Can anyone here help me?

I installed (about 6 months ago) a Kenwood unit into my TJ Magna. I figured out all the wiring (pretty easy really) and set it all up. Worked fine until 3 weeks ago.

Now, every few minutes the sound to all speakers totally cuts out. Nothing! But, the unit is not losing any power at all and keeps playing cd's if they are in. So, it's purely a loss of all sound to the speakers.

I assumed it was the head-unit at fault and took it out to return to get it fixed. In the meantime, I put the stock Mitsu HU back into the car until the Kenwood was repaired. All seemed fine until 24 hours later the problem started happening again! However, it's not as bad or as widespread as before. I believe all the wires are firmly connected. But, if one or two were coming loose you'd expect localised sound loss, not total loss.

Could this be any of the following:


faulty wires used to increase cable length (some may not be the same thickness as the stock wires,
I haven't soldered the wires, just wrapped and taped them (only temporary remember)
Some other problem within the wiring harness


If it's a fault within the wiring harness, I guess I could run all relevant source power from elsewhere and re-wire the speakers from fresh. Any idea how to do this???

Any help here is most appreciated.

Is your system comprised of just the headunit and speakers or have you installed an external amplifier somewhere as well?

If all the speakers cut out at once then that usually indicates the problem lies before the speakers. First thing to do is solder and heatshrink the loom correctly like this (http://www.fastfoursforumscarclub.com/temp/fhrxstudios/photogallery_int.asp#interest1). ;)

http://www.fastfoursforumscarclub.com/temp/fhrxstudios/images/interest_57.jpg

If you've just taped the wires together, i'd trace back ALL your wires and make sure the tape is still insulating the wires. If any of the wires are touching metal, this will cause all the speakers to short out.

Is your system comprised of just the headunit and speakers or have you installed an external amplifier somewhere as well?

If all the speakers cut out at once then that usually indicates the problem lies before the speakers. First thing to do is solder and heatshrink the loom correctly like this (http://www.fastfoursforumscarclub.com/temp/fhrxstudios/photogallery_int.asp#interest1). ;)

http://www.fastfoursforumscarclub.com/temp/fhrxstudios/images/interest_57.jpg

Unit is just head unit and speakers. There's no external amp.

Unit is just head unit and speakers. There's no external amp.
Have you checked all the speaker wires that none are touching metal? as this will cause the whole system to short out. Also check to make sure speaker terminals are not touching metal either.

I just fitted a new Kenwood unit and it kept cutting out at vol 15
Rechecked the wires were all correct and all wires were soldered
Hooked up external power pack and no prob...... removed power pack and
prob returned, unit was getting power OK so I added an extra 20 amp earth lead
from the headunit chassis to a dash screw in the panel metal
Problem solved give it a try worked for me

Chris

I just fitted a new Kenwood unit and it kept cutting out at vol 15
Rechecked the wires were all correct and all wires were soldered
Hooked up external power pack and no prob...... removed power pack and
prob returned, unit was getting power OK so I added an extra 20 amp earth lead
from the headunit chassis to a dash screw in the panel metal
Problem solved give it a try worked for me

Chris

I'll give that a go as the garage has looked and suggest its the unit. But I know it cannot be that (as I swapped out the original - same problem). I'll attempt this and see what it does. The garage did suggest a problem with the amp. As that would be in the unit, I think they are clutching!

Kenwood are Known for Glitches BUT
you said the Factory unit did the same thing, Are they all stock Speakers?
A coil could be shortening out which means I would replace them ..

Finally it's been sorted out and I can't believe I never checked this!!!!

When the problem first occurred we were going away to the Riverlands for a weekend. I had packed out the boot!

Seems that one of the speaker wires in the boot was damaged and was chorting out against the body! Doh!

Glad it's resolved though, and thanks for all your suggestions.

Finally it's been sorted out and I can't believe I never checked this!!!!

When the problem first occurred we were going away to the Riverlands for a weekend. I had packed out the boot!

Seems that one of the speaker wires in the boot was damaged and was chorting out against the body! Doh!

Glad it's resolved though, and thanks for all your suggestions.
That's exactly what i said lol.
Glad you sorted it out mate.