There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get from crystal-clear, high-quality car audio. Whether you love to cruise to classical or bump the bass, having great sound in your vehicle is a feature enjoyed by all.
We also know that, like any vehicle component, car stereos can encounter problems that are tricky to diagnose and remedy. Installing your own aftermarket audio can be a lot of fun, but sometimes even the best DIYers can get it wrong. At Tint World®, we want everyone to have the joy of amazing music in their cars, so here are three of the most common aftermarket audio problems and our troubleshooting tips.
1. What’s That Noise?
Is your car’s audio making weird or annoying noises? Depending on the noise and what triggers it, the sound could be:
- Alternator whine — The whining changes pitch as your engine speed rises and falls as it slows. This is a problem with the grounding for your head unit or amplifier. Inspect your ground wires and make sure they’re grounded on the frame or body of the car.
- Speaker pop — If your speakers are popping or crackling, it’s possible they’re wearing out. You might want to consider pricing for some new speakers.
- Accessory pop — Do you hear a pop every time you turn on accessories like headlights, turn signals or windshield wipers? It can be fixed by adding a bipolar capacitor between the culprit accessory and the power wire. This will absorb the power surges and stop the noise.
2. Head Unit Won’t Turn On
When you install a new head unit and it won’t turn on, check your wiring first. You may need to check your vehicle’s wire diagram to make sure you have your power and ground wires correct. If you’ve got the wires right, it could be a fuse problem. Consult your owner’s manual to locate the fuses and make sure they’re not damaged or corroded. If you’ve followed these steps with no results, it’s probably time to consult a pro for help.
3. No Sound from the Speakers
If your head unit is powering up, but there’s no sound from the speakers, your speakers could have outlived their lifespan, or it could be a problem with your speaker wiring. Inspect your speaker wiring to make sure, especially if wiring runs to the car doors. These wires tend to get damaged or crimped more easily.
We respect car audio DIYers, and our Tint World® experts are here to help when those fun projects go wrong. But if you’re not into DIY, we can get your aftermarket audio installed right, and we back up all our work with a nationwide guarantee. Just contact your local Tint World® today to find out more!
