diagnosing stock amp problem

Auto - 2003 Tiburon GT V6, original system is Infinity 6+sub speaker system, Infinity H280 Head unit, and JVC 96730-2C200 stock amplifier.

Original problem - During a rain storm, sub gave a large enough pop/thump that I thought someone had struck the car with a softball. No sound after that.

I did some research, found that a common problem is a drainage hose comes loose and allows water to come down into the amp. I thought this was the problem. After a couple months, I accidently hit the radio on, and I had sound again. After a couple weeks, another pop and sound goes.

I did a post here, and unfortunately never got back to the person that posted back, and the topic is now closed.

Replaced my battery, and the radio came back to life, and then died a bit later. Replaced the stock head unit with an Alpine CD-9856 that a friend had, with the optional iPod controller, using a metra adapter to the stock wiring.

Installed it, and the only thing that we got was a buzz from the speakers. Head unit was tested and is working. Also tested the power at the leads where they plug into the amplifier, and there was good power. No corrosion noted in the plugs or the amp.

I got a replacement stock amp off of car-part.com, and installed that, and the buzz did disappear, but absolutely no sound at all.

Is it possible that I have two bad amps, is there any possibility of repairing, or should I just hose them both and go with an aftermarket amp?

There are some nice pictures of the amp and the space in this thread: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=115364&KW=hyundai+tiburon

Thank you for any input, and if you would like pictures of the amp(s), they are currently not mounted I can take any pictures you like.

John

Replied to add: The car in the photo is not mine, I found that when I was searching the forums.

Yes it is possible to have a second defective amp, also possible to have a blown speaker, I would bypass the factory amp reguardless, the aftermarket HU will have close or more RMS power anyway but with more features, but you need to ohm out your speakers first to see if there 2or4ohm, you may have to series wire your speakers if you are not planning to change them out, otherwise add a aftermarket 4ch amp to get the volume your looking for, let me know how it goes.  

-------------
Chadillac

Would a blown speaker cause the buzzing and/or the complete silence depending on the amp? I would think that it would just not play that channel or that speaker wouldn't work.

Or is that my n00bness showing? :p

John

OEM products are harder to judge usually why I deinstall them, lol, but like an aftermarket system if there is a defective speaker it would most likely blow /or shut down the high level outputs, all of them in most cases, the cracklin sound is coming the a defective amp, double check the factory wiring at the amp as well is the grounds, with trouble shooting its usually best to remove it from the situation, remove it from the car and bench it, that way you know  for sure if its the amp, if it tests ok then its the speakers or faulty factory wiring, one step at a time, good luck. 

-------------
Chadillac

Well, I'll have time this weekend to trace the wiring, but how do you bench test an amp? I'm guessing I probably don't have the equipment. :p

John

Use a Ac to 12 volt Dc converter with a radio and test speaker, if you dont have this go to your local audio shop and have them to it, usually the guy who installs will do it without charging, just throw him a tip.

-------------
Chadillac

Thanks, I know of a couple local audio shops, I'll see if one of them can do it.

Appreciate the help, and I'll post an update once I (hopefully) figure this out.

John