QuestionI have an '04 grand prix with a Monsoon audio system. Trying to install a subwoofer... I found wire color directions online and have tapped into the appropriate speaker wires as given, but don't get any response from the sub. The amp comes on like it is supposed to, but that is all I get. I've tried going from the spear wires direct into the amp via the 4 wire plug supplied, and with a line level covertor with no luck. Both the sub & amp work in a friends vehicle. Any suggestions? Thanks!
AnswerHi Kurt,
The first thing I would do is test those wires you've tapped to make sure they're carrying a sound signal. Get an old piece of crap speaker from your junk heap or from a friends. (If you don't have those, I'm sure someone you know does, or you can try a local wrecker. I bet they'll give you an old crappy paper speaker for testing with.)
Hook it up to the crap speaker, and make sure it makes noise. If it does, you can rule out having tapped the wrong wires.
Being that you have the monsoon system, you might be dealing with already having a low-level output. I'm not sure if the '04 Monsoon system has the amps on the speakers or a separate amp. If it's the former, you might have to connect your tap to RCA cables and plug those in instead.
If you get sound out the test speaker, then make sure your line converter is getting power, grounded correctly, etc. If you have a laptop, you can use a standard line cable on the headphone jack to provide signal to the amp just to test to see if the amp is working and sending sound to the speakers correctly.
Basically, eliminate the issue part-by-part until you find your bad connection or broken component.
Good luck,
Justin
