Amp popping

I have 2 amps, and I think I've isolated it to one (the mono). Periodically it will pop, sometimes when going over a bump. Wiring is about 5 yrs old. I just hooked up the mono so I know on the amp my wires aren't touching.

Where should I start? Do I need to use a multimeter?

 

What amp is it?

Might want to say what else you have for the system (DSP, LOC, etc..)

 

JBL 500..just got it. I know the amp side is okay.

CD head unit, second amp for my door speakers, 2 subs

 

CD Head unit...OEM?

How are you running the signal from the headunit to the amps?

 

Nope, Pioneer..a year old.

RCA cable, which is about 5 years old

 

Might be a bad connection for the RCA at the radio or amp.

Its only happening on the sub amp?

 

Seems to be, yes. The other is on the door speakers.

I was just out there now and the other amp power wire was loose. Tightened that down and ran it for a few minutes, no issues...so far.

I did check the grounds on both amps and they are both tight and clean on the body as well as the amps.

 

Most of the wiring is 5 years old. Looks like the installer ziptied the power/ground/RCA wires together on each amp, but it's not yet given me trouble. I find it odd that the other amp power being loose could have caused it but I'm hoping it did.

I do use a junction box for the power wire. One in from the battery, 2 out (one to each amp)..so I wonder if that could have backfed to the subs?

 

dont think the distribution box would do that.

You checked grounds...good
you checked power...found loose connection and fixed

check RCAs. Depending on the shop that put them in, they could be cheap.
Check also your sub speaker connections at the amp and sub. If you have push terminals on your sub, make sure the wires are not touching the basket. Happens alot with push terminals on speakers.

 

RCAs are tight, I checked those today as well. 5 years old, so here's hoping they're still good because that's a pain in the ass to fish a new set.

Previous to buying the new amp, I had the 2 subs wired separate..using a 4 channel bridged to 2 channels. I had to remove the subs today and drill a hole in the middle to do parallel wiring. Before and after, the wires right to the subs were good..and not right next to one another, they were at 180 degrees apart. I used spade connectors and insured there was no exposed wire in there.

Hoping it's the power wire I addressed, only because I can't think of anything else but RCAs.

 

Check ground