How Do You Know If Your Car Amp Is Blown?
Do you love listening to rock or smooth jazz while driving your car? If you are fond of having good-sounding music, then you know how important a good audio system is. And the amplifier of a car’s audio system can make all the difference in the sound you hear.
The car stereo part that amplifies the audio signal is known as an amplifier. If you try to look into your car’s audio system architecture, then you may find that it is somewhat confusing.
Due to the complexity of its design, it can be very difficult to figure out which part of your car’s audio system is not working properly. However, there are a few signs that can help you know if your car Amp is blown
- There is a noticeable distortion in the sound.
- There is no sound even if you have already turned on your audio system.
- Your stereo system starts making bizarre sounds, such as farting sounds.
However, you can always check your car amplifier because it plays a vital role in sending signals to the speakers.
How do you Figure Out that your Car Amplifier is not Working Properly?
There are plenty of signs, manifested while listening to music or voice audio, that can hint that your amplifier may have issues. These are listed below:
- There is a noticeable distortion in the sound.
- Even if you have already turned on your audio system, there is no sound.
- Your stereo system starts making bizarre sounds, such as farting sounds.
If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, then it is important to check out your amplifier. There are chances that other components in your car audio system could also cause such distortions, but your car amplifier is usually related to these issues. Fixing a car amplifier may solve issues quickly and get you up and going soon.
What are the Reasons for a Damaged Car Amplifier?
The stereo and amplifier are often combined if you have an audio system at your home. Usually, your stereo doesn’t blow out. Why is your home audio system work fine, but many car audio systems blow out so often?
The difference between a home audio system and a car audio system is to have different levels of stress. A car audio system can have several components that may or may not work together well made by different companies. Car owners put stereo components together in ways that may cause more stress than a system can handle.
Another reason is that car stereo systems are subject to different environmental stresses.
- Continuous vibrations
- Different stresses on a road
- Temperature extremes
Your home audio system is usually tested and made to work together and does not have these extreme environmental conditions. These are the reasons why your car amplifier blows out more frequently than the one you have in your home.
Now we will talk more about how you can know if the amp is blown. There are many to troubleshoot the problem. Here are some options below.
Is the Protection Mode of Your Car Amplifier on?
First of all, before assuming anything is wrong, check to see if your amp has gone into protection mode. This feature on an amplifier can help prevent damage to the amplifier and speakers. If the amplifier encounters a problem, it may switch to protection mode.
This situation can occur if the speaker’s wires are touching each other and causing a short circuit. Checking that the wires are properly installed can help fix this issue. If not, also check the car’s charging system (battery, fuses, alternator, voltage regulator).
Is Blue Wire Connected to the Right Part of Wiring Harness?
A blue wire may be used in your audio system to access the amplifier remotely when power is turned on. If it is not connected properly to the right place, then it will fail to provide adequate voltage to the amplifier. Therefore, you may need to check this wire and its connection.
Do you find a Loose or Blown Fuse?
Every car audio system includes a fuse to prevent damage to the audio system in case of any short-circuiting. It can be placed under the hood in the power line that goes to the car cabin. So, if the fuse is blown, you won’t get any power to the amplifier, and the amp will not turn on.
Check that the wire and fuse are connected well, and replace the fuse if needed.
Have you checked the Input of the Amplifier and Output of the Amplifier?
The input of the amplifier comes from the head unit or stereo. If you aren’t sure the connection is good, check to see if the audio cables are loose or have other problems.
Another solution is disconnecting the RCA cables and connecting a new set to check if the cables were the problem. If the old set was connected well and didn’t seem to work and the new set does work, then you’ve solved your problem.
If your amplifier can now receive a signal from the stereo, then you’ve probably fixed the issue. However, if you only get a partial signal from the stereo, and all the cables seem fine, then there may be an issue with your head unit.
But before you blame the stereo, you’ll also need to check the cables going from the amp to the speakers and see if all the connections are good, possibly replacing any cables that seem to have issues.
If everything seems to work well, but the speaker is not responding to the signal, try disconnecting the speaker that doesn’t work and connect the cable to another speaker. This will let you know if the speaker might have an issue. So, if the speaker is bad, then replacing it with a new speaker can solve your problem.
The Amplifier is Blown
If all else seems intact and working fine, then we need to return to the amplifier and determine if it is blown. As mentioned above, the amplifier can cause the speakers to make strange noises. This can be an indicator of a problem, as well as excessive heat, smoke, or a burning smell.
Replacing the amplifier is needed if it has overheated and burned any of the parts inside. (See Video Above) You could try taking the amp out of the car and opening it. Use gloves and try not to touch any electrical components.
If you feel you still have a good amplifier, you can ask a car stereo professional to check your amp and give you more information about what might be wrong.
What are the known Benefits of Car Amplifiers and Subwoofers?
If you’ve ever been immersed in music, like when you go to the movies, you will certainly understand the benefits of car amplifiers and subwoofers mentioned below. If you do not have an amplifier and subwoofers installed in your car audio system, then think about these qualities they can offer:
- Enhanced audio quality
- Higher volume
- Good speaker power efficiency
- Great design and organization
- An immersive experience
In a nutshell,
Every car stereo system includes the stereo and speakers, but only some have a separate amplifier. If you are wondering about the audio quality of your system, there are a couple of ways to enhance it. You can get a new stereo, new speakers, or add an amplifier.
So, when you encounter what seems to be a blown amplifier, do your research on your specific amp brand and see if you can get more information about common problems that may occur with that amp.
Most car amplifiers can bring new life to a stereo system. It plays a crucial role in powering speakers that have specific power requirements, so there will be no sound distortion. It is very important that you choose the best car amplifier for your car audio system.
There can be many other ways to figure out whether your car amplifier is blown. Hopefully, you found something useful you can use to help with your amplifier issues. Thank you!
