could be the case, and i would suggest looking to see if anything might have come loose. I get the feeling that that isn't the cause though.

Do this: go and turn it on with the intention of getting it to "clip" once the amps do clip see if any protection lights come on (or if there is none, if the power light goes out). try this and post the info back here, that would help to assess what is going on since i can't actually put my hands on it

 

just got back from vacation so sorry for the delay'd post...

Anyway, check this out...
I turn the volume up and it clips. The amp lights stay on. I relocated the grounds and it still clips. I'm swaying towards the low voltage idea but here is something else that happens (after it clips). Remember that weird noise I was telling you about? It's sort of like an engine wine but really really loud. It only happens after I've forced the clipping (or turned up the volume). I also notice my Navigation screen freaks out when the noise is present. I tried shutting my radio off and usually it stops the noise from the speakers but the navigation screen still has bands / freaks out. It seems to be very inconsitant. I tried shutting the AC off and nothing seems to make it stop.... pretty random actually. I'm going to get my hands on a voltage meter real soon. Maybe the 8 gauge wire isn't supplying enough to the 2 amps? I dunno. Anything else I should try?

Brian

 

just got back from vacation so sorry for the delay'd post...

Anyway, check this out...
I turn the volume up and it clips. The amp lights stay on. I relocated the grounds and it still clips. I'm swaying towards the low voltage idea but here is something else that happens (after it clips). Remember that weird noise I was telling you about? It's sort of like an engine wine but really really loud. It only happens after I've forced the clipping (or turned up the volume). I also notice my Navigation screen freaks out when the noise is present. I tried shutting my radio off and that stopped the noise from coming out of the speakers but the navigation screen still has bands / freaks out. I tapped into the fuse box on the drivers side for my remote turn on and when I unplugged it, the Nav screen returned to normal. This all seems to happen inconsitantly too. I've been messing around trying to figure out when exactly it shuts off. I've tried shutting the AC off that didn't seems to change anything. I tried shutting all the lights off and that didn't seem to change anything. I figure if I shut off as much as I can, maybe I can see if it's a voltage issue. My lights never dimmed during loud play before anyway. I'm going to get my hands on a voltage meter real soon just to make sure it isn't voltage drop. Maybe the 8 gauge wire isn't supplying enough to the 2 amps? I dunno. I'm thinking ground issue but because the lights aren't shutting off.... I dunno about that either. The only thing I keep leaning on is the EQ bypass or my wiring. The real puzzling thing is it's been fine for 2-3 months now and this is a pretty sudden issue.... makes me believe it isn't my wiring.

Anything else I should try?

Brian

 

disconect the power to the sub amp and see if it still happens. the door speakers shouldnt cause enough amp draw to make the voltage drop enough to clip like that. i would wager on the wireing?

 

Yeah, now finding out where the wiring went wrong is the problem. I wonder if it's where the convert is seeing both amps clip. I can imagine it's the wiring after the amp because both amps are clipping. I suppose I'll tear it all down again. Anyone see using the outputs to the EQ and converting it to RCA singal vs. converting the front door speaker wires from the stock HU?

Brian