MSP Audio problems.. no audio from sub...

[bud_d]

hey i just got a orangs msp and havin some problems with the deck, the guy obviously did something to the audio system, but i don't know what.

First what do i want for the speaker setting, and for the sub setting, currently the speaker setting is set to 6x9/6 or something like that, and the sub is set to 10" Type A.

Also in my trunk there is a loose rca cable, see attached image 1.

Lastly my deck just pulls out, how do i pop off the dash plastic to check where it's suppose to be secured in. image 2

[Super Matty P]

thats a butchered up stereo install....check the settings in the kenwood head unit to make sure the sub is actually turned on. I drove around for weeks trying to figure out why the bass sucked so much.

[jurgs01]

Dude, the RCA to your amp is unplugged. Trace where the other wire goes that looks exactly like the one that's unplugged (and comes from the same place) and plug it in.

[jurgs01]

It also looks like he wired up something else off the amp other than the sub. Your amp should be hooked to the NF RCA outputs from the deck and only your subwoofer wired to it. If something else is hooked up to it disconnect it and find out what it is. After you find out what else is hooked up to your amp (other than the sub) post and we'll help you more. Matty was right that is a rigged setup by someone who didn't have a clue.

[bud_d]

can anyone post a pic of what that areas suppose to look like as far as cable routing

[jurgs01]

Stick your camera in and take a pic of how the wires are hooked up to the amp (both speaker and power/RCA) and I will help you more.

[bud_d]

Stick your camera in and take a pic of how the wires are hooked up to the amp (both speaker and power/RCA) and I will help you more.

here ya go

[bud_d]

ok i traced the cables back a little and the power and rca's are disconnected mid cable, looks like the previous owner ran a different set up and just dumped these back in when he sold it, w/o reconnecting anything, and the deck looks in similar condition, wtf. So when it warms up a little i'll dig around the back more, i'll have to get a local msp guy to meet up with me so i can take a look at what is different. Damnit!

[jurgs01]

Here's a few pics of how it's supposed to look. Make sure your RCAs are connected, clean up any tapped wires that do not belong, and then use tie straps and electrical tape to make clean runs (after you have everything working).

[bud_d]

so that lil box in my first picture isnt even in your car? Any clue what it may be?

Whats the blue cable running too, im gonna assume mines not where it's suppose to be.

On the plus side once i get this all figured out, he did line the trunk lid(and probably more) with dynamax

[jurgs01]

Dunno. Low-pass crossover maybe. It doesn't look the right shape to be power capacitor. I really couldn't tell unless I know what's connected to it. It looks like he has some different RCAs in your picture (looks like the stock ones he left hanging). I can't tell much else from the picture.

[jurgs01]

Oh, and on your deck. Once you pop it in (if it has the original bracket) you shouldn't be able to pull it out. There is little tabs that you need a tool or a pair of butter knifes to release and get the deck out. Is there still a metal bracket that the deck slides into?

[bud_d]

ill check it out tomorrow, it's suppose to get up to a balmy 6º so i'll hop in my trunk and start diggin.

btw, thanks for your help, much appreciated

and ya the bracket is metal, think the guy broke it?

[jurgs01]

I feel ya on the weather. I just installed me JL8w3v2 sub today and it's about the same temp (my garage isn't heated). Good luck w/everything.

Yea, the guy probably broke the tabs. Judging by his work he doesn't know what the hell he is doing and obviously didn't care about doing professional work.

[bud_d]

ok so i got inside for some good shots.

Looks like he has a 2nd powercable running. What cable is the factory one? Im guessing its the black box labeled as fuse 2, where is suppose to be bolted
-see fuse.jpg-

Also there are two grounds connected, im guess the factory one is the one by the amp-see ground.jpg-, and i can just toss the other-see ground2.jpg-

the blue cable running from the amp i dont imagine is suppose to be spilt off like it is. What should i do there.-see bluecable.jpg-

[bud_d]

oh, and in regards to the deck settings for speakers and the sub, what should they be set at?

[jurgs01]

The red cable is your fused 12V (this should be coming directly from your battery, the black cable is ground, and the blue cable is to tell your amp when to turn on. Find out which end of the blue cable is coming from the source, then cut off the tapped wires (get rid of them) and tape up the exposed. Make sure there is only one fused wire coming in directly from your battery (he might have just left one hanging which is dangerous).

[1sty]

There is just too much different here. Too much to type up for. If you want, PM me and I can send you my cell number to call in the evening. I should be able towork out alot of it with you alot quicker.

I looks like the previous owner installed a second sub amplifer and subwoofer. Not doing a very good job of it I might add.

As for the deck, its held in by tabs on the side of the radio cage. These tabs grab the radios chassis. Pull out the unit and bend the tabs of the cage (one on each side about 2" long) Pull them inward. Then the deck should snap in securly.

Can you take a picture further out of the battery? I can't be sure if thats the factory power wire that has been tampered with or another one that has been added.

[1sty]

As for the RCA's, It looks like he used a monster cable Y adapter. For no reason actualy. The White and red RCA ends should be plugged into the amp. he has the Red one plugged into the Monster Y cable and then the other just hanging. This is actualy loosing 1/2 of the audio signal that should be going to the subwoofer. Disconnect the red RCA from the Monster cable y adapter and plug the red and white tipped RCAs directly into the amplifier.

[jurgs01]

Did you see that extra box by the amp? The only thing I could think is a low-pass x-over (or maybe a weird shaped cap?). Once he gets rid of all the extra junk it will be easier to get everything right.

[1sty]

If you mean the box foam tapped to the sub boxes mounting bracket, it looks like the connection clip for the MSP's RCA's, Power wire, ground wire, and remote connection.

If you pull back the trunk liner and fallow back the wires for your amp, you should find the same thing.

[jurgs01]

Not that. I know what that is. Look in the pic.

[1sty]

I must be blind but I don't see a box at all. I only see the release tab for the rear seats to fold down.
I do see wha looks like a splice in the white rca though. This might be why they used a Y adapter if they cut up the original RCA and couldn't repair it properly.

[jurgs01]

Look at the fourth picture I posted. His release tab look a hell of a lot different than mine if it's a release tab. I gathered from what he was saying that wires were connected into their, but maybe I misunderstood.

[1sty]

Look at the fourth picture I posted. His release tab look a hell of a lot different than mine if it's a release tab. I gathered from what he was saying that wires were connected into their, but maybe I misunderstood.

They look the same to me except that someone tried to stuff wires behind his or used it to help keep the wires in place. Nothing looks like it actualy connects to it.

[bud_d]

so once it warms up i'll have a chance to tackle this further, im gonna pull up all the electrical tape, and see what he did, as far as that rca, if it is messed up, can i just strip and twist it together, or would i need to trace the cable back and replace the whole thing. 1sty I'll end up taking you up on that offer, just too cold to mess with it now.

[bud_d]

The red cable is your fused 12V (this should be coming directly from your battery, the black cable is ground, and the blue cable is to tell your amp when to turn on. Find out which end of the blue cable is coming from the source, then cut off the tapped wires (get rid of them) and tape up the exposed. Make sure there is only one fused wire coming in directly from your battery (he might have just left one hanging which is dangerous).

there are two power cables tho, with the two different fuses(as labeled in the pc), both are red, the one just has the ribbed plastic cover. Im guess they didnt use monster factory tho, they prolly used that black plastic box thing as the fuse.

I'd assume i dont want an extra power cable hooked up tho, especially a live one, i should be able to just pull that through eh?

[jurgs01]

Definately get rid of the 2nd power cable esp. if it is dead-ended somewhere.

[bud_d]

how far should the deck be able to pull out with the wires still attached on back, i wanna put an rca in back before i clip her in to place

[jurgs01]

Depends on the wires. Only way to find out is to try.

[Focus]

OK here it is. From all the pictures shown here, it looks as if the previous owner removed the factory sub and amp. Passes new thicker guage wires to the battery and added a bigger amplifier and subwoofer. Then when he sold the car to you, put back in factory sub and amp, but didn't bother to remove the new wiring.

Also that black box on the left in your first picture, DO NOT MESS WITH. It is your keyless entry module. It is what locks and unlocks your doors and arms and disarms your factory ** aftermarket ** alarm system.

[jurgs01]

The keyless entry module is under the plastic on top.

[Focus]

The keyless entry module is under the plastic on top.

Actually you are 100% right. This module according to the shop manual is a Rear Window Defrost noise filter.

[Focus]

Here is the official Mazdaspeed diagram:

[jurgs01]

Nice reference. I don't have that box for some reason.

[1sty]

because its not supposed to be out there. Yours is under the carpet, I think, pissbly under the rear deck.

[bud_d]

anyone around to walk me through a few things in regards to hooking the stock enclosure back up?

[Focus]

What do you need to know ?

[bud_d]

well under the floor mat next to the rear seat there are two bolts, the one to the rear of the car has a yellow wire attached to it, is that where the power lead attaches? And the other towards the front of the car, is that where the ground attaches?

[Focus]

The power wire should not connect on the floor.

[1sty]

Anything attached to the chassis of the car is ground

[bud_d]

Hmm well the power lead on the amp is yellow, and it runs to the drivers side of the truck, and the wire the comes out by the drivers side of the trunk has a yellow cap, and connects to that one floor bolt. So ya it looks like that's what it's suppose to do. Can anyone looks and see? The power definitely doesnt run straight from the battery to the amp. Just wanna be sure before i attach and fire it up.

[bud_d]

hmmm i just hooked the rca's up and im getting audio now from it, is it possible the deck is powering the amp/sub or do i have yet another power cable running thats hidden? The two powers and two grounds are still not hooked up to anything.

thanks!

[1sty]

I think you are just fallowing the original ground and the one that was added by the previous owner. There is no way for the head unit to supply power to the amplifier. TO be sure, pull the fuse out of the little fuse holder by the battery. This is for the yellow wire hooked directly to your battery terminal that is incased in loom.
Once pulled, the amp should not power up.

The power wire as installed by mazda runs through the firewall, under the carpet, along the side sill, under the rear seat, into a strange plug in clip if memory serves, then from there it goes behind the plastic and carpetin the trunk, up behind the enclosure and to the amplifer. It should be yellow the entire way.

If you can, get me lots of pictures of all the wires your finding and I'll try to sort it out for you.

[PGFracing]

So what do you set the deck at as far as Speaker. 5/4 inch 6 6by9 speaker off, or Speaker OEM and what do you set the sub at if everything is original. I've checked all my fuses and the wires seem to be good but no rear speaker/sub system is working.