Hey guys,
I have had the same setup for about 2 years now, a clarion APX401.2 powering 2 clarion piston subs (300rms each). The setup is wired to 4 ohms...

Anyways I did something stupid today without thinking, I was messing around tightening up the connections on the amp with a ratcheting screwdriver. When I was tightening the amp output line, a arc jumped from the screwdriver to the amp body. The stereo was on when this happened, and immediately it started to make a heart beating noise every 2-3 seconds..

Thump, thump thump it goes, even if the volume on the headunit is turned down to 0. Also it seems to get some interception from the engine as I rev it up. I tried changing the ground, changing the remote wire, changing the wires to the subs, and checked all the fuses and connections to the subs. So my question is, does a Amp do this when it is blown (it still turns on and everything) or where else should I look for a problem?

What a stupid mistake...
Thanks for your help!
Dan_s_young

 

The only time I had an amp blow, it smelled the horrible smell of burnt electronics. Youo may have messed up a power supply, which is causing your fluctuations.

 

I opened the amp up and smelled it, no burning smell or anything (a friend also recommended that I do this...). I have checked all the fuses and stuff and they all appear to be ok, any other ideas on what to check, or should I just bite the bullet and replace the damn thing?

 

Maybe it had some sort of power surge and blew the subs and what your hearing is the voice coil thumping. Turn your reciever off and tell me if it still happens. Is you power light on the amp still on. Check the voltage going into the amp. Really just check and make sure everything is getting power.

 

Once the HU was turned off the sound went away. The power light on the amplifier is still on, and I am confident that the amp is still getting good power because I have checked the fuse. I don't have access to a DVOM at the minute, but I am confident that everything is getting power...

One thing to say is that sometimes when I just turned it on it was ok, then as soon as I turned the volume up the rythmatic beating would start...

 

Ya, i think you blew the speakers. This happend to this one system i was instaling once. Try a different subwoofer and see if that works.