Audio Systems: nissan bose stereo amplifier problem, nissan bose, bose amp

Question
QUESTION: Cleggsan:
on 8/22/06 you responded to someone with exactly the same problem I have
today.  I left my 2003 Murrano for 2 weeks vacation, came back and the
battery was dead.  Charged it and all is ok but the Bose stereo has no sound.  
Nissan dealer says I need a new amp ($500+).  Did you get any follow-up
feedback from your 8/22/06 answer, or any advise for me otherwise?  
Thanks.

ANSWER: Dealer may be right. But, I am not familiar with any big failure problem on the Murano.  Bose equipment installation is usually unorthodox and the amplifiers are sometimes mounted individually within the speaker baskets.  I doubt if this option is used on your Murano or only the speaker with the failed amplifier would be dead. Since all are dead there is likely a single multichannel amp running all speakers.

Let me refer you to Ernesto on allexperts who knows this car much better than I do.  He may have a better grip on the issues.

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/835-69262/Audio-Systems/Ernesto-R.htm

My guess is that one of the amps failed, probably before you parked the car, and run the battery down because the remote connection did not turn it off.  

Unfortunately, the replacement amp will need to be a Bose because of the interface being so different from other makers.

Sorry I can't give you a more clear answer.

C



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you very much Cleggsan.  I'll also follow-up with Ernesto.
I understand and unfortunately think you are most likely right.  I'm still
holding out hope that the battery running down was not caused by the amp
but instead may have tripped something to do with it.  I checked all the fuses
and there is only one fuse identified for the "radio".  It's a 20 A.  I'm thinking
this bose amp must have a separate fuse somewhere....any idea if true and
where it might be?

I also thought to try your suggestion to the 2006 question of disconnecting
amp for 1/2 hour in hopes it will reset.  

Anyway, thanks again, let me know if you think of anything in the next couple
of days....before I spring for a new amp!

Happy New Year,
Greg  

Answer
Most of the car amps now days have electronic protection in place of an actual fuse.  If there is a fuse it would be inside the amplifier.

A 20a fuse is not sufficient for a big power amplifier as 20amps at 12v could only supply a total of 240watts.  If the amplifier is a hefty one it would be an insufficient size fuse.  So, I suspect the Bose amp is connected to a different line to the battery.  But, I don't really know for sure.  Ernesto is a tech who works on these kinds of car systems and can give you better advice than I.

Good Luck,
C