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Subs only work if balance is all the way right or left

Discussion in 'Car Subwoofers' started by Eubank, Nov 3, 2006.

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  1. Eubank

    Eubank Full Member

    Only one set and I checked the connections last night.

    One other piece of info is this is in a 2000 Impala. The original HU is plugged in in the trunk for the computer junk it runs. Although this throws another variable I don't understand how this could make my system perform as it is.

    Thanks for all the help...if we keep talking we might figure it out.
     
    Eubank, Nov 3, 2006
    #21
  2. Willy D

    Willy D Full Member

    My thought is that if for some reason, the RCA is has a bad connection or hacked or pinched somewhere do to a poor installation....Possibly someone running a screw right down the center of the cable when putting trim back on...When balance is centered causing a short of some kind causing the signal to cut or be reduced significantly......Typically if you connect lets say the left RCA....the signal coming out of it should remain the same if in center or full left...same with the right side......I would inspect that RCA cable as much as possible...Make sure it is not pinched or cut....Just a thought.....

    In my diagnostics of things, I always try to work first with "known good things" ....What is unknown here? The head unit and all things that were in place before you started....I know it is frustrating....if you lived by me, I would come over after work and help you check it out....I love to figure things out that quit working (mechanic of 20 years)...

    Willy
     
    Willy D, Nov 3, 2006
    #22
  3. aznboi3644

    aznboi3644 Full Member

    Ahh...I overlooked the rcas if they were pinched or anything...could check that...cuz if they are than it really screws with them

    (ameteur mechanic of 6 months lol)
     
    aznboi3644, Nov 3, 2006
    #23
  4. Willy D

    Willy D Full Member

    If the HU has it's signal coming through this RCA and the RCA is connected good and tight and correct, it should send a stereo signal back to your trunk. At that point it connects to your amp...you have the RCA plugged in correctly there...You have the amp configured correctly...You have the speakers connected correctly.....To me it seems as if it would almost have to be a defect in the head unit or in the RCA feeding the amp....

    If summing the RCA's does not work....I would try a spare RCA cable just running across the floor to the trunk.....If that fails....I would blame the HU...

    If all else fails, I would connect a different known good source to the amp and make sure that you get full signal when both RCA's are connected...

    Process of elimination....I still have a gut feeling it is in this head unit from what all you have said here.....

    Willy
     
    Willy D, Nov 3, 2006
    #24
  5. Eubank

    Eubank Full Member

    If it was a short would the thing act up "consistentley" like it is. My experience with short tells me that I would have static, cutting in and out, etc. But this is consistent. I appreciate all your patience, I am just trying to figure out as much as possible before I start digging into it tonight.

    So far I have two things I am going to try
    1) Y-plug for RCA to mono port of amp
    2) pull HU out and run RCA directly back to amp (no routing under trim etc).

    Could the original HU be doing anything to effect this, being as that it is still plugged in?
     
    Eubank, Nov 3, 2006
    #25
  6. Eubank

    Eubank Full Member

    Willy,
    Great minds think alike. I was typing my last response as yours got posted...
     
    Eubank, Nov 3, 2006
    #26
  7. Eubank

    Eubank Full Member

    I will be without internet access all weekend (just moved) so don't think I snubbed you. I will get back on Monday with what I find out.
     
    Eubank, Nov 3, 2006
    #27
  8. Willy D

    Willy D Full Member

    I would not think that the factory HU should affect this...As long as the RCA cable is strictly connected between your pioneer and the alpine....

    I will keep thinking over the weekend....

    Good luck man.....I hope you post back on monday saying you are up and runnin, rockin and smilin....

    Willy
     
    Willy D, Nov 3, 2006
    #28
  9. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    what about the wireing of the subs.can they be wired backwards or somthing?
     
    pedro quiroga, Nov 3, 2006
    #29
  10. Hautewheeler

    Hautewheeler Full Member

    also, keep this in mind.. I can tell by the blurry photo that the rca's you are using are "scoshe" wal-mart rca's..

    Might try some quality rca's, as the walmarto's seem to be easy to break connections with..
     
    Hautewheeler, Nov 3, 2006
    #30
  11. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    yes they will. had some,but upgraded when i had the dough.
     
    pedro quiroga, Nov 3, 2006
    #31
  12. TheViking

    TheViking Well-Known Member

    Definatly wont be a sub wiring issue from what was described..........

    It has to be in the Low level signal. If you have checked out all the connections, but have not pulled up the interior to check for shorts, do so........ Another quick check would be to do a quick run with another RCA cable fro the HU to the amp, just dangle it out of the car if you have too.....
     
    TheViking, Nov 3, 2006
    #32
  13. Eubank

    Eubank Full Member

    You guys have all made me feel better about my general car stereo knowledge. You have all had good "theories" but no "answers". This makes me feel good that I wasn't just missing something easy...you know like the old one goes "Hey, the TV won't work?" answer "have you tried plugging it in". Anyway, here is how my weekend went.

    I pulled back the trim, messed with all the connections, no change. I ran a seperate RCA cable direct from HU to amp (just dangling in the interior), no change. I tried a different amp, no change. I finally decided this was not something that was going to be fixed with out paying a install shop loads of money or buying a new HU (and that would be just a shot in the dark too).

    My final conclusion was to do what I have done before with no issues and tap into the rear deck speakers for my audio signal. Spent $20 on a line level converter and $2.00 on the tap in connecters and in a matter of minutes I had the bass I was expecting. Now all that is left to do is clean up the wiring and arrange everything to not look like a thrown together mess.

    Thanks for all the input, my Impala is now primed for "Hick-Hop" (figure it out I love Country and Rap).
     
    Eubank, Nov 6, 2006
    #33
  14. Willy D

    Willy D Full Member

    That is very cool.....

    It has to be something in the preout of the head unit.....That kinda stuff is a pain.....I know I have hooked up things and had them not work and went back and second guessed everything that I did thinking I must have overlooked something....Just by my gut and knowing you knew what you were doing with hook-ups, I figured it was probably in the head unit....

    anyway.....Water under the bridge, you are in business.....very cool!!!!

    Willy
     
    Willy D, Nov 6, 2006
    #34
  15. Hautewheeler

    Hautewheeler Full Member

    eubank.. seriously good news that you "fixed" the problem..

    Hope that you can isolate the exact cause, though.. might be in the head unit, and I'm glad to see that you decided to try and figure it out instead of letting someone else do it for you..

    I hope that I don't offend any of my fellow members (especially those who install for a living), But I am a big proponent of d-i-y guys, and am proud to see that it still happens.. that's how I learn everything I know.. just gotta try it.

    That's how I have fun///
     
    Hautewheeler, Nov 6, 2006
    #35
  16. Eubank

    Eubank Full Member

    Anybody can pay a professional, but that is no fun. Learn by trial and error and the next job is just that much easier. In the world we live in you can pay somebody to do anything; clean house, mow the yard, cook...but we don't, we do it ourselves and get some satisfaction out of it.
    A guy in another forum told me that I should take it to a "shop" and have them look at, because ultimately I would get better sound out of the RCA's. Well he is right, but I could also get better sound out of a set of high end components up front, a upgraded 6x9 in the rear deck and a quality amp running them. I could get better sound if I upgraded my subs and put them in a custom built enclosure. But for a little home done thrown together system I feel pretty darn good. I won't win any SPL or SQ competitions, but I can turn heads at a stoplight if I choose to. But in the end it just comes down to getting a little extra punch as I listen to the music I like.

    To each his own...
     
    Eubank, Nov 6, 2006
    #36
  17. Hautewheeler

    Hautewheeler Full Member

    I had a kenwood that was doing much the same, and it turned out that I had rattled the solder joints loose at the rca outputs, and it was a simple fix. It was all due to the curious restraints of the HU compartment that ford so wonderfully designed.. But I had to keep resoldering the connections as my system got more powerful (sh** happens).

    I learned a valuable lesson from that experience..

    I bought a good HU, with pigtails instead of fixed (*solid) rca outs..
    And I'm happy that I investigated. Happy you did too..
     
    Hautewheeler, Nov 6, 2006
    #37
  18. pedro quiroga

    pedro quiroga Well-Known Member

    ooooooo thats what pigtails are. i asked in an earlier thread.
     
    pedro quiroga, Nov 6, 2006
    #38
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