Rep Power: 0

I'm running 2 12" JBL GTO1202D (300W RMS) sub's powered by a Kenwood KAC8152D (300W RMS) amp.

Got this set-up from a friend of a friend and when I first installed and tuned it everything was running fine. About a month or two ago I noticed the "bump" was missing in my songs. I played a song that I remember having a lot of bass and took a look in the trunk to see if the sub's were working at all - both sub's weren't moving at all or outputing any sound.

I've checked all connections (on the head unit, amp, sub, box) and everything seems fine. I'm not 100% where my problem lies, whether my subs are blown, my amp is dead or I missed something with the connections. I searched the web for tests to find out if you have a blown sub or not. I've tried pushing down on the speaker and listening for a scratching noise or if the speaker would move at all, the speaker moves normally and I hear no noise from pushing it down. I've also tried using a multimeter to test the subs but i'm not exactly sure if I am doing it correctly. Its a DVC sub so i'm not sure which terminals or which combination of terminals I am suppose to test with the mulitmeter (or if it even makes a difference).

For the amp the only thing telling me if it's working or not is the power light indicator which is on when I start the car. Other than that I don't know of any other test to tell me if it's the amp but I am pretty sure it's the subs that have the problem.

So to sum it all up, how can I pinpoint my problem and once I figure that out, how can I fix it?

 
Rep Power: 235

Take the inputs going to the amp and hook them straight to the sub(s). If they work your amp is bad and if they don't the subs are bad.

 
Rep Power: 188

Agree, you need to hook the speakers up without the amp, they wont thump due to the low out put of your raido but they will make sound if they are good..another thing to check is to take the speakers out of the box and make sure the wires did not come off on the inside of the box, this can happen with all the vibration..If everything worked one day and not the next it limits what it can be... The light on the amp just tells you it has power.. Let us know how it goes..

 
Rep Power: 0

hmm.. that makes sense but exactly how do I connect my subs without the amp (sorry I am a noob) as in which wires do I connect to the terminals? The input going to the amp are RCA cables.

 
Rep Power: 235

Take those RCA's and touch them to the sub terminals.

If they won't reach:
1. Take 2 wires that will bridge the gap.
2. Strip both ends of both wires.
3. Wrap the end of 1 wire around an RCA prong, then attach it to 1 of the sub terminals.
4. Do the same with the other wire.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ha, was gonna ask if that would work but thought it would have been a stupid question... my stupid question ended up being right -_- ok i'll give that a try a see how it goes. Thanks.

 
Rep Power: 188

only stupid question is the one you dont ask in my opinion..

 
Rep Power: 0

Check the wiring inside the box that the subs are connected to

 
Rep Power: 210

If I understand correctly, you are saying to connect the low level outputs to the speakers. I would be surprised if the low level outputs supplied enough power to drive a 12" speaker. I have never tried it so it may work but if the speaker doesn't do anything I don't think it proves the speaker is bad.

 
Rep Power: 188

^ It will not be enough power to make the speaker put out bass but it will still play, if you get sound out of the speaker at all then it is not or should not be bad, this would mean he is getting no sound out of his amp..The idea is not to get the subs to pound but to just emitt sound.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok so I tried it... Nothing.

I really don't think my subs were blown and with my set I would find it odd if they were blown, I put my volume high but I don't blast it, atleast not most of the time.

I didn't want to give up on my subs so I checked all my connections again... this is going to be embarrassing.. but I double checked the connections on my head unit and I had the RCA cables for the subs plugged into the inputs for the rear speakers -_- which is right beside the identical inputs for the subs. Opps. I must have made that mistake when I took it apart to when I swapped the climate control lights to blue LEDs.

So yea, turns out I just made a simple mistake, didn't notice it the first time I checked the connections but everythings running fine now thanks everyone.

 
Rep Power: 188

Glad to hear its fixed. When in doubt trace all your connections. Good deal..