volume cuts out

Hey guys. New to the forum and hoping you can help me out. I just redid the sound system in my truck and it's giving me a weird problem.
At random times the speakers will get quieter. The volume number on the radio stays the same though. I'm leaning towards a grounding issue or possibly my alternator not putting out enough juice.

Also my amps (2 Arc Audio FD4100's) have the power connections where you just strip off part of the insulation and put the wire in and tighten the set screw. What's the best way to terminate this?

Thanks guys.

Brandon

Also not sure if any of it helps but here's my setup:

Kenwood KDC-X993
Arc Audio Arc-6000's in the doors
Arc Audio FD5000's in the rear
Two Arc Audio FD4100 amps
A cheap pioneer 12" I'm using since the JL's I want are on back order...

I'm using Stinger HPM3 RCA's
12 GA wire to all the speakers
1/0 GA wire to a dist. block for pos and neg
4 ga wire from the dist blocks to the amps for pos and neg

And a partridge in a pear tree.... :)

Brandon

LOL at the xmas song.

My first Q, is why did you re-do your set up? did you add anything that wasn't there before? Did you changed the RCA wiring configuration?
Does the problem happen after a certain time, or only while you are driving? Or is it completely random?

It was still the stock stuff before. So I upgraded. The times that it does it is random. Now primarily it's quieter and then sometimes it gets louder, and the bass hits harder. Like it's getting more power from some where.

Is it just the interiors losing volume or subs and interiors??? All speakers are remaining ON during the volume loss? Where did you ground the dist block...How long is the ground? Do you have a DMM?

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

tommy... wrote:

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Is it just the interiors losing volume or subs and interiors??? All speakers are remaining ON during the volume loss? Where did you ground the dist block...How long is the ground? Do you have a DMM?

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It's all the speakers. They do remain on during the volume loss. The dist block is grounded the B-pillar. There was an existing whole there so I put the ground lug on the ground wire over it, traced out the shape of the lug, sanded it down to bare metal, and bolted the ground wire to that with a 1/4-20 bolt. The main (1/0 ga) run of the ground is maybe only 2 feet long.... 2.5 tops. So not that long. And yes... I've got a DMM. Was going to check the resistance from the dist block to the battery over the weekend... As well as finish my "big three" wiring up grade.

B

Its the Head Unit. I betcha.

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icearrow6 wrote:

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Its the Head Unit. I betcha.

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Man I hope not. I've already had to exchange the thing once because it would shut its self off after a few seconds. I'd have to unplug it for about 10 minutes and then it would come back on....

If it does it pretty often...sit back ate the amp w/ your meter and see if there is any power loss at volume loss...do the words sound muffled when "IT" happens or just volume is lossed?

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

Do you have another deck laying around...? If so try wiring that up...You used differ rca outs for sub amp and interiors?

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

I checked the voltage at the amp with the truck not running and it was showing 12.4 volts at both amps. Checked the batt with the DMM and it showed the same. I spent most of my time yesterday working on my buddies Focus so I didnt get to check the voltage while driving.

As far as having another head unit laying around I don't. The shop I bought mine from would probably let me borrow one as long as I use it in their parking lot... Back to it.

B

And while metering the amp you experienced the volume loss...voltage stayed at 12.4?

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

I didn't have the truck on at all.... so no sound what so ever. I've got to get a new bolt to replace the one where the batt grounds to the motor and after I put that back on I'll check the voltage with the power on.

ok checked the voltage with the car running: 14v at the batt, 13.8 at both amps. Volume is still dropping out...

Thoughts anyone?

Are you checking the voltage with the amp playing loud?

70% (approx) of max volume on the head unit...

Ok so I get in and start my truck this morning and instantly the front speakers are doing the normal deal of not playing as loud as they should and the back speakers and sub (playing off the same amp) aren't playing at all. I do however get a popping sound every couple of seconds from the rears.  I checked the voltage to make sure it was getting power and both amps were showing 14.38v.  wth????

What wiring...What was it...Rca's...?

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M.E.C.P & First-Class
Go slow and drink lots of water...Procrastinators' Unite...Tomorrow!

Had the channels backwards on the amps. The amps are 4ch amps and I was running one bridged for my sub. When running that set up the manf. says to run the front channel for the sub. I had it set to the rear. So I swapped my speaker wires and rca's. Reset my crossovers, adjusted my gains. And voila! Audio heaven. Guess that's what I get for finishing my install at 2am on a weekday. :-l Thanks for the assistance.