8
KX Amplifier
Help
Trouble shooting
If your amplifier does not appear to be working, check obvious
things first such as blown fuses, poor or incorrect wiring
connections, crossover and gain controls set
incorrectly, etc.
There is one LED on the end panel of your Kicker KX series
amplifier, it will turn from red to green depending on status. When
the LED is green this indicates the amplifier is turned on and no
trouble exists. If the LED turns red this indicates that the
protection circuitry (SORT) is engaged.
The power indicator on top of the amplifier which illuminates
the model badge follows the same function as the Green LED.
LED off, no output:
With a Volt Ohm Meter (VOM) check:
+12 volt power terminal (should read +12V to +16V).
Remote turn-on terminal (should read +12V to +16V).
Ground terminal.
LED is GREEN, no output:
Check RCA connections.
Test speaker outputs with known good speaker.
Substitute known good source unit.
Check for signal on RCA cable with VOM meter in AC
position.
LED is RED, no output:
1.) Amp is very hot.
Thermal protection is engaged. Check for proper
impedance at speaker terminals. Also check for
adequate airflow around amplifier.
2.) Amp shuts down only while vehicle is running.
Voltage protection is engaged. Voltage to the amplifier
is not within the 9-16 volt operating range. Have
automobile charging/electrical system inspected.
3.) Amp will only play at low volume levels.
Short circuit protection is engaged. Check for speaker
wires shorted to each other or the vehicle chassis.
Damaged speakers or operating below minimum
impedance will also cause this.
No output from one channel:
Check balance control on head unit.
Check RCA & speaker connections for that channel.
Swap RCA connections from left to right.
If problem changes sides then you have a bad RCA
cable or source unit problem.
Swap speaker connections from left to right.
If problem changes sides then you have a bad speaker
cable or bad speaker.
