How to Fix a Car Subwoofer With No Sound?
You got into your car and suddenly noticed that your car subwoofer was not working, but the speakers were. Well! This can be a terrible situation for any bass lover, including you.
There might be many causes behind the subwoofer with no sound coming out. You don’t have to worry, as I will discuss common reasons and initial steps to fix things.
In most cases, this usually happens when one has lost the subwoofer, which could mean a blown subwoofer.
Let’s dive in!
Why Are My Subs Not Working In My Car?
There can be several reasons for your car subwoofers not working well. Some of them are:
- Faulty amplifier: Ensure the amplifier is not in protection mode and that your power supply is adequate. If the amp has a problem, it may need professional assistance to repair or replace it.
- Wiring issues: Ensure the wiring is adequately sized and securely connected between the amplifier, subwoofer, and car stereo. Make sure there are no shorts or breaks in the power wires or others that could cause a decrease in power output.
- Magnet closer to the speaker: A strong magnetic field can interfere with the subwoofer’s ability to produce sound. It may cause sound distortion or even no sound at all.
- Power supply issue: Another possible reason your subs may not work in your car is an issue with the power supply ⁽¹⁾. If you’re using an aftermarket amplifier, ensure it has enough power to run the subwoofer. You’ll also want to check if any other electronics are draining away too much energy, which can cause problems with the subs.
- Blown Car Sub: Another potential reason can be having a blown subwoofer. However, if your subs still aren’t working after checking all of the above issues, one or more of your subs may have blown. Subs blowing out can happen if you’re playing music too loudly or if there is a power surge. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace the blown subs to get your system working correctly again.
- Incorrect amplifier settings: Also, ensure that the settings on your amp and subwoofer are adjusted correctly. It could prevent your subs from producing the best sound possible if they’re too low or too high. Adjust the settings until you get the perfect frequency for your car audio.
- Wrong subwoofer size for the stereo system: Another common issue could be that the subwoofer needs to be the right size for your car. Subwoofers come in different sizes, and you must ensure that you use the correct size for your vehicle. It won’t produce the sound correctly if it’s too small or too big.
- External crossover: If using an external crossover, ensure you set it up correctly and properly connected. A bad connection or incorrect settings could prevent your subs from producing sound accurately.
7 Steps to Fix Car Subwoofer With No Sound:
You can fix your vehicle subwoofer with no sound coming by following the simple steps:
1. Ensure correct wiring:
First, you must ensure that the wiring is tight enough and intact. You can double-check all your connections to get fully satisfied that you are using the correct wiring. You can use a multimeter to test the continuity between the speaker wires, positive and negative terminals of the amplifier, and any additional audio components in your system.
Additionally, ensure that you do not mix up positive and negative speaker wires (wrong polarity), as this could cause damage to your audio system. Once everything looks good, you can connect the car subwoofer to the amplifier and test it out!
2. Check the Car Amp’s Input & Output:
Now, let’s move to another step where you will check and ensure that your RCA cables and power connections are in good condition. After you confirm, also verify that all the inputs and outputs are correctly connected to each other.
Next, check each connection’s impedance to ensure it matches your amp’s specs. (Replacing RCA cables frequently keeps your car amp in good shape). Also, verify that you have set the gain for desired output level.
Finally, inspect the physical integrity of your amp’s internal wiring to ensure no shorts or breaks. Now that you are satisfied with the amplifier’s inputs and output, it’s time to get the music going!
Connect your audio source to the amp and adjust the volume for a comfortable listening level. You must hear the clear sound from the subwoofer again.
3. Speaker’s Condition:
In order to fix the car subwoofer with no sound, you need to ensure that your speaker is in good condition. Simply, it will cause sound distortion or even no sound at all if your speaker is in pretty bad shape.
When checking a speaker’s condition, you need to run a few tests, if the speakers are in good or bad shape. You need to check that your subwoofer doesn’t have a blown voice coil, no loosened or disconnected tiny wires inside the speaker, damaged surround (your speaker’s cone must be able to move back and forth), or a blown speaker cone.
If you find any of the above signs, you need to replace your subwoofer or have a technician replace the blown coil or cone. After that, you will start hearing sound from your subwoofer again.
4. Look for short-circuit:
Before you look for any short circuit, you need to ensure all the connections, such are power wires, speaker wires, and RCAs, are correctly connected to their respective terminals. Checking them will help save you time if you were going to open the system to check the short circuit manually.
If everything looks good, try using a multimeter to measure if current flows through the subwoofer cables. If you have an oscilloscope ⁽²⁾, you can use it to check for electrical noise or other abnormal activity.
If everything looks okay, but the subwoofer isn’t showing up any signs of sound, then there might be a problem with the amplifier or the internal circuitry of the subwoofer itself. In this case, it is advisable to take the help of a professional technician to inspect and resolve the issue.
5. Volume:
We have gone so far as to fix the subwoofer with no sound. But have you tried increasing the volume? Haha! I’ve gone into many cases where people complained that the subwoofer was giving low or even no sound. Some subwoofers have a volume settings option on their back. You can use them for different equalizer settings.
However, you can quickly fix the no-sound problem by increasing the volume at that option if you accidentally turned it to 0 without knowing it.
6. Car’s Amplifier Settings:
Another thing you will also need to check and fix is the car’s amplifier settings. Adjusting the amp settings will ensure that you have optimal quality of sound with the maximum output for the size of your subwoofer.
The ideal amp setting depends on a few factors, including the size and type of your subwoofer, the total power output, and desired sound level. Start by setting the gain or level control to match the kind of subwoofer you have. If it is a small, low-powered system, select the gain to mid-range; if it is an extensive, robust system, set the gain to maximum.
Next, you should set the bass or low-frequency boost control to tailor the type of sound you want. If you are looking for a lot of low-end punch, turn the bass higher. Conversely, turn the bass down lower if you want more clarity in sound and less booming.
Once you have the gain and bass set up to your liking, it’s time to adjust the crossover or low-pass filter ⁽³⁾. This control defines the range of frequencies that will be sent through to the subwoofer.
Setting this too high can distort the sound, and putting it too low can lead to a lack of bass. To get the best sound, start with a mid-range setting and adjust until you achieve your desired sound.
If you have started to get the sound after adjusting the settings, but they are distorted, set the subsonic filter to prevent distortion caused by extremely low frequencies that the subwoofer cannot reproduce.
Note: Configuring the car amp settings correctly ensures your subwoofer sounds its best. With these simple steps, you can quickly check that your car’s subwoofer is working correctly and enjoy high-quality sound. Also, I have an article on how to adjust your bass and treble settings in the vehicle.
7. Look For the Electromagnetic Coil & Cone Seal:
You have checked and fixed everything I mentioned above, but you still do not get the sound. The last option you can do is to check your subwoofer’s electromagnetic coil and cone seal.
For this, you first need to disconnect the power from it. Once disconnected, use a multimeter to measure the resistance between the coil’s terminals and between the airport and the ground. If it reads infinity, there is no continuity or broken power wire in between, and the coil is in good condition.
Next, you need to check the cone seal by pressing down on the cone and listening for a rattling noise or any other indication of a broken seal. If it works correctly, there should be no noticeable sound when depressing the cone.
Finally, try connecting your subwoofer again with power and then listen for any sound that comes out from the sub. If there is no sound, your subwoofer may have blown a fuse or damaged wiring, resulting in a blown subwoofer.
You can determine if it works correctly by inspecting and testing your car subwoofer’s electromagnetic coil and cone seal. If you find any problems, it is essential to get them fixed to ensure that your sub delivers the quality sound you expect.
With the correct maintenance and attention, you can keep your subwoofer in excellent condition and enjoy its performance for a long time.
General FAQs
Why Is There No Bass Coming From My Subwoofer?
There can be many reasons which may include an underpowered subwoofer, wiring issues, setting crossover & volume too low, a broken subwoofer, and using the wrong amp’s output.
How Can I Tell if My Subwoofer Fuse Is Blown?
If your subwoofer is not working, it may be due to a blown fuse. To tell if the fuse is blown, you need to check the continuity of the circuit using a multimeter or other testing device. First, disconnect all power sources from your audio system and remove the covers.
Locate the fuse and locate two test points that have access to the fuse. Set your multimeter to “continuity” or ohms and connect it to the test points. If there is continuity, the fuse is not blown; if there isn’t, it has blown and needs to be replaced. It is essential to use a replacement fuse of the same amperage or lower to ensure the safety of your subwoofer. If you are unsure, consult a professional.
What Does the Bad or Damaged Car Subwoofer Sound Like?
Generally, a wrong or damaged car subwoofer will produce an uneven sound. This could include distortion, buzzing from the subwoofer, and even a lack of bass frequencies that were once present.
If the subwoofer is more severely damaged, it may also produce strange noises when playing music, such as rattling or popping sounds from the speaker.
Does Underpowering a Sub Damage It?
The short answer is yes. Underpowering a subwoofer can damage it. When you underpower a subwoofer, the amplifier may attempt to provide more power than its rated capacity. This causes the car amp to work harder than usual, leading to overheating, distortion, or complete shutdown.
Final Words:
Now that you know how to fix a car subwoofer with no sound. Make sure to follow safety tips before making any changes to your car stereo. If you still have any questions, let me know so I can help you with your concerns.