Sound System Help

[00CelicaGTrn]

So I've been delaying getting my sub working for about a year now..it would randomly work some days and others it wouldn't. Unfortunatly, I ran upon another bigger problem the other day when I hit a pretty big pothole that obviously jarred wires because now it's flip flopped...I have no ability to use my radio/cd player etc...but my sub is thumping lol.

I checked all the wires in the back connected to and from my amp and sub and everything looks fine, I'm thinking it's got to be the wires behind my head unit. I have a basic knowledge in the set up of the system but I really don't trust myself to be digging around in the dash/behind the head unit. Anywho, I guess my question is if anyone knows a good automotive sound shop in Naples that could look at my system and get it working correctly again. I most likely will have to get a new head unit installed as well.

Thanks :)

[ISMELLRICE]

find another pothole lol...

[bimmershark]

i could check it out sometime and see what the wiring looks like for the deck and sub...hopefully whoever installed it before used a wiring harness kit ..if they hardwired it in could be a pain

[00CelicaGTrn]

i could check it out sometime and see what the wiring looks like for the deck and sub...hopefully whoever installed it before used a wiring harness kit ..if they hardwired it in could be a pain

I appreciate the offer but I wouldn't want to waste your time as I'm almost certain that I'll have to replace my head unit anyway. Unless your just a genius at installing sound systems and I could pay you to install the new head unit/get the entire thing working again? lol

[Nate]

What kind of head unit is in there now?

[bimmershark]

I appreciate the offer but I wouldn't want to waste your time as I'm almost certain that I'll have to replace my head unit anyway. Unless your just a genius at installing sound systems and I could pay you to install the new head unit/get the entire thing working again? lol

i can install a new head unit..if it has the harness adapter ..if its hardwired i could check it out ...and depending on if they used sauter or wire crimps we can go from there..

i dont do it daily but have installed a few stereos and subs and amps..hell my car they dont make any harness adapters at all..so i had to cut and wire it together

[00CelicaGTrn]

What kind of head unit is in there now?

I have a Premier head unit
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4386/13972443.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/i/13972443.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

And JL Audio Sub's
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6843/jlaudiosub.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/jlaudiosub.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[bimmershark]

from the pics it looks like they at least used the dash kit so they probably used a harness adapter ..i can check it out whenever you want..got nothing better to do

[00CelicaGTrn]

i can install a new head unit..if it has the harness adapter ..if its hardwired i could check it out ...and depending on if they used sauter or wire crimps we can go from there..

i dont do it daily but have installed a few stereos and subs and amps..hell my car they dont make any harness adapters at all..so i had to cut and wire it together

Let me know when you're available and how much you would want. I'm going to purchase another head unit, You'll have to let me know what you need because I don't have the slightest clue where I would purchase a harness adapter at -I'm sure it would also depend on which head unit I got.

[Nate]

I doubt it's hard wired in most likely there is a wiring harness. If the sub is working then there is power going to the amp from the remote wire, are you getting any power at all to the head unit or is it that you are just not getting any sound coming through? Either way it may just be a wire that came loose from the harness, if you are getting a new head unit though as long as it has pre-amp out puts for the rca connectors it shouldn't be that hard to get a harness for your car and wire it in.

[Nate]

Let me know when you're available and how much you would want. I'm going to purchase another head unit, You'll have to let me know what you need because I don't have the slightest clue where I would purchase a harness adapter at -I'm sure it would also depend on which head unit I got.

When you prchase the head unit and if it's from somewhere like Best Buy you just give them the year of your car and they will sell you the dash kit and the wiring harness.

[00CelicaGTrn]

I doubt it's hard wired in most likely there is a wiring harness. If the sub is working then there is power going to the amp from the remote wire, are you getting any power at all to the head unit or is it that you are just not getting any sound coming through? Either way it may just be a wire that came loose from the harness, if you are getting a new head unit though as long as it has pre-amp out puts for the rca connectors it shouldn't be that hard to get a harness for your car and wire it in.

For the last year my sub wouldn't work..it would have random days that it would though lol. And then now ever sense I hit the pothole, it flipped and my sub is working but I'm not getting any sound out of my speakers. The head unit powers on and can be switched from radio/cd etc....but no sound's coming out of my speakers.

[bimmershark]

Let me know when you're available and how much you would want. I'm going to purchase another head unit, You'll have to let me know what you need because I don't have the slightest clue where I would purchase a harness adapter at -I'm sure it would also depend on which head unit I got.

when can you meet so i can check it out? if it already has the harness piece just need to buy the stereo and i can wire it together..

[Nate]

For the last year my sub wouldn't work..it would have random days that it would though lol. And then now ever sense I hit the pothole, it flipped and my sub is working but I'm not getting any sound out of my speakers. The head unit powers on and can be switched from radio/cd etc....but no sound's coming out of my speakers.
If thats the case the one of the wires from the harness came loose that feeds the speakers in your car.

[bimmershark]

When you prchase the head unit and if it's from somewhere like Best Buy you just give them the year of your car and they will sell you the dash kit and the wiring harness.

it most likely already has that stuff since it is not a factory deck

[00CelicaGTrn]

when can you meet so i can check it out? if it already has the harness piece just need to buy the stereo and i can wire it together..

I would say today/tonight but it's storming lol.

I work tomorrow morning then dinner with my family for fathers day tomorrow evening.

Ugh...Monday I have entrance exams in the morning but I could meet up that evening? :(

When ever is best for you though, you're the one helping me out here. lol

[bimmershark]

i work usually at night so one day during the week before 4 works

[Sharad]

If they can't figure it out, I'll fix it. I've been into car audio since 1992, and I've done it for a living for nearly ten years. I still get equipment at dealer cost too. :D

Not trying to make money because I really don't give a crap about the money. I just like being the problem solver. :)

[bimmershark]

let him do it...

[Sharad]

shoot man, didn't mean to step on any toes. :(

[bimmershark]

shoot man, didn't mean to step on any toes. :(

nah its all good man..i am not sure whats gonna happen in the next few days ..so would rather have her go right to you

[Sharad]

just thought of something else too...

like I said, I'm more than happy to help (and I can pretty much guarantee you've got a speaker wire on the head unit grounding out which has put the head unit into protection mode) but anyway, you mentioned a "good stereo shop in Naples" and I have to say that Audio Interventions on 41 in Bonita Springs is a solid shop. I wouldn't hesitate to take my car there if I didn't do this stuff myself!

[JP]

Being the asshole that I am, I'll offer to fix it in exchange for a motorboat........rofl:

Seriously though, Sharad's likely right. Sounds like the shop that did it before did some ghetto work behind the dash and shits making/breaking connection. I'm off Pine Ridge at work during the week and could take a look at it if you want. Today would be a bit questionable as I don't have much for tools here at the shop, but let me know and I'll bring some stuff in.

- Jp

[STiDriven]

If they can't figure it out, I'll fix it. I've been into car audio since 1992, and I've done it for a living for nearly ten years. I still get equipment at dealer cost too. :D

Not trying to make money because I really don't give a crap about the money. I just like being the problem solver. :)
http://rustytees.com/store/images/cock-block1.gif

j/k

[Only_In_A_Domestic]

remote wire?

[Sharad]

http://rustytees.com/store/images/cock-block1.gif

j/k

Nah. It's nothing like that. Believe me! I don't give a crap about whether or not she has a vajee... And I wish I didn't have a pee.

I think God created women to make me miserable. Well, my wife at least.



remote wire?

Nope. If she hit a bump and lost her mids (which don't appear to be amped) there's a wire grounding out somewhere and putting the head unit into protection. Simple to test for. (But time consuming)

[00CelicaGTrn]

Sharad, Friday afternoon good for you? I'd do it earlier but my week is swamped.

[Sharad]

Sharad, Friday afternoon good for you? I'd do it earlier but my week is swamped.

Yep. Friday afternoon is good for me. Just call me when you're ready.

[00CelicaGTrn]

Yep. Friday afternoon is good for me. Just call me when you're ready.

Def. will do. Thank you :) I really appreciate it.

[96ekhatch]

The sub is most likely a ground issue at amp. If the cd player is on and has no sound chances are the player is bad. There is no one wire that could come loose and make no sound at all . One speaker maybe but all 4 impossible.

[00CelicaGTrn]

The sub is most likely a ground issue at amp. If the cd player is on and has no sound chances are the player is bad. There is no one wire that could come loose and make no sound at all . One speaker maybe but all 4 impossible.

does that explain the fact that my radio/cd player wont be working...then I just go over a speed bump and it turns back on?? Lol

[Sharad]

The sub is most likely a ground issue at amp. If the cd player is on and has no sound chances are the player is bad. There is no one wire that could come loose and make no sound at all . One speaker maybe but all 4 impossible.


With all due respect, and really, I don't wanna argue with anyone...

You are wrong.

[ajstefanacci]

I used to install for a few year, ^^^agreed^^^

[Nate]

The sub is most likely a ground issue at amp. If the cd player is on and has no sound chances are the player is bad. There is no one wire that could come loose and make no sound at all . One speaker maybe but all 4 impossible.

Yea, I have never worked anywhere professionally but not even close to right.

Not arguing just pointing some things out, if it was a ground issue at the amp her sub wouldn't be firing. Maybe you should read things before you post. If it is on and has no sound, not really. Most likely a loose wire off the harness, or some other connection. Lol umm have you ever looked at the layout for what wires run where, correct me if I am wrong but off of most wiring harnesses there is usually at least two wire that feed the speakers or more so if those came loose the there lays the problem. All 4 impossible...wow.

Oh and sorry for the thread hijack, but I had to.

[96ekhatch]

Ok let me be more clear. A bad ground will make a sub come in and out. If the cdplayer is always on no one wire will make sound turn off, if the cd player itself is coming on and off then that is different and one wire could do that.

I assumed she always has power since the sub is making noice since it cant without the cd players juice.

[96ekhatch]

I undertstand 2 wires feed each speaker but to have all 4 cut out you would have to have 4 wires come loose which would be pretty unlikely.

I have done car audio for like 10 years. There is no one single wire you can cut on a radio and have a power on cd player and no sound at all thats impossible.

[JP]

The sub is most likely a ground issue at amp. If the cd player is on and has no sound chances are the player is bad. There is no one wire that could come loose and make no sound at all . One speaker maybe but all 4 impossible.

Let me clarify what Sharad is saying.

He is saying that it's likely one (or possibly more) of the speaker output and/or RCA pre-out wires are grounding out. If a speaker wire is hooked directly to ground, the internal amp in the head unit will either short out, or in a better unit will default into a "protect" mode where the internal amp shuts down. Since it's been an intermittent problem, it is likely that it's not shorted out/hurt, but just simply going into protect mode whenever it happens. Since the sub has been working w/o the main speakers, that also indicates that the head unit's pre-outs are still putting out signal, thus the head unit is still functioning, just the internal power output is shutting down.

It can be a shorted speaker wire(s) and/or simply an exposed RCA pre-out that is grounding out sometimes and thus causing the issue.



Yes, there are some other possibilities, but that is the most likely cause. Although I have not personally met him as of yet, Sharad seems to be very knowledgible and I'm sure he can sort it out.

[96ekhatch]

I get you but for the most part when I have seen this happen it tends to not shut off it tends to just be a really static sound.

But either way it sound like some ghetto crap was done in the past most likely a twist and electrical tape of the wires. I even tend to get butt connectors cutting through wires a lot. I always like to solder but I will admit i do do the twist when its a cheap ass and not a friend.

Good luck getting it fixed either way just seems like a good look over and rewire will fix the problem

[bimmershark]

if ya still need it checked out text me when you are available...shit was rough this past weekend ..

239-776-0621 text me next few days i work 4 to like 1 or 2 in the morning so maybe before work ...


and now that i know shagwell works in naples i am gonna go stalk him

[JP]

lol. Shirley St off Pine Ridge. - Exit 141 to 107 and back five days a week.

[Sharad]

Let me clarify what Sharad is saying.

He is saying that it's likely one (or possibly more) of the speaker output and/or RCA pre-out wires are grounding out. If a speaker wire is hooked directly to ground, the internal amp in the head unit will either short out, or in a better unit will default into a "protect" mode where the internal amp shuts down. Since it's been an intermittent problem, it is likely that it's not shorted out/hurt, but just simply going into protect mode whenever it happens. Since the sub has been working w/o the main speakers, that also indicates that the head unit's pre-outs are still putting out signal, thus the head unit is still functioning, just the internal power output is shutting down.

It can be a shorted speaker wire(s) and/or simply an exposed RCA pre-out that is grounding out sometimes and thus causing the issue.



Yes, there are some other possibilities, but that is the most likely cause. Although I have not personally met him as of yet, Sharad seems to be very knowledgible and I'm sure he can sort it out.

EXACTLY what he said! Thanks for saving me the trouble. :)

If I had a dollar for every time a customer grounded out ONE [1] speaker wire and put the head unit into protection, I'd have a turbo on my coupe!!

[ajstefanacci]

or her car had the stock amp and when they wired the headunit the remote that ran from the headunit to the stock amp and sub amp has a bad connection and its intermittently working with one or the other and sometimes both or none.

[JP]

or her car had the stock amp and when they wired the headunit the remote that ran from the headunit to the stock amp and sub amp has a bad connection and its intermittently working with one or the other and sometimes both or none.

which is indeed another possibility

[JP]

EXACTLY what he said! Thanks for saving me the trouble. :)

If I had a dollar for every time a customer grounded out ONE [1] speaker wire and put the head unit into protection, I'd have a turbo on my coupe!!

You don't rock 150dB out of a convertible w/o knowing a thing or two about stereo stuff, lol. - My Orion's are still sitting in my closet.

[00CelicaGTrn]

So.....Sharad...Still planning on Friday afternoon. lol

[Acuracy]

I have a Premier head unit

And JL Audio Sub's
http://img13.imageshack.us/img13/6843/jlaudiosub.jpg (http://img13.imageshack.us/i/jlaudiosub.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

JL W0 or W1?

[Sharad]

Megan, [sp?] yes- just call or text.

Lateral, those are W1s.

[Acuracy]

Nice, I had a set of those a few years back, don't sound bad at all.

[JP]

JL's don't usually sound to bad, but keeping the voice coils in them can be a bitch. - Robert's on his third W7 now with just a rockford 500 monoblock pushing it at less than 1/2 gain. - I'd like to strap my comp mon amp in front of it one time and see if I could blow the cone clean out of it before welding the vc's.

[Acuracy]

Wow, I haven't had any problems with my 12W6 and I know a few people that rock a 12W7 with no issues either. If he's only pushing a 500rms amp at half gain I don't see how he's blowing, that's fucked up lol. I push my JL500/1 pretty hard with no real issues(knock on wood haha).

[STiDriven]

Shit's weak.

[JP]

Wow, I haven't had any problems with my 12W6 and I know a few people that rock a 12W7 with no issues either. If he's only pushing a 500rms amp at half gain I don't see how he's blowing, that's fucked up lol. I push my JL500/1 pretty hard with no real issues(knock on wood haha).



Rockford 500D mono/sub amp, 1 farad cap in front of it. W7 10"; his system is set-up for sound quality. It killed the vc windings on the first one, and welded them on the second. They've warrantied it everytime but have not said what they think is going on. It's not happening quickly though, he got a just ata year out of the first one and around two out of the second.

[Sharad]

That rockford is not enough amp for that sub. It's easier to kill a sub with not enough power than it is with too much. You can back off an amp that is too big, but an amp this is too small has no control over the motion. And when the cone starts rocking, it's game over! That 10W7 is probably 3ohm, and I doubt that Rockford is putting out a true 500W @ 3ohm.

Just my two cents.

I beat the snot out of 2 10W7s on a 1000/1 for almost two years and they never complained a bit!!!

[Sharad]

Soooooo..... the aftermarket right rear speaker in 00CelicaGTrn's celica was held in place with one 2" drywall screw. The screw let loose, the speaker dropped in the hole, the speaker terminals made contact with the sheetmetal, which then ground out the right-rear channel and put the head unit into protection.

*ahem*

...

Interestingly enough (but just as I suspected) the sub problem was unrelated. There was a bad RCA lead. I replaced it with a new cable and now the whole system is working properly! All's well that ends well.



She's a nice girl, btw. Very friendly, and unpretentious. Definitely a good asset for the board.

[titter]

Nice work Sharad.

[JP]

Nice work.


The rockford was re-worked by MTX; I used to have a some great hook-ups there back when I was competing. It's knocking a true 500 continuous against the W7 coils (dual 4ohm, run parrellel for a 2ohm load) @ 13.7 volts. When the cap hits it with a little over 20v, it goes on over 600.

The only thing I've dome up with is that he runs the crossover a bit higher than normal due to being a SQ set-up. Kick-drums on a good Metallica song play hell on it.

[00CelicaGTrn]

Soooooo..... the aftermarket right rear speaker in 00CelicaGTrn's celica was held in place with one 2" drywall screw. The screw let loose, the speaker dropped in the hole, the speaker terminals made contact with the sheetmetal, which then ground out the right-rear channel and put the head unit into protection.

*ahem*

...

Interestingly enough (but just as I suspected) the sub problem was unrelated. There was a bad RCA lead. I replaced it with a new cable and now the whole system is working properly! All's well that ends well.



She's a nice girl, btw. Very friendly, and unpretentious. Definitely a good asset for the board.


Sharad, Damn...posted this fast! Lol I just got home.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

He did an outstanding job. Worked for nearly two hours and fixed every aspect of my sound system from headunit, speakers and sub's. :) Works like new now and sounds great. I'd highly recommend him for any system issues, or from the looks of it what he's really good at w/ mustangs. Def. liked the Cobra you had in there lol.

And thank you for the good words :)

[Sharad]

Nice work Sharad.

thx :)


Nice work.


The rockford was re-worked by MTX; I used to have a some great hook-ups there back when I was competing. It's knocking a true 500 continuous against the W7 coils (dual 4ohm, run parrellel for a 2ohm load) @ 13.7 volts. When the cap hits it with a little over 20v, it goes on over 600.

The only thing I've dome up with is that he runs the crossover a bit higher than normal due to being a SQ set-up. Kick-drums on a good Metallica song play hell on it.


thx. :)

Anyway, that's awesome about that amp. You don't see a lot of custom work anymore. I know some people that do stuff like that, but it's pretty rare. I always just bought the massive stuff on accommodation. :rock

I didn't know they made 10W7s in D4. When I ordered mine, they were ONLY available in single 3 ohm. But what you're saying makes sense. And yeah, if you're rockin' those suckers on up to 200hz or so, they could heat up a bit. :biggrin




Sharad, Damn...posted this fast! Lol I just got home.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

He did an outstanding job. Worked for nearly two hours and fixed every aspect of my sound system from headunit, speakers and sub's. :) Works like new now and sounds great. I'd highly recommend him for any system issues, or from the looks of it what he's really good at w/ mustangs. Def. liked the Cobra you had in there lol.

And thank you for the good words :)


What can I say, I'm addicted to FMR. LOL!

Anyway, glad you're happy with it. I'm no voodoo kharma guy or anything, but I do believe that what goes around comes around. (sooner or later) I'm happy to help you out. :)

[JP]

thx :)





thx. :)

Anyway, that's awesome about that amp. You don't see a lot of custom work anymore. I know some people that do stuff like that, but it's pretty rare. I always just bought the massive stuff on accommodation. :rock

I didn't know they made 10W7s in D4. When I ordered mine, they were ONLY available in single 3 ohm. But what you're saying makes sense. And yeah, if you're rockin' those suckers on up to 200hz or so, they could heat up a bit. :biggrin







What can I say, I'm addicted to FMR. LOL!

Anyway, glad you're happy with it. I'm no voodoo kharma guy or anything, but I do believe that what goes around comes around. (sooner or later) I'm happy to help you out. :)



It's a w7 or w6, it's been a while for me to remember. I'm fairly certain it's a dual vc though, I've always liked to run a mono amp at at least a 2ohm load.

I had some good friends at MTX back when they first built the bread truck w/ the 6'er. They played hell trying get the sides of that thing re-inforced enough to stop flexing; the ratchet srap wrapped around it was worth like 3 decibles, lol. - I run one of the original 1000d's with my Orion HCCA 12's; it was custom built. The "birth certificate" showed RMS power over 1500 @ 2ohm w/ 13.5 volts. Add two 24v caps in front of it and hit it with a 37-32hz sine wave = 151.1db in a convertible with the insulate panels we built. I ran two 200amp powermaster alts, two optima yellows, and the 2 caps, lock the idle rpm to around 2500 and it would still pull at least 500-600 rpm out when the amp hit.

I'm feeling a little nostalgic now....*Popcorn*

**What goes around comes around for sure. Sometimes it seems to go a lot more than come, but in the long run you're still ahead of the game.