I have a JL 500/1 Rev 10 that was working very well when I got it in 2008. It has been sitting for a few years since until I recently tried installing it in my car.
Here are the issues I am trying to resolve:
- When I toggle the Signal Sensing switch to "On" the LEDs flickered briefly (I know I saw the the Low Ohm LED, unsure about Thermal) and then the amplifier shut off. I was using a suspect line-out converter but I was wondering if the flickering LEDs were consistent with the change of switch state. When the Signal Sensing switch is "Off" there was sound from the subwoofer - however it was only higher frequencies and very inconsistent (again suspect LOC.)
- When the LP Filter is set to 24db slope @ ~175 Hz there is no subwoofer output. This was a problem I recognized years ago so I did my filtering from the headunit.
- Tapping on the LP filter switch (iirc there was another switch too) or toggling the LP Filter switches would directly cause a thump sound in the subwoofer on contact with the switch.
- Battery drain. Every now and then the battery would be slightly drained and my vehicle wouldn't start lickity split. The previous vehicle's battery had excessive battery acid gunk on the + terminal after the 500/1 was installed. Is there a common cause for slight battery drain over time?
I have found this thread about adjusting the pre-amp board which seems to share a few of my issues and I will try that tonight. http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/car-audio/232688-jl-audio-500-1-repair-guide.html
P.S. there is a small piece of cardboard under the pre-amp board? It's slight stuck in there.. what is that?
Here are the issues I am trying to resolve:
- When I toggle the Signal Sensing switch to "On" the LEDs flickered briefly (I know I saw the the Low Ohm LED, unsure about Thermal) and then the amplifier shut off. I was using a suspect line-out converter but I was wondering if the flickering LEDs were consistent with the change of switch state. When the Signal Sensing switch is "Off" there was sound from the subwoofer - however it was only higher frequencies and very inconsistent (again suspect LOC.)
- When the LP Filter is set to 24db slope @ ~175 Hz there is no subwoofer output. This was a problem I recognized years ago so I did my filtering from the headunit.
- Tapping on the LP filter switch (iirc there was another switch too) or toggling the LP Filter switches would directly cause a thump sound in the subwoofer on contact with the switch.
- Battery drain. Every now and then the battery would be slightly drained and my vehicle wouldn't start lickity split. The previous vehicle's battery had excessive battery acid gunk on the + terminal after the 500/1 was installed. Is there a common cause for slight battery drain over time?
I have found this thread about adjusting the pre-amp board which seems to share a few of my issues and I will try that tonight. http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/car-audio/232688-jl-audio-500-1-repair-guide.html
P.S. there is a small piece of cardboard under the pre-amp board? It's slight stuck in there.. what is that?
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New members are moderated for their first 5 posts, I approved the original and deleted your subsequent post. Welcome to the forum!
Ahh, I was wondering what happened heh. Thank you for cleaning that mess up.
I wanted to add that the first pic attached in the above post is my amp guts. There is no obvious component failures. I listed all of my symptoms (which probably all stem from the pre-amp board) to see if there is any root cause commonality.
I wanted to add that the first pic attached in the above post is my amp guts. There is no obvious component failures. I listed all of my symptoms (which probably all stem from the pre-amp board) to see if there is any root cause commonality.
The cardboard is probably a piece they use to prevent the through-hole pins from shorting to the bracket for the potentiometers. If so, it goes between the two boards.
When you lift up on the preamp board, do so just very slightly.
The switches often need cleaning.
When you lift up on the preamp board, do so just very slightly.
The switches often need cleaning.
Two questions/clarifications:
1) Should I have the boards removed from the case prior to this adjustment? It seems like they will not easily budge and I don't want to force it.
2) Is there any sort of feedback I should notice, or am I simply just wiggling the pre-amp board up and down?
Thanks!
1) Should I have the boards removed from the case prior to this adjustment? It seems like they will not easily budge and I don't want to force it.
2) Is there any sort of feedback I should notice, or am I simply just wiggling the pre-amp board up and down?
Thanks!
You don't have to disassemble anything. You only need to lift the board far enough to see a gap between the two pieces of plastic. Then push it back down. Do this a few times.
Do this with the amp off.
What you're doing is moving the metal contacts on the pins to break up any oxide that may have formed.
Do this with the amp off.
What you're doing is moving the metal contacts on the pins to break up any oxide that may have formed.
Perry, thank you!
I was actually just about to post these same pictures of the pins for anyone else who might be troubleshooting this.
While I was wiggling the board up and down, I did hear and feel what could be the oxide buildup - kind of like a scratching sound. Now the pins slide with ease.
About to reinstall and see if things are back to normal.
I was actually just about to post these same pictures of the pins for anyone else who might be troubleshooting this.
While I was wiggling the board up and down, I did hear and feel what could be the oxide buildup - kind of like a scratching sound. Now the pins slide with ease.
About to reinstall and see if things are back to normal.
Update: reinstalled the 500/1 and sure enough - everything works great!
The LP Filter works again and there is no thumping on contact with the switches.
Edit: wanted to add that piece of cardboard ended up getting wedged under the pre-amp board again. I am not going to bother with it.
The LP Filter works again and there is no thumping on contact with the switches.
Edit: wanted to add that piece of cardboard ended up getting wedged under the pre-amp board again. I am not going to bother with it.
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Yall are awesome. I'm having the same issue with the signal sensing switch and the LP switch... I know this is an old thread but.. eh