6
BX AMPLIFIERS
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your amplifier does not appear to be working, check the obvious things first such as blown fuses, poor or
incorrect wiring connections, incorrect setting of crossover switch and gain controls, etc. There is a green
POWER LED and a red PROTECTION LED on the end panel of your KICKER BX series amplifier. When the
green LED is lit, this indicates the amplifier is turned on and the amplifier is functioning properly. When the red
LED is lit, this indicates the amplifier is running in protection mode and a problem has occurred.
GREEN LED Light 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.
Check for blown fuses.
GREEN LED Light 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 amplifier with the VOM meter set to measure “AC” voltage.
Protection LED on 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.
Protection LED on, no output?
Amplifier 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 airflow around
the amplifier.
Amplifier shuts down only while vehicle is running = voltage protection circuitry is engaged.
Voltage to the amplifier is not within the 10–16 volt operating range. Have the vehicle’s charging and electrical
system inspected.
Amplifier 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 output from one channel?
Check the balance control on source unit
Check the RCA (or speaker
input) and speaker output connections for the channel
Swap the RCA (or speaker input) cable from left to
right. If the problem changes sides then you have a bad RCA (or speaker input) cable or source unit problem.
Swap the speaker output wire from left to right. If the problem changes sides then you have a bad speaker
cable, passive crossover network and/or speaker.
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.
Poor stereo image or reduced bass response?
Check system phasing by turning the balance control from
left to right. If there is more bass output when turned to either side, then check your speaker wiring, passive
crossover networks and speaker terminals for proper positive and negative connections. 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 amplifiers 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.
