Greetings,
Thought I would share the big heart attack story I had today with all of you in case anyone ever runs into the same situation. (Probably only applies to fellow Canadians, lol you'll understand why)
SO: A few weeks ago, while coming home from the movies on a particularly cold night, suddenly one of my speakers cut out and then cut back in a bit and was really scratchy and rattling. (JL ZR650 components) Obviously concerned, but assuming it was a loose wire i just turned the system off. When i tried it later, it worked perfectly so I assumed my loose wire theory was correct.
Well just 2 days ago, it happened again, on the same side so this time I knew i had to troubleshoot. I first tried switching the RCA inputs to the amp, still the left side so the head unit was ruled out. Then I switched the crossovers around, same thing. Tried switching the amp outputs around to see if maybe the Left side on my amp was gone, but as i was doing it, everything started working again.
Finally today when i started up the car, it was really bad like no sound from the Left side at all it seemed, so i switched the amp and nothing. Down to the speaker. When I unplugged the mids, and played with only the tweeters they were both fine, but then: i switched back to mids and it started happening on the right side too!
Now I'm sure i have blown both mids somehow. crackling and massive distortion on the right and no sound on the left. So i pulled both mids out, and inspected them, then checked the impedence with a multimeter. they were fine. Thats when I had the craziest idea! Every time they stopped working it was on a super cold day, after the car had been sitting and was coldest. (It was -30C here today with the windchill) I brought both mids inside for a few hours then once they were warmed up took them back out and presto! flawless sound!
Conclusion? looks like when they are super cold, the drivers cannot move enough to produce sound, or if they do, it is really distorted! then as the car heats up inside and the hot air gets to the speakers, they start to work again...
I guess, as amazing as they sound, JL did not intend their speakers to be used when it's -30 out! (probably why they have only one dealer in canada, and its certainly not here in edmonton!) guess i will have to get used to singing in the car for the time being until winter is over
ed
Thought I would share the big heart attack story I had today with all of you in case anyone ever runs into the same situation. (Probably only applies to fellow Canadians, lol you'll understand why)
SO: A few weeks ago, while coming home from the movies on a particularly cold night, suddenly one of my speakers cut out and then cut back in a bit and was really scratchy and rattling. (JL ZR650 components) Obviously concerned, but assuming it was a loose wire i just turned the system off. When i tried it later, it worked perfectly so I assumed my loose wire theory was correct.
Well just 2 days ago, it happened again, on the same side so this time I knew i had to troubleshoot. I first tried switching the RCA inputs to the amp, still the left side so the head unit was ruled out. Then I switched the crossovers around, same thing. Tried switching the amp outputs around to see if maybe the Left side on my amp was gone, but as i was doing it, everything started working again.
Finally today when i started up the car, it was really bad like no sound from the Left side at all it seemed, so i switched the amp and nothing. Down to the speaker. When I unplugged the mids, and played with only the tweeters they were both fine, but then: i switched back to mids and it started happening on the right side too!
Now I'm sure i have blown both mids somehow. crackling and massive distortion on the right and no sound on the left. So i pulled both mids out, and inspected them, then checked the impedence with a multimeter. they were fine. Thats when I had the craziest idea! Every time they stopped working it was on a super cold day, after the car had been sitting and was coldest. (It was -30C here today with the windchill) I brought both mids inside for a few hours then once they were warmed up took them back out and presto! flawless sound!
Conclusion? looks like when they are super cold, the drivers cannot move enough to produce sound, or if they do, it is really distorted! then as the car heats up inside and the hot air gets to the speakers, they start to work again...
I guess, as amazing as they sound, JL did not intend their speakers to be used when it's -30 out! (probably why they have only one dealer in canada, and its certainly not here in edmonton!) guess i will have to get used to singing in the car for the time being until winter is over
ed