How to Unfreeze a Subwoofer?

4 Reasons Why a Subwoofer Gets Stiffed?

Before you fix the subwoofer, it’s essential to know the reasons behind a frozen subwoofer. Understanding the causes is necessary as it will help you prevent your subwoofer from getting frozen again.

1. Overpowering the Subwoofer:

When you overpower a subwoofer, it can freeze up due to the immense amount of power sent to it. Large-sized amps or poor amplifier settings are the main reasons behind this stiffness. When this occurs, simply, a speaker will stop moving correctly and will likely make some unpleasant noises. If you don’t take any right steps on time, it may permanently damage your expensive subwoofer. Please set up your HPF & LPF correctly and regularly maintain the performance to prevent any potential general wear and tear damages.

2. Your Subwoofer Has Blown:

A blown subwoofer means that the speaker has been pushed beyond its limits, resulting in excessive strain on the internal components that can cause them to overheat or burn out. In some cases, the electronic component within can no longer work correctly, and as a result, your subwoofer may freeze or glitch when playing any music. You can easily prevent this from happening by using an amplifier with enough power ratings (upgrade the existing amp to match the subwoofer).

You can also limit your volume settings to prevent it from going above the danger level if you don’t want to spend money on a new car amp. If you notice any odd sounds from your subwoofer after playing complex sounds at high levels, switch it off immediately and check for signs of damage before using it again.

3. Overheating:

Overheating is one of the most common causes behind the subwoofer’s stiffness. When you expose your car sub to high heat and humidity levels, the subwoofer’s suspension becomes so stiff that it no longer flexes or produces sound.

Moreover, high temperatures can also cause other problems, such as corrosion of internal components, failures of capacitors, suspension foam deterioration, etc. You must keep your car subwoofer cool by keeping it away from heat sources like direct sunlight and providing adequate ventilation for proper airflow.

4. Excessive Heat Build-Up in Enclosure:

As mentioned above, a high heat temperature can cause the voice coil to expand and stick to the magnet, resulting in no coil movement freely. When an amplifier sends the audio signals to the subwoofer, the voice coil moves back and forth to produce the sound waves, resulting in low-frequency bass.

Excessive heat build-up can occur when you use a large-sized amp, play a subwoofer at high volumes for an extended period, or use an inappropriate enclosure material. To prevent this, play the subwoofer at recommended volume levels and use a compatible amplifier & enclosure type.

9. Steps to Unfreeze a Subwoofer:

Now that we know the reasons, let’s move forward to methods to fix the stiffed subwoofer.

1. Gather the Required Tools:

To fix the frozen solid car subwoofer, you must gather the following tools:

• Screwdriver
• Small knife toolkit
• Masking tape
• Rubbing alcohol
• Epoxy glue
• Speaker repair glue
• PVA glue or Elmers glue

2. Disconnect the Cables:

Before you begin, it is essential to disconnect all the cables, such as RCAs, power cables, or speaker wires to prevent any damage. Moreover, it will help you detach the car subwoofer from the box quickly without causing any additional damage.

3. Remove the Subwoofer Out of the Mounting Position:

Take a screwdriver and drive it in the anti-clock direction by placing it on the bolts or screws available on the subwoofer to keep it mounted with the enclosure. As I told you before, you must start by unplugging the unit’s power supply before proceeding to prevent short circuits.

Afterward, use a screwdriver to pry open any clamps securing the subwoofer in place carefully. Next, unscrew any bolts attaching the subwoofer to its mount and gently remove them from its casing or mount plate. Once you have removed all the screws, gently pull the subwoofer toward yourself and place it in the light for a clear view.

4. Visually Inspect the Subwoofer:

Now that the speaker has been removed and placed in a clean place with good light, it’s time to inspect the sub’s condition to find any problems visually. You must look for cones, woofer suspension, and voice coil to see if it is damaged or not. If you see your woofer suspension foam is damaged, use epoxy glue for a quick fix. On the other hand, you can use a knife to remove the damaged cones or coils.

If you find any trouble removing them, ensure you remove the middle dust cap. To separate the coil from the spider, use a small knife. Once you have removed the spider from the coil, it’s time to use a new voice coil and then attach the tinsel to the terminals. You must use a solid iron to prevent the coils from being damaged again.

5. Quick Methods to Unfreeze a Car Subwoofer:

Another straightforward way to fix the frozen car subwoofer is reconning. In this method, you have to replace the main moving parts of the car subwoofers to ensure they work correctly again. You have to get a relatively inexpensive recone kit. Also, you must get a brand new voice coil spider and a dust cap to connect the gasket and the lead wires. You can use the toolkit to center the coil accurately by centering the shim.

Marking the old parts, you need to replace with the new ones will be more helpful. Now use the epoxy glue (that comes with the recone kit) to attach the speaker cone to the dust cap. Now, you must get white vinyl (ideal for the fabric edges of car subwoofers) and apply it thoroughly.

Use a clear adhesive to attach its surrounding areas to the gasket. Don’t forget to attach the spider to the gasket throughout the process. After the procedure is finished, place the subwoofer in a cool, dry place to dry the adhesive completely. After drying, put the subwoofer back in the mounting area and use a test tune to check the subwoofer’s performance.

6. What if Your Coil Is Stuck:

It’s very common when the voice coils of car subs are stuck. People try to press the coils in order to unfreeze them. As mentioned above, that’s not a legit way to fix the problem, as a tiny mistake can lead to permanent damage. I am telling you this from my past experiences.

You can use a flashlight to check the coil carefully, as sometimes it can get displaced from the position, resulting in blown subs. If the voice coil is displaced from the original location, but the wires are not frayed and looking Okay, try to place it back in the correct spot by pushing the subwoofer on both ends. Once it comes to the correct location, test the subwoofer by playing the music on it.

7. Use Glue to Fix the Tear:

Fixing the tear in your subwoofer with glue is relatively straightforward. You will first need to clean the surface of the tear using a damp cloth or paper towel. Once you have done that, cut a paper towel or cloth to cover the tear. Ensure it has enough coverage but not too much, so it doesn’t interfere with the sound.

Once you have your cloth or paper towel, apply some Elmer’s glue (also known as POV glue) over the top of it. Be sure not to use too much glue, and ensure the solution is not runny. Gently press down on the cloth so that it adheres firmly to the tear. Depending on how deep the tear is, you may also need to repeat this process for the back of the subwoofer.

Once you apply glue and cloth, let it dry completely. After that, spray a layer of black paint over it for a more finished look if desired.

8. Swap the Foam:

Another step is removing the gasket and replacing the suspension foam completely so your car subwoofer will start working again. Remember, this is a sensitive method; doing it uncarefully will destroy your sub’s performance. Follow the simple steps:

• Begin by using a knife between the gasket and the subwoofer frame to cut it. Carefully try to move the blade all around to see if it is being cut in one piece.
• Now spread the rubbing alcohol on the paper tower with foam attached to clean it. After rubbing the foam with the paper towel, use a knife to take out the rest part.
• Now use your fingers or a brush to apply the glue onto the suspension foam. I suggest you spread the glue evenly on the subwoofer’s cone. Now, wait for a while to dry the glue. It’s time to apply the glue on the gasket area to attach it to the foam.
• Before placing the foam in the frame, check whether the cone is aligned correctly. If it is not centered, take the subwoofer cone to the center part with a gentle push. Now, wait for a while to dry the glue so that you can unfreeze your subwoofer.

9. You Can Try Re-Installing:

If you cannot find the actual problem with unfreezing your subwoofer, you must replace the damaged subwoofer with a new one. Get a new subwoofer of the same size, place it in the mounting position you used for your old sub, and screw the bolts to get attached to the place.