i pulled the stero out of my old car and put it in a 1985 civic i just bought, but when try to run the subs they are verry quiet and distorted. but when i just plug in one of them it works but makes my altinator squeel. I just wanted to know if it could just be that i have a bad battery or if i need a compasitor?(and yes everything is installed right,and it worked perfect in the other car)
and im runnin 2, 400w 10" subs, with a 400w amp, but a small gauge power wire. So if anyone can tell me whats wrong please reply

 

If the amp is 400 watts rms get at least 8 gauge wire.

We need more specs like amp model and what load the subs are wired to.

 

Most definately get bigger power wire, and make sure the ground wire is the same size as the power. I have 4g running to a 2 way blosk in the back and then 8g going to my amps. Get the bigger wire.

 

As for the alternator noise did you run the power wire and the RCA's on the same side? My subs sounded like that once, right before my battery died.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dannyboi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As for the alternator noise did you run the power wire and the RCA's on the same side? My subs sounded like that once, right before my battery died.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I had alternator noise for about 2 weeks before my battery died also.

 

yes i do have the RCs running with the power wire. dose that make a diffrence?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mattduskater &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yes i do have the RCs running with the power wire. dose that make a diffrence?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes it can make a big difference, by running them on the same side your RCA's can pick up noise from the power wire.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by dannyboi &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Yes it can make a big difference, by running them on the same side your RCA's can pick up noise from the power wire.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This is true. In practice I think you are fine as long as the power wire and rca's are not tied together. Six inches of seperation will prevent alot of noise. I have always thought that running on seperate sides of the car is extreme.

The cheaper the rca's the more closely this rule needs to be followed. Also if you must cross a power cable, cross it at a 90 degree angle.

 

normally if you're running small guage power wire and just one amp, it's insignificant, but maybe in your guys cases it was, i ran 4 guage in mine with 2 sets of RCA's for both my amps, and i had road noise, but to answer your question, i'd check the impediance on the subs, and then try to run them in stereo, and if that doesnt make it better, bridge the amp