Amp whistles?

Printed From: the12volt.com
Forum Name: Car Audio
Forum Discription: Car Stereos, Amplifiers, Crossovers, Processors, Speakers, Subwoofers, etc.
URL: https://www.the12volt.com/installbay/forum_posts.asp?tid=44863
Printed Date: May 29, 2024 at 3:08 AM

Topic: Amp whistles?

Posted By: crispycritter91
Subject: Amp whistles?
Date Posted: December 10, 2004 at 5:03 AM

I have a 98 Pioneer Premiere amp rated at 800 watts. My question is my amp whistles.... It isn't a hum from ground loop or from the ALT and it isn't from the subs ( 3 different subs, connected and disconnected). It only does it when my engine is off or at idle. If I rev my engine it goes away. I have used this amp in 3 different vehicles, and it whistle in all three of them( w/ or w/o (2) 1 Farad caps). All of the vehicles have 2GA power and ground w/ (2) 60 amp fuses. I've heard somewhere that capacitors can crack and cause that, yet I've looked on the board and I haven't found any electrolytic powered on the board... Any input, into this problem???

Replies:

Posted By: DYohn
Date Posted: December 10, 2004 at 8:39 AM

The sound comes from the amplifier itself? Yes, this is most often caused by physical damage inside the amp. A bad capacitor or inductor or a cracked or damaged circuit board can possibly cause this. My guess is a delamination on the power supply portion of the main board or a bad internal ground plane. You may be able to repair it, but if it's a PCB related problem it would cost more than the amp is worth. Just as an experiment try connecting a jumper wire from the amplifier case to ground while the sound is present (you may have to scrape the paint or anodizing off the case to get to bare metal.) If this changes the sound you most likely have a bad ground plane or damaged PCB and the amp is on its way to Pioneer Product Heaven.

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Posted By: crispycritter91
Date Posted: December 10, 2004 at 8:56 AM

I'll check into, shouldn't be a problem since I've striped the amp and polished the heat sink. Oh yeah..... NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry I was just pondering Pioneer heaven... posted_image

Posted By: crispycritter91
Date Posted: December 10, 2004 at 9:09 AM

Well I ran out there and checked it out. Thus far I have whistling no matter what I do with the grounding option you had given me. I've tried the ground wire to the amp and various configs with the amp to the frame of the vehicle. It still whistles. But since I have heard this from you and someone long long ago. I will definately check into this matter with the board.... Thanks again I'll keep you posted.