Stereo Help

crash_2365 · #1 06-18-2010, 10:17 AM

Ok, so when I got my car, it didn't have the factory sound sound system in it, and the wiring was iffy. I had a nice alpine HU laying around, so I decided to put it in. Started off working great. Then a couple weeks down the road, the sound randomly decided to cut out intermittently, usually when I hit a bump. So I pulled it out, cleaned up the wiring, re-installed, and it worked... for a couple days. Now it's gone completely. The head unit stays on, but all I get for sound is a pop from the RF speaker when I turn the head unit on.

I'm driving to PA in 6 days and I will just about shoot myself if I don't have tunes. So any help?

Wikedjuggalo · #2 06-18-2010, 10:40 AM

Well start with the basics, check the wiring isn't pinched behind the HU and also check connections. Check speakers and make sure your speakers are wired and not blown.

Cam · #3 06-18-2010, 11:06 AM

If it worked when you installed it and then stopped working I would say check all your grounds. It is possible though that a wire was pinched and was aggitated when you hit bumps, eventually wearing through the insulation and grounding the unit out. If everything checks out behind the unit, I would start checking grounds.

crash_2365 · #4 06-18-2010, 12:59 PM

Got it!

I did check all the grounds and the speakers and their wiring.

Apparently the trusty ol' alpine isn't quite as trusty as I thought it was

SoCal LS-L · #5 06-18-2010, 03:10 PM

What you described sounds very much like a power stage short, caused by your speaker wires grounding or shorting together.

redlightningsvx · #6 06-18-2010, 03:24 PM

Check your battery and alternator wires also.

crash_2365 · #7 06-19-2010, 10:28 AM

Well I thought it was the HU itself but I guess that wasn't the case. So if it was a power stage short, do you think I should just run a new pair of wires to the each speaker?

SoCal LS-L · #8 06-19-2010, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crash_2365

Well I thought it was the HU itself but I guess that wasn't the case. So if it was a power stage short, do you think I should just run a new pair of wires to the each speaker?

You can do a quick test from the head unit.... use a multimeter to check resistance between the pos and neg wires going to each speaker. If they have continuity, then they are shorting together. You can also just disconnect one speaker lead pair at a time until the unit stays on, this can also pinpoint a short.

Lookin4SVX · #9 06-19-2010, 04:11 PM

I would just run new everything...that's what I did.

But that's just me, and I am overkill.
See:
http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=54516

And then again, it did turn out my trusty pioneer HU was dead..

icingdeath88 · #10 06-19-2010, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lookin4SVX

I would just run new everything...that's what I did.

But that's just me, and I am overkill.

+1. If you can't trust it then what good is it? Also, make sure to cover the ends of any wires you leave behind, or just remove them altogether.