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KX AMPLIFIERS
Troubleshooting
If your amplifier does not appear to be working, check
obvious things first such as blown fuses, poor or incorrect wiring
connections, incorrect setting of crossover switch and gain
controls, etc.
There are two LEDs on the end panel of your Kicker KX series
amplifier, one green and one red. When the green LED is lit this
indicates the amplifier is turned on and no trouble exists. If the
green LED turns off and the red LED is lit 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.
Green 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.
Green LED on, 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.
Red LED on, 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.
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.
Alternator noise (whining sound that varies with engine
RPM):
Check for damaged RCA cable.
Check routing of RCA cable.
Check source unit for good ground.
Check gain setting, turn down if set too high.
Swap RCA connections from left to right.
Help