With all amplifiers for a car, you must have the main power connections B+ and ground connected, and then you must also have the remote turn on connected as well. This is the way the amp turns on. It comes from the radio and is usually the blue wire from the harness off the back of the radio. When the radio is turned on, the blue wire gets 12 volts sent to it so it can turn on an external device like an amplifier or the power antenna. Make sure you have this connected to the amp and that the radio is turned on. Then check the voltages at the power terminal of the amplifer. You will have the ground, the main B+ of 12 volts, and then the turn on voltage of 12 volts. If you have all of these, then you need to troubleshoot it more. It will turn on without the speakers connected, but I am not sure why you would want to connect it without the speakers. It will also turn on without the RCA cables connected for the audio input as well. But just to turn on the amplifier, all you need is those three things i mentioned. Let me know if you require any further help.
To mclaren1:
This sounds like the ground wire is not at a good spot. It needs to be very tight and connected to the frame, not just the body. You may also need to clean the area from around where the ground is connected with a wire brush or sandpaper to make sure you get good contact to clean metal on the frame. Even if it measures so close to zero ohms, it may not be allowing enough current to flow thru that ground if it is not a real good connection (meaning that it is clean and tight and to the frame).
Let me know if this helps, if not I may be able to think of something else causing it.
Dave
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I am experiencing a very similar problem. I have the 12v positive routed straight from the battery to a fuse, then to my 12v pos. connection on the amp. The remote wire is hooked up to a 12v switched reference (which does work), and my 4ga neg. is connected straight to the body near my spare tire wheel well.
I read 12.74 volts at the amp connection POS. and NEG. When I turn on the remote switch, the green lights comes on strong, I hear nothing, and the green lights slowly dims. If I then check my voltage at the amp I get a reading of 4.337 volts! Any ideas? All my connections are tight and when I ohmed out the pos. and neg. wires I only had .4 resistance to .8 resistance.
Thanks so much! Sony XPlod XM-1652Z
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