I originally thought my subs were busted (no sound, but it powers up). I already tried swapping it out to no avail. Now, i'm not so sure anymore.

Short of ripping my dash out, is there a quick and easy way to see if current is going through the cables from the headunit down to where it terminates? (e.g. at the sub).

Thanks!

 

signal wires or power cables?

 

Multimeter?!?!

 

Just the signal wires... RCA cables.

I would've used a multimeter, but wouldn't that entail taking the headunit out so i can complete the circuit? Or am i looking at it the wrong way?

The sub in question is a Basslink by the way.

 

Unplug the RCA's from the Basslink. Put the positive lead of the multimeter on the insode of one of the RCA's, i.e. the small male part of it that sticks out of the center. Put the negative meter lead touching the outside of that same RCA. Put the meter on alternating current. Turn on the head unit. The alternating current should fluctuate, and increase or decrease corresponding to head unit volume.

 

Even if the subs were blown, wouldn't they be making some kind of noise? They wouldn't just be silent I don't think.. also, try checking your audio wire from the amp to the sub while your at it.

 

My Basslink did the same thing....just died one day. It would power up but wouldn't produce sound.

Make sure you double check the fuse, the ground, and the gain on the Basslink. If you have the remote **** gain.....check it too.

 

clamp meter

 

Hook each of the signal wires to your nipples. If there is current you will know it.

 

Nice. Thanks for the detailed response! It never ocurred to me to check it that way. I'll try it tonight.

whitem1ke88, I don't think they are. Although i can't find what's wrong with it either. It turns on and every now and then the bass pumps. Then for no reason it stops. Later on it works again. Although these days it goes in silent mode more often than it used to.

SgtSchulze, i've checked and rechecked on the 'link's side but nothing is working. I even bought a new one just to test it out, needless to say that went back. Was yours just a case of one of those things, or was it something else?

D Love, interesting equipment. I'll check to see who has that locally for a good price. Might come in handy for other stuff too.

Deckdout2

 

Hmm... okay i might be doing something wrong here. I tested it out via the method above and it's not registering any type of current. The odd thing is, while in the middle of testing one of the RCA's (two are connected to the Basslink) the sub started pumping bass again, albeit for a couple of seconds... but not registering anything on the meter. I tested the other cable, same thing happened after a while. Coincidence perhaps?

 

I'm having a hard time picturing how this is going to work. Wouldn't you just unplug the + rca, and put one multimeter probe to it, and the other multimeter probe to the jack in the basslink that you just unplugged, thus completing the circuit?