Monsoon Amp Dead???

[_goREDgo_]

ok, so i just installed my new head unit (kenwood) and have had my polk speakers installed as well. there's very little sound coming out of the 2 front door speakers while the 2 back speakers work great. i'm not sure if the dash/windshield speakers have ever worked since i purchased this car used about 2 years ago and have yet to hear any sound come out of them. i found the amp and tested the 3 red wires supposed to power them (18, 21, and 23 ports in the green plug) and they are providing adequate power. it seems that there are 2 other red wires (much thicker than the others) that have been cut and taped off near the rest of the plugs (green and gray). the guy from crutchfield thinks it's from a different install (probably an amp). i'm really frustrated on how to turn this amp on. the head unit is supposed to provide some power to turn it on (i think it only needs <5 volts or so) and yet, nothing. perhaps it's dead? if it was, then why didn't someone just take it out and put the new amp in it's place? help!!!!

[NaplesTurboS]

I am taking the monsoon out and putting a aftermarket there tomorrow. I am rewiring the entire thing. Just need to figure out how to take the dash apart......

[NaplesTurboS]

I did some more thinking about your situation and the guy probably did what my cars previous owner did and do a crappy job of just about anything that dealt with wiring. I had 3 different shorts in the car, and Rats nests of wiring under the carpet.... Just do it safe and do it the right way. Check it all. Never know what you find. I found two Polk Audio 2 way speakers under the seat of the car. Nice surprise and I was happy!!!!

[_goREDgo_]

wow, that is a nice surprise! i talked to the ppl at best buy and circuit city and they want wayyyyy too much for the amp's installation. i think in all with the cheapest amp they have, it's gonna cost somewhere around 400 bucks as a minimum. and the running tally as of now is 400 bucks, so that's kinda out of my price range. the ppl from crutchfield told me that the easiest thing to do would be to bypass the amp all together and rewire the speakers directly to the stereo (head unit). would that work or would i be getting less sound from the speakers??? my husband is not looking forward to removing that dash, though it can't be that complicated just time consuming. let me know how your's turns out.

[NaplesTurboS]

Well mine is still a work in progress. I would do what crutchfield said and bypass the amp. I am going to end up doing that. It wont make that much a difference. The dash is the middle unit that goes from where you have the hazard switch to the top of the dash. I will post instructions that I received from a previous blog. You just need a short torx screw driver along with some pulling. I have all but two working but I still am searching through the miles of wiring in the car.

[NaplesTurboS]

To remove top of dash, slide center piece forward toward windshield and lift out.
Remove 3 torx screws underneath toward windshield and then remove the side panels out by lifting up to unclip them, then toward the center of the car.

To remove the piece around the radio there are several torx screws. This isn't really necessary to install a headunit and run wires, but anyway...
Start under the panel with the hazard flasher, above the cup holders, should be 2 there.
Remove seat heater control covers by pulling toward you (toward rear of car). 2 more torx screw behind there.
Unplug the wiring harnesses and the light and remove the plastic panel holding the switches. I think there are 2 more torx screws under there.
2 or 3 torx screws on top of dash just above air vents, remove those.
Slide black piece that hold flower vase toward you and off.