I have 2 8" subs with a 300 watt amp in the trunk. I have had this setup in the car for several years with no problems. Over the last couple days I had the battery disconnected while doing some work. I hooked everything back up, and now when I turn the volume up to a certain point, the speakers start to distort and then the unit shuts off. It turns back on, but if left at the same volume it shuts down again..... etc. I have never had this happen before. I'm confused as to what is going on? I have a kenwood cd deck. I don't know if one of the settings is messed up or what. Anyone have any ideas?
Stereo Cutting out
- Thread starter 92Patrol5.0
- Start date
I pulled the fuse to the amp, disconnected the wires from the radio and it still did it. I also tried leaving the amp and speakers hooked up, and fading it all to the rear or all to the front. When I did that, I could put the volume up higher before it cut out. Otherwise, when I have the fader balanced from front to rear it cuts out. I used to be able to crank it up to 23-24 on my volume with no signs of cutting out. Now if I turn it up to 20 it cuts out. I just don't get it. Nothing changed and all of a sudden this happens. I'm frustrated. I went through the wiring and didn't find anything out of the ordinary.
Any idea what would make the stereo shut down when the volume is turned up to a certain level? I spent about an hour and a half looking through wires and playing with the radio setup and I had no luck. With the amp and subs disconnected completely the radio cut out. A friend of mine has this same problem with his stereo on his boat. Once he turns it up to a certain volume level it cuts out. Anyone know what causes this? I would guess it either has to be a fault in the radio, or there is something wrong with the wiring. But like I said, nothing changed from the time I disconnected the battery cable to the time I reconnected it. I got in the car and turned on the radio and noticed the problem. I'm baffled.
iskwezm
10 Year Member
I think I figured out my problem. I think my battery is on its way out. I have another thread going in the 5.0 tech section about the battery going dead. My battery loses charge after sitting for a while and doesn't have enough juice to turn the car over, but has enough to run the lights, stereo, etc. SO, what I think is happening in my case..... is I am sitting in the car messing with the stereo with a low charge on the battery. When I turn the stereo up, it's drawing too much power and is shutting off. The reason I think this is the problem, is because if I sit with the stereo on at even a low volume, if I turn the headlights on, the stereo shuts off and comes back on. The same thing it does when I turn the volume up too loud. Does this sound like it could be the problem? I am taking the battery in to be tested on Saturday. It sounds logical to me.
iskwezm
10 Year Member
How big is your charger???,thats sounds very possible,but put your charger on a higher amperage and then try it again,see if the charger can supply the needed power.92Patrol5.0 said:
98stangv8
Active Member
The reason I'm thinking battery is because after I jump the car and let it run for a while. I can shut it off and restart it with no problems. However, if I leave it sit for a while the battery will drain and not have enough juice to turn the engine over. If the alt. wasn't charging, I wouldn't be able to shut the car off and restart it after 30 mins would I? I'm taking the battery in Sat. morning to have it load tested. If the battery comes out being ok, I will have the alt. tested. I swapped a 130amp alt. in about 2 years ago. Luckily I got one from the parts store with a lifetime warranty, so if that's the problem I can get a free replacement. I will let you know how the battery test turns out.
As for what shuts down when I turn the volume up too loud, or turn the headlights on........ The stereo itself turns off as well as the amps turning off. It says off for a couple seconds and then turns back on again. However, if you don't turn the volume down during that time, the stereo will come back on for just a few seconds and then turn off again. I'm guessing b/c too much power is being drawn and the battery doesn't have enough juice to supply so the stereo turns off. This is just my guess at this point. I won't know until I have the battery tested and get a full charge to check the stereo with to see if it still does it with full power.
As for what shuts down when I turn the volume up too loud, or turn the headlights on........ The stereo itself turns off as well as the amps turning off. It says off for a couple seconds and then turns back on again. However, if you don't turn the volume down during that time, the stereo will come back on for just a few seconds and then turn off again. I'm guessing b/c too much power is being drawn and the battery doesn't have enough juice to supply so the stereo turns off. This is just my guess at this point. I won't know until I have the battery tested and get a full charge to check the stereo with to see if it still does it with full power.
iskwezm
10 Year Member
you have some dead cells in the battery and it cant sustain a load,mine is doing the same right now.Let it sit for more then 3 days and forget it.
That's kinda what I figured. I wasn't really thinking about what could be wrong when it first happened. I switched the fuse port my water temp and oil pressure gauges were hooked into and thought I had fixed my problem that was draining the battery. Then the next day it was dead again... So I got mad and decided to listen to some tunes and it started cutting out on me like that. So I looked through everything, not thinking it could be the battery not having enough power to keep up. So I'm hoping that's all it is, and I'll find out tomorrow and see what happens.
