Stereo & Electronics - Amp in Power Protection Mode

Hey everyone,

I have a Sony Xplod 1000 W amp that has gone into power protection mode out of nowhere. It has never done this before and I have not messed with any of the wiring. Initially, when the car is barely turned on, the amp will be ok, but about 5 secs. later it goes into protection mode and the subs will not work. I'm thinking it's the ground wire, but what else could it be? Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Check your sub connections, leads (negative and positive leads) and your fuses. A fuse may look okay from far but pull them out, hold them up to the light and see if they are okay. Only reason an amp will go on protect is to protect it from overheating or a short..and if it is in fact a short somewhere you will have to find it. I would doubt it's your amp, usually an amp would just kill over if it was shorted out..at least that's what I think..

I'll go ahead and check the fuses today. It will the fuses on the amp right? Also, the amp is almost 7 - 8 years old, you think it just might finally be overheating due to age? Thanks.

i would check the ground first, if its just turned on then I dont think it would be overheating.

Sounds good dilated. I'll go ahead and replace the wire that currently on there which is like a 14 gauge and step it up to a 4 gauge at least. Thanks.

14 guage ground wire? gees, yea you wanna replace that. Ive run 12 gauge speaker wire to my subs haha. what gauge are u running for the power wire? Ideally you should be running 4 gauge for both for that amp

The power wire I think is 2 - 4 gauge. That small 14 gauge ground wire has worked for a pretty long time now though, but I figure it finally was just not enough.

LOL 14 gauge ground

That's good.

Also, don't buy a Sony amp next time.

Well the Sony amp has been good to me. Like I stated, it's 7 - 8 years old and counting. This will be the first problem and one that I caused. I don't know, everything that's Sony in my car has lasted a very long time. From the speakers to the head unit. Don't know if I'll stay with Sony later, but it has been a good and durable product at least for my applications.