Sub or amp dying...thoughts?

[Broncoholic]

Posted in Audio, but checking here for input too!

Sub or amp dying?

I'm trying to determine the most likely failing component. - sub, amp, or maybe signal from head unit? 2003 Expy Eddie Bauer with full factory system, 6-disc in dash changer. I've had this truck 20 years and never had an issue with the audio until recently. A couple months back, the subwoofer...

www.expeditionforum.com

I'm looking for any suggestions to chase. Thanks in advance!

 

[whtbronco]

If you have no sound at all it's not likely the sub. If the sub blows you'll get crappy sound, but sound none the less. If it failed all at one I'd be looking for a fuse, I can't recall off hand if the sub can be turned off in the radio settings. Oh wait it can be sort of turned off, if the fader is set all the way to the front it will turn off the speakers in the rear door and and the sub.

 

[Broncoholic]

It's def not a fuse because in the last 36 hours, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it works half. I'll play with the fade to see what may change. Thanks!

 

[whtbronco]

From the other conversation here's the pics.

 

[Broncoholic]

Right on, thanks!

I ran to the home improvement store tonight and the sub seems to work better when I'm slowing or stopped, like inverted speed sensitive sound adjustment (the wife's 2016 increases sound with speed to compensate for road noise). Makes me think loose connection where the weight of wire harness is just enough to make a difference in connection. No bump or popping noise today like yesterday. Adjusting fade front or back didn't make a noticeable difference; neither does using the adjustment for driver seat / all seats / rear seats.

I really hate electrical gremlins.

 

[whtbronco]

Ugh, I agree on them dang gremlins. This is why I want my next truck to be another 78 Bronco. There is so little electrical crap and what's there is dedicated wires and simple to understand.

Is it working better or is it just that you have so much more noise to drown out while rolling down the road the sub simply can't keep up? Either way my thought is that the head unit is okay since it's sending the signal. It could be a wire, but I'm thinking it's either a connection with the subwoofer or the amp is failing.

 

[Broncoholic]

Thanks for the sanity checks. I'm hoping to investigate Wed or Thur. If not, then it'll be a couple weeks before I get time again.