How to tell if your car has a factory amp?
Factory-installed amplifiers are a common feature in many modern vehicles, enhancing the audio experience by boosting sound quality. However, not all cars come equipped with one, and identifying whether your car has a factory amp can be a bit tricky. In this article, we’ll guide you through the steps to determine if your car has a factory amplifier and why it matters.
Why Knowing About Your Factory Amp Is Important
Understanding whether your car has a factory amp is crucial for several reasons. If you’re planning to upgrade your car’s audio system, install a new stereo, or troubleshoot sound issues, knowing about the amp can save you time and money. Factory amps can affect wiring, compatibility with aftermarket systems, and overall sound performance.
Signs That Your Car Might Have a Factory Amp
Here are some common indicators that your car may be equipped with a factory amplifier:
- Premium Sound System Branding: If your car has branding like Bose, JBL, Harman Kardon, or similar on the speaker grilles, it likely has a factory amp.
- Enhanced Sound Quality: Cars with factory amps often have noticeably better sound quality compared to standard systems.
- Multiple Speakers: If your car has more than the standard four speakers (e.g., tweeters, subwoofers), it’s a good sign there’s an amp powering them.
Steps to Confirm If Your Car Has a Factory Amp
If the above signs aren’t conclusive, follow these steps to confirm the presence of a factory amplifier:
- Check the Owner’s Manual: Your car’s manual often includes details about the audio system, including whether it has a factory amp.
- Inspect the Trunk or Under Seats: Factory amps are often located in the trunk, under the seats, or behind panels. Look for a small box with wires connected to it.
- Consult a Wiring Diagram: If you have access to your car’s wiring diagram, look for an amplifier in the audio system layout.
- Ask a Professional: If you’re still unsure, a professional car audio technician can quickly identify whether your car has a factory amp.
What to Do If Your Car Has a Factory Amp
If you discover that your car has a factory amp, here are some tips for handling it:
- Upgrading the Audio System: When installing an aftermarket stereo, you may need a bypass harness or integration module to work with the factory amp.
- Troubleshooting Sound Issues: If you’re experiencing sound problems, the factory amp could be the culprit. Have it inspected by a professional.
- Maintaining Compatibility: Ensure any new audio components are compatible with the factory amp to avoid performance issues.
Conclusion
Identifying whether your car has a factory amplifier is an essential step in understanding and upgrading your vehicle’s audio system. By following the steps outlined above, you can confidently determine the presence of a factory amp and make informed decisions about your car’s sound system. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my factory amp is bad?
If your amp turns on but no sound comes out, it's broken. If sound comes out but it sounds distorted, there's a hum or buzz or it doesn't sound like it did before, it's broken. If it turns on, sound comes out that sounds normal but turning the knobs and pushing buttons has no effect, it's broken.
Can my alternator handle my amp?
The Alternator's Role
Most factory alternators aren't designed to handle loud, high-fidelity sound. If you install a big, powerful amp without making the necessary power adjustments, the car compensates by restricting power to some of the car's electronics.
Can I replace a factory amp with an aftermarket?
If there are no digital connections between the radio and the amp, and the amp's full-range analog input signals respond to the radio's volume control, you can remove or bypass the factory amp and replace it with your own aftermarket amp.
What are the 3 types of amplifiers?
- Amplifier is an electronic device which amplifies the input power of the signal.
- The types of the amplifier are: 2.1 Voltage amplifier: The voltage amplifier increase the input voltage. 2.2 Current amplifier: Current amplifier increase the input current. 2.3 Power amplifier: A power amplifier increase the input power.
What is a factory amplifier?
The factory stereo systems in many of today's vehicles include an external amplifier. This factory amp is designed to make cheap factory speakers sound better. But it doesn't do you any favors when you replace the stereo or those stock speakers.
How do I check the amp draw on my car?
And fixed. There will always always be parasitic draw on Modern cars due to the computer still being active in the background. So if you read zero something might be wrong with your multimeter.
How do I know if my car has factory amps?
Factory amplified systems often have branded logos on the speaker grilles or around the speaker area in your car's interior. Some popular audio brands that manufacture factory amplified systems include JBL, BOSE, and Harman Kardon.
How to test a factory car amp?
Measure the voltage at the amplifier between the ground and remote turn-on lead terminals. If it reads +12 volts DC, either the amp's onboard fuses are blown (check continuity and replace if necessary), or there's something wrong with the amplifier and you should return it to your dealer for repair.
Does my car have a built-in amp?
Car audio head units in all basic factory sound systems have small, built-in amplifiers to power a handful of speakers. Meanwhile, premium factory-installed sound systems usually use larger, more powerful "outboard" amplifiers that are separate from the head unit to power more speakers and achieve better sound quality.
What does a blown amp sound like?
The most common sounds produced by a blown car speaker are scratching, or buzzing sounds, usually around the pitch of the note the speaker is trying to create. The overall audio effect will be uneven and unpleasant to hear.
