Big 3 problems
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=81165
Printed Date: April 29, 2024 at 4:07 AM
Topic: Big 3 problems
Posted By: xTimx
Subject: Big 3 problems
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 4:16 PM
i just got done installing the big 3 upgrade. i used 4aug wiring. the car starts up fine, but when you turn on the stereo and turn up the volume half way the stereo and amps are to cut in and out rapidly. also i found that when i turn on the lights, they get dimmer as i put on my parking lights..then dimmer when i put on my driving lights. please help! i havent drove the car around the block yet. i'm scared something will happen!
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xTimx
Replies:
Posted By: Mad Scientists
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 4:24 PM
Get out your meter and start taking voltage readings.. it sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere. Measure the voltage at the battery terminals, at the alternator B+ and case, at the amplifier, and at the fuse box. Let us know what you find. Jim
Posted By: xTimx
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 4:39 PM
kk i checked it...from the battery i'm getting a good 14.88volts when it was running. ohms between the connections are 0 :S if thats good or not. now here's the bad part.. the amps/capacitor are getting 11.11 volts. so something is going wrong here. i didnt check the H/U voltage though.
EDIT: i think it may be the H/U ground. it could be grounded to the chassis so i'm gonna ground it to the metal casing where the H/U is installed. if thats gonna be enough for a ground though.
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xTimx
Posted By: sparkie
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 5:53 PM
If you measure only 11 volts at the amps, the problem is either with the ground for the amps or poor connections from the battery to the amps. The head unit ground should be into the vehicle chassis.
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sparky
Posted By: supersix4
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 6:10 PM
xTimx, how exactly did you perform the upgrade? Did you replace existing cables? Or did you simply add new ones (usually best & easiest)? Where exactly are you putting your DMM probes to measure 14.8V ... between the Battery (+) and Battery (-)?
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Posted By: Velocity Motors
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 6:12 PM
Is the fuse on the power line going tot he amplifier partially blown ?
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Posted By: xTimx
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 9:13 PM
well i know what happend. but i'm not sure whether its gonna fix the problem. from the battery ground, it connects to the chassis, THEN to the tranny. and i only had it hooked up to the tranny from the battery. so tomorrow i'll fix that and hopefully it'll be all good.
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xTimx
Posted By: forbidden
Date Posted: August 03, 2006 at 9:42 PM
The problem is either a bad amp ground or a bad power wire connection between the amp and the battery. Pay close attention to the fuse area. The battery to chassis ground may have something to do with it but for a voltage drop like that look at the connections as well.
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Top Secret, I can tell you but then my wife will kill me.
Posted By: xTimx
Date Posted: August 04, 2006 at 5:36 PM
nope! i got it all fixed. just had to connect the battery to the chassis to the tranny and i got her all fixed up. battery showing 14.4 volts, amps/capacitors showing 14.3 volts. so all is good!
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xTimx
Posted By: supersix4
Date Posted: August 04, 2006 at 7:20 PM
NEVER underestimate the importance of perfect Grounds!! Glad you got it squared away!! Doing this may even make your car run better, folks!! I did something like this to a buddy's new-ish (2005?) Mazda RX ... it made the engine idle more smoothly!! Although I didn't take any SPL measurements in my own car before & after, I'm convinced that it made my own car sound a bit stronger. JUST DO IT!  -------------
Posted By: xTimx
Date Posted: August 04, 2006 at 11:49 PM
actually to tell you the truth. i noticed a difference in the follow:
stereo: obviously, it was alot cleaner sounding, and it hammered too.
Lights: the interior lights were a bit brighter.
engine idle: yes the car ran smoothly
acceleration: believe it or not i noticed a diff in acceleration, sounding better when taking off.
now i just need to get a high output alt. and i'll be kicking the horse real good.
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xTimx
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