How to Fix a Blown Car Amplifier
By Christopher Godwin
Fixing a blown car amplifier with damaged internal components is a complex task and will be exceptionally difficult for most consumers without a background in car audio installation and audio equipment repair. However, there are a few basic problems that can cause a car's amplifier to sound like it is blown that consumers can fix with limited technical knowledge and no special tools.
Turn your car off and wait for the engine to cool down for approximately 30 minutes. Disconnect the car battery's ground wire by loosening the negative terminal counterclockwise with a 1/2-inch wrench then setting the wire aside.
Remove the housing for the amplifier with a Phillips head screwdriver or hex wrench. In most cases, car amplifiers are housed in the trunk and can be removed with just a Phillips head screwdriver.
Check that the cabling connecting the amplifier to the other audio components, such as an external CD player, are properly connected. If they are not, disconnect the cables and firmly plug them back in. Test the amplifier to rule out loose cabling which can mimic the sound of a blown car amplifier. Otherwise, disconnect the audio cabling from the back of the amplifier if loose cabling is not to blame.
Locate the fuses on the back of your car's amplifier. On most amplifiers, the fuses will be held in place by small metal clips and can be removed by hand. Some amplifiers require the removal of a fuse panel to access the fuses. Use the Phillips head screwdriver to open the fuse panel.
Inspect the fuses to see if they are damaged. Look for cracked filaments inside the fuse or black burn marks inside the tubing or on the end of the fuse around the silver contacts.
Replace any damaged fuses with new fuses of the exact same amperage. Reconnect your car's audio equipment and test the amplifier for proper sound.
References
- "Car Audio For Dummies"; Doug Newcomb and Mike Mettler; 2008
Warnings
- Working on your car's amplifier with the battery's ground wire still connected is extremely dangerous. Always disconnect it before making any internal adjustments to the amplifier.
Writer Bio
Christopher Godwin is a freelance writer from Los Angeles. He spent his formative years as a chef and bartender crafting signature dishes and cocktails as the head of an upscale catering firm. He has since ventured into sharing original creations and expertise with the public. Godwin has published poetry, fiction and nonfiction in publications like "Spork Magazine," "Cold Mountain Review" and "From Abalone To Zest."