Volume issues with aftermarket installation
 

Over the weekend I installed a Kenwood 9960 into the Z. Once it was all hooked up, I realized that the volume was very quiet. I had to turn the volume to the highest level for it to even become audible.

- I am quite sure I have hooked up everything correctly
- There is no volume offset
- Attenuation is not on

Any reason for this?

does the car have bose, base stereo? did you use an interface?

Sorry, should have included that information. It's base and I used the metra harness adapter.

I've got a 9960 and it blasts. I usually run the volume at between 18-20 with the windows shut. Even lower if needed. I installed aftermarket speakers, but that shouldn't make that much of a difference. I'm guessing that something is hooked up incorrectly.

Might be two things, bad internal amp or internal amp is off. Try factory reset.

I just did the factory reset and still the same issue. Would the unit even put out and sound with a bad internal amp?

Also, why would I hear any sound if I happened to hook it up incorrectly?

Mute button? Just trying to help.

There are a few different addapters, you should have the one with no RCA's on it, just wire to wire, no boxes, it almost sounds like you got the one for the Bose system, did you have to plug in any RCA's to the harness?

Yea, I had to plug in some RCA cables (really only two). Does this mean I need a differenct wiring harness adapter or is there a way I can hardwire it myself?

I’ve spent all of five minutes looking at your manual (so take this advice for what it’s worth) but having just did this install this past weekend I think I have some insight.

You need to connect the wires as show in the manual pic 1 (See attachments) not those in manual pic 2. That would be the White and Gray wire sets (with and without black stripe). If you use the RCA plugs, you are wiring up the pre-amp output which is “reduced” to be “amped up” producing a clearer signal. As you pointed out, you only need to hook up the front speakers on the base as there aren’t any rear. My info is from my Roadster base install, but I think it applies to what your doing.

Hope that helps

Yeah thats the Bose harness, you just need the basic one. Metra's number is 70-7552.

Ha, yup, used the preout which totally makes sense as to why my volume is so low. Thanks again for the help, greatly appreciated.

Looks like I need to tear into my dash again this weekend. I also need to work on getting my Axxess wheel control working now.

No problem! If you need there is a trouble shooting thread for the wheet controls in here somewhere also, sticky maybe.

Just got my steering whell controls working but it was with the help of a Worst Buy installer. He said I had the wires reversed but I had wired them up correctly according to the manual. He said when he called the tech line they told him to reverese them and all started working. Hope you get it all working smoothly.

Well, I finally got time to fix my speaker/volume issue. Everything works great in that respect. :tup:

Unfortunately, the Axxess controller does not want to work. :shakes head: I have triple checked all the wiring. Yes I connected the Grey/Pink with the Pink wire (pin 6) and the Grey/Blue with the Blue wire (pin 16). Yes, the ground, ACC, and Brown wire to the 3.5mm connector is going to the Blue/Yellow to me harness.

When I restart it and follow the series of LED flashes, it says that none of the connections are made and that it's identifying my HU as JVC instead of my Kenwood. Could this be the problem?

I know there is a difference in years as to what color the connections should be. What year car do you have? In talking with some guys with different model years, the wires were different.
At minimum, you'll need to manually program the unit, but if it's not showing connections, then there is a wiring issue.

Let me know what year you have and I'll dig into my info.

2009 sport/AT. They LEDs even indicate that they are not connected to the ACC and ground, to which they clearly are otherwise my radio would not be working as well.

I dug out my paperwork and I've definitely found an issue. You're hooked up backwards.
I can't remember what I did on my car because I messed with it so many times, but I had sent my "Device Update Cable" to NewYorkJon34 last year so that he could get everything up-to-date when he did the install. He also has an '09 and he wrote a note on the paperwork that the grey/pink goes to the blue and grey/blue goes to the pink.
Did you solder your connections or did you use those goofy little clips? I had no luck with the clips and even had issues because the clips were too small and cut some wires in half.
You might also PM NewYorkJon34 to see if he remembers more than I do.

Well I know crutch field told me to follow the ken wood installation instructions for mine even though it is a jvc. Seems ken wood bought jvc and pushed kenwooh head units in jvc spot. I believe you are saying the other direction but I guess it could be possible. I assume there is a help line for the axxcess. I would call it. Again my tech had to call them for the specifics on my install. Good luck!

Thanks again for the help. I did solder the wires, but I will try switching them around.