How to test my amplifiers?

[gibbs1820]

I have been tracking a battery drain and I believe I have it narrowed down to one of my amps not going to stand by.

How do I know which one is the problem amp? How would I go about testing?

Are the amps easy to replace? I have a 1997 Mustang Convertible with the Mach 460. Do I have to remove the rear seat to get to the amps? If so how do I go about doing that?

 

[Barnaby]

Easy way is to just unplug the amp when you're not driving the car. If it still drains power then it's not that amp.

 

[gibbs1820]

I already pulled the fuse that powers the amps. Left the car sitting for 5 days and no battery drain. So I know it has to be one of the amps or could be a wiring issue with the amps. I just want to know how I can figure out which one of the 3 amps is the problem.

 

[Barnaby]

Without an ammeter the only way will be to unplug each one independently and see if it drains the battery.

If it's a wiring issue causing a drain, then the some power wire would be grounding out. If that's the case then it should blow a fuse. Is there a separate fuse just for the amps or is it for the entire audio system?

 

[gibbs1820]

Separate fuse just for amps. Fuse not blown at all. I've already gone through all other fuses with my meter and have narrowed it down to this fuse that is drawing the power. Pull the fuse, no power draw.

So guess I should disconnect one amp at a time and then remessure amp draw with the meter.

 

[Barnaby]

Sounds like the best plan of all.

 

[N8Dogg98]

Sorry, not really answering your question but if it were me, I'd take this as an opportunity to rip out the mach 460 garbage and install a new head unit, a nice 4 channel amp w/ some component speakers, and a monoblock amp w/ a sub. You'd save some weight and have a much better sounding stereo.

The 460 stuff is really easy to remove too. Put the rear seats down, take off the upper seat cushion thing, remove the carpet/rear dash piece, then remove the screws holding the Mach 460 plastic unit up to the rear dash.

 

[Ponyup1]

Sorry, not really answering your question but if it were me, I'd take this as an opportunity to rip out the mach 460 garbage and install a new head unit, a nice 4 channel amp w/ some component speakers, and a monoblock amp w/ a sub. You'd save some weight and have a much better sounding stereo.

The 460 stuff is really easy to remove too. Put the rear seats down, take off the upper seat cushion thing, remove the carpet/rear dash piece, then remove the screws holding the Mach 460 plastic unit up to the rear dash.

+1 That would be your best bet.