[Jaymee]

I have a 2017 1SS with a non-bose system. Intermittently the amp output will go away. Sometimes you can hear a crackle, and sometimes it may go in and out. I noticed it happens more frequently the colder the outside temperature is. Also, the voltmeter reads above 15V and I check the voltage at the battery and it is 15.25 or greater when this happens.



I am thinking either the amp is bad or the voltage regulator?



Thanks for the incite!


Jaymee

[Jb54]

Agree with voltage regulator is bad. Replace alternator or replace both a battery and alternator. Sooner than later. Good call!

[Mark114]

Either way it should be covered if you car is still within the warranty period.

[Jaymee]

Thanks guys! It's just out of warranty. Just my luck. It's interesting it only does it every now and then. I will look into having the alternator checked. The battery is 3+ years old now so I will replace it in the next few months either way.


Jaymee

[gblaue]

Originally Posted by Jaymee

I have a 2017 1SS with a non-bose system. Intermittently the amp output will go away. Sometimes you can hear a crackle, and sometimes it may go in and out. I noticed it happens more frequently the colder the outside temperature is. Also, the voltmeter reads above 15V and I check the voltage at the battery and it is 15.25 or greater when this happens.



I am thinking either the amp is bad or the voltage regulator?



Thanks for the incite!


Jaymee

I’m going to go out on a limb here. I believe the problem is with one of the actual power amplifier ICs , itself.

Open up the amplifier and make sure there is enough heat sink grease on all the power amplifies, or it’s not dried up. This may be a best case chance at fixing it.
GM requires that we mute the audio power amplifiers when the battery is 16.0 or greater. There is no problem to operate these parts at 15.0V.
So, don’t waste your money on regulators, or batteries.

[ctrlz]

Originally Posted by gblaue

Open up the amplifier and make sure there is enough heat sink grease on all the power amplifies, or it’s not dried up. This may be a best case chance at fixing it.

If you can get this open and examine it while it is still connected you could check it for hot spots with one of these:
https://www.harborfreight.com/infrar...ter-93984.html

[gblaue]

Originally Posted by ctrlz

If you can get this open and examine it while it is still connected you could check it for hot spots with one of these:
https://www.harborfreight.com/infrar...ter-93984.html

Go to your local PC part place, or ebay, spend $2 and give it a whirl. You may do more damage operating the amplifier opened up. I do, however, suspect the power amplifier IC has failed.

[Jaymee]

I took the amp apart. The heat sink compound was drying and flaky. I cleaned all that up and added some fresh new compound. The ambient temps have been warm enough that i haven't had the problem yet. Keeping an eye on the volt meter in the dash, the voltage has been less than 15 since i looked at the amp.



I did purchase a new alternator. I was going to install it just to see, except I haven't figured out how to release the serpentine belt tensioner yet. The alternator seems like an easy change, once that belt is off and out of the way.



Thanks for all the insight!



Jaymee