Jbl amp testing?

quickblue302

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So I assume my amp is going out. I get some popping every once and a while and the sound gets weak and then strong also there is little to no bass. I was thinking about checking for resistance at the speaker connector with my dvom. If I go to the junkyard is there a way to tell if an amp is good? I've opened mine up didn't see and burnt cap or resistors. Thank you for suggestions and advise. 93' 125k
 
common for the JBL amp to go out.
i had two amps go out, and one radio die.
i finally gave up on the factory system and went aftermarket. i do not regret it.
 
dead radio 1: no bass. highs only.
dead amp 1: started with popping. a month later i had nothing. no bass, no highs.
dead amp 2: no highs. bass only.

so as you can see, there are many failure modes.
 
My 93 has been popping since I've owned it for about 2 months. Finally gave out and died a few days ago. Will turn on occasionally for a few minutes then pop and die again. Already ordered a new amp..
 
My 93 has been popping since I've owned it for about 2 months. Finally gave out and died a few days ago. Will turn on occasionally for a few minutes then pop and die again. Already ordered a new amp..

eBay has some for sale on the cheap!
 
What year are we talking about??? (or does it matter). I have a 94 and put in a Kenwood and new speakers by-passing all factory stereo stuff. There is nothing wrong with my amp (worked perfectly)! Just wanted something newer. If someone wants my amp just tell me how to take it out and I'll send it to you just for the cost of shipping!
 
What year are we talking about??? (or does it matter). I have a 94 and put in a Kenwood and new speakers by-passing all factory stereo stuff. There is nothing wrong with my amp (worked perfectly)! Just wanted something newer. If someone wants my amp just tell me how to take it out and I'll send it to you just for the cost of shipping!

You have a factory JBL amp? If so, I'll take it. I'll let you know how to take it out as soon as I pull mine out!
 
In the trunk, on the right side, it's in the package tray, which is underneath the black cover. The cover is held on by three clips. It helps if your on your Back looking straight up. Flex the side of the tray down and slide out the amp. Make sure you unplug the three amp connections first. I could really use your amp as well..
 
I bought this car when it was 5 years old. The original owner was a old guy. I know he did nothing to this car but drive it. I have also did no "mod's". Everything that came with this car is still there, when I changed something I always went with factory parts including the air ride. I changed stereos a few years ago and recently bought another one and installed new speakers.
The amp worked perfectly, there was nothing wrong with the factory stereo. I just wanted something else.
The amp is still where the factory put it ( I dunno I never seen it...lol) but I know it's there.
The trunk has never been taken apart.
I will never use the amp again, I haven't used it 10 years so I can only assume it still works, which is why I will give it away for just shipping.
Let me know what you want to do, I'm not gonna pull it out until I'm sure it's gonna ship!
 
If someone needs one that didn't come equipped with the "premium system", I have the one that came out of my 95 and it is smaller than the amps with the "premium system". I might have a pic of it and it does work but if you have the tweeters, it's not going to work for you. Lemme see if I have a pic of it somewhere.......

2012-08-19220702.gif


2012-08-19220629.gif


The Marks that came with the tweeters in the front and rear have a longer amp in the tray and I'm sure the connections aren't going to be the same but if someone is in need of it, I have it. $15.00 in the USA only and you can have it. It may appear to have been setting in water or something but it hasn't. It's just the type of material it's made from that gives it that look. It works fine.
 
If someone needs one that didn't come equipped with the "premium system", I have the one that came out of my 95 and it is smaller than the amps with the "premium system". I might have a pic of it and it does work but if you have the tweeters, it's not going to work for you. Lemme see if I have a pic of it somewhere.......

2012-08-19220702.gif


2012-08-19220629.gif


The Marks that came with the tweeters in the front and rear have a longer amp in the tray and I'm sure the connections aren't going to be the same but if someone is in need of it, I have it. $15.00 in the USA only and you can have it. It may appear to have been setting in water or something but it hasn't. It's just the type of material it's made from that gives it that look. It works fine.

I thought all of them came with the tweeters. I've never seen my amp but it did come with 4 woofers and 4 tweeters. It's raining and cold out today but I will pull it this weekend and check it out. I'm sure it look's new.
 
I thought all of them came with the tweeters. I've never seen my amp but it did come with 4 woofers and 4 tweeters. It's raining and cold out today but I will pull it this weekend and check it out. I'm sure it look's new.

This was before I done the interior swap but notice the upper door panel where most have the tweeters? This one didn't come equipped with the tweeters. Just 6X8's from the factory only, front and back.

NewTires007.jpg
 
I have the 93 JBL 'High Level' sound system and it is very fine. I have heard few that equal it.

I have been into sound for a long time and have about $8000 worth of various bits arranged around me. Tube monoblocks, a sweet tube preamp, B&W Matrix 1s, etc etc.

The JBL 8 speaker system is as good as competition systems I have heard and there was a guy on here, I think, it could have been one of the other sites, that won a car audio competition with a stock system enhanced with good wiring.

Anyway, I have said this before, take the busted amp to your local electronics repair guy. It's often pretty trivial to fix em'.
 
Don't get me wrong, my factory system sounded better then what I have now but it didn't come with a CD player in the dash or a 10 disc player in the trunk.
I now have a Kenwood, 4 woofers, 4 tweeters. The amp has been obsolete for 10 years now so It's up for grabs if anyone wants it! I'll never do anything with anyway.
 
This was before I done the interior swap but notice the upper door panel where most have the tweeters? This one didn't come equipped with the tweeters. Just 6X8's from the factory only, front and back.

NewTires007.jpg

That's just weird! Maybe I better pay more attention to these car's. I thought these car's were all made the same (year specific tho). Maybe there's more about this car that I don't know.....hhmmmm!
 
If that's the interior of the car you pulled that stock amp out of, than it's different than mine anyways. Mine has the JBL system and has the JBL tweeters above where the mirror control switch is!
 
I have the 93 JBL 'High Level' sound system and it is very fine. I have heard few that equal it.

I have been into sound for a long time and have about $8000 worth of various bits arranged around me. Tube monoblocks, a sweet tube preamp, B&W Matrix 1s, etc etc.

The JBL 8 speaker system is as good as competition systems I have heard and there was a guy on here, I think, it could have been one of the other sites, that won a car audio competition with a stock system enhanced with good wiring.

Anyway, I have said this before, take the busted amp to your local electronics repair guy. It's often pretty trivial to fix em'.

So I had the same prob when I inherited my Dad's Mk8...I pulled a JBL premium amp from a 93/94 (?) Mk8 at a pull -a- part. When I installed it I get some sound but not much from the right front and rear 4 speakers... I could get a third premium amp from a 95 Mk8 at the junkyard, and try that one also, but not sure whether to have the amps repaired (?) or replace original stock head unit with something new or newer and bypass the original amp...interesting! :)

I need tunes!
 
common for the JBL amp to go out.
i had two amps go out, and one radio die.
i finally gave up on the factory system and went aftermarket. i do not regret it.

Mulling on this...i have bigger fish to fry right now with suspension...broken d side handle, cataract surgery. A new or rehab of the sound system is fairly low on the priority list! Thanks for the info!
 
jbl amps...continued

There are now two Mk8's (95 and a 94) at the CLT pull-a-part. I may have to start a collection of JBL amps. How difficult are they to repair? I now nothing abt electronics. I do have a voltmeter and a few soldering irons! Ohmmmmmmm. :D
 

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