JBL Audio System now utterly silent.

[Mark VIII Hillbilly]

'95 Mk VIII with original JBL/cassette system, plus aftermarket CD changer in trunk.

Whilst listening to "Hot Rod Lincoln" (or not), there was a short period of distortion and quick volume fade (exactly like a tube guitar amp dying), and since then, nothing.

Actually, not quite nothing: if I turn the volume all the way up, there's an audible hiss.

But nothing other than that. It has nothing to do with the changer, as behavior is the same with that device on or off. Since auto-search still finds stations at the same locally-known frequencies, I presume the radio still works. I'm thinking preamp, amp, crossover...I don't know what components are in this system.

I've checked all fuses. The local Lincoln dealer doesn't want to deal with it.

Before I take it to an aftermarket car audio specialist who will play with it, any ideas here?

Thanks.

 

[87TTOPGT420]

Probably popped the amp that's my guess not the most reliable I have one from a 98 that works mint pm if interested

 

[chris2523]

+1 on the stock amp. mine did that just last week. i have my spare in til i get my 4 channel amp put in.

 

[95MkViii]

+2

stock amp. mine did this last month. put in a new one and worked perfect.

 

[fastmark1993]

its your thermostat, wait no sound? amp, go into your trunk and look up you will see a black shelf yank it down, rip the amp out, throw it at a cat or wife, and rewire the system with a deck.

 

[joeynat]

+1 rip the amp out. I went to crutchfield.com got new radio, new 3 way speakers all round, and speaker wire for dirt cheap.

Do yourself a favor and Dont even try to bypass the amp. Just rip it out !

 

[Mark VIII Hillbilly]

I have a (used) factory JBL amp coming. I've lain in the trunk and located the basket under the package tray which contains the amp. I can't figure how to remove the plastic retainer on the left (driver's) side of the basket, which holds the thing on.

Its head is a little over 1/2" diameter, with round notches in each side. Using needlenose pliers, I can rotate it half a turn, after which it seems to stop. That doesn't drop the basket, though. I don't want to force and break something.

Anyone know the voodoo?

 

[NoLimit95]

I have a (used) factory JBL amp coming. I've lain in the trunk and located the basket under the package tray which contains the amp. I can't figure how to remove the plastic retainer on the left (driver's) side of the basket, which holds the thing on.

Its head is a little over 1/2" diameter, with round notches in each side. Using needlenose pliers, I can rotate it half a turn, after which it seems to stop. That doesn't drop the basket, though. I don't want to force and break something.

Anyone know the voodoo?

The amp is only held in with finger push clips. Locate those and press and pull out old amp. Unplug and then plug in new one and snap it back in place. Mount the tray back up. I can't remember about the drivers side because I jerked both of mine out of the 94 and 95 but I do know the amp is simply snapped into place.

 

[chris2523]

Its head is a little over 1/2" diameter, with round notches in each side. Using needlenose pliers, I can rotate it half a turn, after which it seems to stop. That doesn't drop the basket, though. I don't want to force and break something.

that damn thing. grab the head of it and pull straight down.

 

[Mark VIII Hillbilly]

grab the head of it and pull straight down

I appreciate the sentiment, but that resulted in breaking the damn thing (eventually all the way around), and the tray that holds the amp is still securely fastened to the underside of the package tray.

Does anyone really know how to remove the tray in a way that it can be put back once the amp is replaced?

(I also tore the mirror off the driver's door and caved in the bottom of the door in the process of backing the car into the garage, and am not in the best of moods.)

(It's also 100° here.)

(And I'm too damn old to be laying on my back in the trunk.)

 

[Mark VIII Hillbilly]

Yeah, well.

I managed to get the old amp out and the new one in without removing the tray. The plastic flexes enough to allow that, and the broken plastic fastener is still securely fastening.

Sound system works again. So that saved some money.

I'll spend it all on the door now.

 

[chris2523]

guess yours got old and broke. i have that clip thing right here in my hand and thats how it works. the pin gets pushed in and spreads the fingers to hold it in place.

the black amp tray also just pops down. you have a very stubborn car...