How to Repair a Stereo Amp

Repairing a stereo amplifier, though an intimidating task, can be tackled once you have properly diagnosed the problem. Typically, there are only a handful of issues that can cause your stereo's amplifier to misbehave. However, it can be difficult to figure out which issue is causing it to give you problems, as often any number of problems will all result in the same affect: The stereo will simply shut down completely


Step 1
Locate the fuse housed in the amplifier unit to check if it has blown out. Typically, the fuse is a brightly colored plastic tab (usually yellow, red or green), and is plugged into the amplifier somewhere near the terminals where the amplifier wiring is connected. Pull the fuse from the unit with a firm tug, and hold the tab side of the fuse up to an exposed light. You should see a thin wire running through the tab. If the fuse is not blown, this wire will be undamaged, but if the fuse is blown, then the wire will be broken. If you find that the fuse is blown, replace it with another fuse of the same wattage.


Step 2
Open the hood of your car and find the line running from the red, negative (-) terminal of the car's battery to the amplifier's power terminal (the battery's location can vary with the make and model of your car, but is found typically against the left or right wall of your car). The line should not be difficult to locate because it should be the only cable attached to the car battery's negative terminal. Once you find this line, locate the fuse built into the line and check it as you checked the fuse in Step 1. Replace the fuse if it is blown


Step 3
Locate the red power wire connected to the terminal on the amplifier labeled "Power," and connect one of the lines from your voltmeter to this terminal. Connect the remaining second line to any exposed metal surface, and turn on both the voltmeter and the car. If the voltmeter indicates that you have completed a circuit (typically indicated by lighting up and/or beeping), then you have correctly wired the amplifier's power. If the meter does not indicate a completed circuit, however, then there is a fault in the power line. You can fix a faulty power line by running a new power wire, preferably along the same route that the original wire has been run.




Step 4
Locate the black wire connected to the terminal on the amplifier labeled "Ground" and connect one line of the voltmeter to this terminal. Connect the remaining line of the voltmeter to any exposed metal and turn on both the car and the voltmeter. The voltmeter should indicate that you have not completed a circuit. If the meter indicates a complete circuit, run a new ground wire from the same ground terminal on the amplifier and connect it to any exposed metal in the car.


Step 5

Old Fashioned Amplifier image by Yali Shi from Fotolia.com
Amplifiers are typically designed with several exposed terminals.Use short lengths of electrical tape to cover all of the exposed surfaces of the amplifier's terminals. This will prevent any of the wires connected to the terminals from making contact with each other and avoid a short circuit at the terminal

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