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7
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your amplifi er does not appear to be working, check the obvious things fi rst such as blown fuses, poor or
incorrect wiring connections, incorrect setting of crossover switch and gain controls, etc. There are Power (PWR)
& Protection (PRT) LEDs on the side panel of your Kicker CX series amplifi er. Depending on the state of the
amplifi er and the vehicle’s charging system, the LEDs will glow either green or red. When the green LED is lit, this
indicates the amplifi er is turned on and no trouble exists.
Green LED off, no output? With a Volt Ohm Meter (VOM) check the following:
+12 volt power terminal
(should read +12V to +16V)
Remote turn-on terminal (should read +12V to +16V)
Check for reversed
power and ground connections
Ground terminal, for proper conductivity.
Green LED on, no output? Check the following:
RCA connections
Test speaker outputs with a
“known” good speaker.
Substitute source unit with a “known” good source unit.
Check for a signal in the
RCA cable feeding the amplifi er with the VOM meter set to measure “AC” voltage.
Red LED fl ickering with loud music? The red LED indicates low battery voltage. Check all the connections
in your vehicle’s charging system. It may be necessary to replace or charge your vehicle’s battery or replace your
vehicle’s alternator.
Red LED on, no output?
Amplifi er is very hot = thermal protection is engaged. Test for proper impedance at
the speaker terminals with a VOM meter (see the diagrams in this manual for minimum recommended impedance
and multiple speaker wiring suggestions). Also check for adequate airfl ow around the amplifi er.
Amplifi er
shuts down only while vehicle is running = voltage protection circuitry is engaged. Voltage to the amplifi er is not
within the 10–16 volt operating range. Have the vehicle’s charging and electrical system inspected.
Amplifi er
will only play at low volume levels = short circuit protection is engaged. Check for speaker wires shorted to
each other or to the vehicle chassis. Check for damaged speakers or speaker(s) operating below the minimum
recommended impedance.
No or low output?
Check the balance control on source unit
Check the RCA (or speaker input) and
speaker output connections.
Alternator noise-whining sound with engine’s RPM?
Check for damaged RCA (or speaker input) cable
Check the routing of RCA (or speaker input) cable
Check the source unit for proper grounding
Check
the gain settings and turn them down if they are set too high.
Reduced bass response? Reverse a speaker connection from positive to negative on the stereo/subwoofer
channel(s); if the bass improves, the speaker was out of phase.
Ground Noise? KICKER amplifi ers are engineered to be fully compatible with all manufacturers’ head units.
Some head units may require additional grounding to prevent noise from entering the audio signal. If you are
experiencing this problem with your head unit, in most cases running a ground wire from the RCA outputs on the
head unit to the chassis will remedy this issue.
CAUTION: When jump starting the vehicle, be sure that connections made with jumper cables are correct.
Improper connections can result in blown amplifi er fuses as well as the failure of other critical systems in the
vehicle.
If you have more questions about the installation or operation of your new KICKER product, see the Authorized
KICKER Dealer where you made your purchase. For more advice on installation, click on the SUPPORT tab on
the KICKER homepage, www.kicker.com. Choose the TECHNICAL SUPPORT tab, choose the subject you are
interested in, and then download or view the corresponding information. Please E-mail support@kicker.com or
call Technical Services (405) 624-8583 for unanswered or specifi c questions.
2012 CX 5-Channel Amp Rev F.indd 72012 CX 5-Channel Amp Rev F.indd 7 6/22/2012 3:08:51 PM6/22/2012 3:08:51 PM