Subs loosing power...
 

I have a pair of JL audio 10s and had them in my 96 mustang for a year then moved them into my p5 when I got it. I put a whole new set of speakers and HU in the p5 as well. Everything worked great for about 9 months when the subs started to cut out. I checked all the conections, and everything is fine and now the subs are not very loud. They still put out sound, but its nothing like it used to be and they still blast back on every once and a while. I cranked up the bass level on the amp to pick up the slack, but its still not the same.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? I know it sounds like a connection problem, but like I said, I checked em all and found nothing out of place. Grrrr...
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HERBAL GRINDER

Are you running an amp with them or not? Subs are meant to be run off an amp and will eventually kill the HU if you just run them off of it. Also are the subs in a box or mounted? The box, if sealed, might be loose or a seal was broken on the sub. Either way the sub might have a tear in the rubber surround. If you are just running the sub off the HU then that is most likely the problem and you should invest in an amp, even if it is small. Your HU might be forever screwed up though if that is the problem (it's just trying to send to much power that the HU just doesn't have).

Could it be the car itself and the shape? Interior plays a role in how the bass sounds. I know that bass never sounded better than when I had my subs in a hatchback versus a SUV and now a sedan. Although, it is loud, the sound is not nearly as good as it used to be. Also, in the past 9 months, was this set up in the P5 or the Mustang? Ever since switching my system to the Mazda, I have had problems with lights dimming to the bass among other things. Mazda electrical systems aren't too hot as far as aftermarket systems, unless it is a really basic one and not a street pounding one.

Im going to have to find someone with voltmeter. I have checked all the connections I can get to including everythiing on the amp, and the subs. The only connections I havnt checked are the ones in the HU.

I do have and amp, so its not lack of power from the HU. I checked all the seals in the box and the rubber and they are both fine. Its not the car because they ran just fine for nine months in the P5.

The thing that bothers me the most is that they will blurt back on every once and while so the bass hits so damn hard it hurts my ears because I have it turn up on the amp. Thats what makes me think it is a connection but i dont know how to get the HU off and I dont want to pay some ass at car toys to do it for me.
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Silver surfer vaporizer

Do you still have the stock radio HU on? If you do it is simple to remove and not worth paying someone to do it for you. There is a section in the how to's that should help. If it is an after market, you should have a book and a set of keys that came with it. That will tell you (I will however assume that it is stock because looking in the book is too simple). Basically you need to buy some Ford HU removal tools (2x), and then flip off the two little pieces of plastic at the side of the radio. the rest is explained on the other thread.

No, its a pioneer premier deh940. I guess i never took the time to look in the book, but i dont know where those keys are. I know what they look like, but i think i lost them. oops.
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Buy Extreme Q Vaporizer

Time to get behind that radio.

I'm going to bet you've got a loose RCA or remote wire connection back there - especially if the subs "blast on" every so often.

When something works occasionally, but not all the time, it's almost always a connection problem somewhere.

I would check ALL your connections, including the power and grounds (and power at the battery, and ground at the ground point - NOT just the amp-side connections). Check your remote wire, too! And make sure your RCAs are in good shape.

You WILL need to pull the deck and be certain everything is still connected - things do rattle around, and RCAs have a tendency to work loose sometimes. I usually tape over the connection to ensure they never come apart.

It is also possible that you are developing a short in the RCA cables somewhere. If everything checks out, try wiggling the RCA cables at different points along the wires while playing music - could either be a break somwehere, or maybe even a terminal is coming loose.

These things happen, but you need to truly check ALL your connections until you find the source.

~HH

I know, I kinda thought it was a connection problem, I just wanted to see if there were any other possibilities. Ill go back thereand check it out somtime.

Thanx for the help everyone.
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YAMAHA FJ600

It could be a few things: RCAs could be loose either behind the unit, at amps, or at crossover (if you are using a separate one). The other thing, is that it could possibly be a remote wire that is not quite connecting at the amps. Lastly, the subs may have become unhooked from the inside having one play and the other possibly kick in do to a loose connection. if that is the case, You could solder the wires to the posts where the speaker wires connect to and replace the connectors that plug in to the sub and crimp them so that they won't slide out.

I checked all of that exept the RCAs in the HU, so thats probly it. Thanx.
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WEED