Sub Stopped Working

[96PlatinumEdition850]

P5002 Amp bridged to a P2 sub. The Thermal light is on and the amp powers on but doesn't power the sub. Any clue what the thermal light means and why it's not powering the sub any longer.

[CAPT_BLOTTO]

your amp is overheating.

[paulr]

Thermal light like that can come from a few things. It could be overheating because your car is too hot, but seeing as it's basically winter, and you're having this problem all the time that's unlikely. Other possibilities are that the amp has been fried, or that there's a short somewhere on the speaker side of things, and that's causing it to go into protect mode almost immediately (Which will likely fry it quickly - so check for that). The last thing that could do this (on some amps at least) is a busted positive power wire. The amp in my friend's girlfriend's car was actually able to turn itself on enough to light up the "thermal" light with JUST the remote + ground wires. (The fuse was loose). Replaced the fuse, and everything has been fine since.

Anyway, start there first.

[PharmD]

Thermal ON = your amp is toast already, or is on it's way there. It's either in the process of overheating, or has already overheated. You run it hard? Is it in a place that doesn't get much air circulation?

[B00STWAG1N]

perhaps a bad ground. maybe im guessing. has the system worked in the past?

[Owned]

It's either wired bad or he's over-working it. Which depending on the setup could be the same thing.

[Chris_R]

Try disconnecting the speaker wires from the amp and see if the thermal light comes on. That will let you know if the speaker wiring is at fault.

If the + and - wires are touching it will usually cause an instant protection condition. Could even be that the sub is fried.