Volume issues with aftermarket installation

370Zapper · 06-13-2011, 10:28 AM

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?

90 ST · 06-13-2011, 11:15 AM

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

370Zapper · 06-13-2011, 12:52 PM

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

TreeSemdyZee · 06-13-2011, 01:56 PM

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.

bigaudiofanat · 06-13-2011, 02:04 PM

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

370Zapper · 06-13-2011, 04:24 PM

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?

370Z JT · 06-13-2011, 04:26 PM

Mute button? Just trying to help.

90 ST · 06-13-2011, 07:08 PM

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?

370Zapper · 06-13-2011, 10:09 PM

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?

whealy · 06-13-2011, 10:27 PM

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

90 ST · 06-14-2011, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 370Zapper

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?

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

370Zapper · 06-14-2011, 06:35 AM

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.

90 ST · 06-14-2011, 10:52 AM

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

whealy · 06-15-2011, 06:32 PM

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.

370Zapper · 06-21-2011, 09:26 AM

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

Unfortunately, the Axxess controller does not want to work.

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?

06-13-2011, 10:28 AM	#1 (permalink)
370Zapper Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 116 Drives: PG auto/sport 370Z Rep Power: 15	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?

06-13-2011, 02:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 852	Might be two things, bad internal amp or internal amp is off. Try factory reset. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

06-13-2011, 04:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
370Z JT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: United States Posts: 2,905 Drives: 370Z PW 7AT Rep Power: 378	Mute button? Just trying to help. __________________ Click for My Journal Top Secret \| EVO-R \| Fujimura Auto \| Shine Auto \| Seibon \| MRWorks \| Swift \| SPC \| SSR \| UpRev \| Project Kics \| NST \| Titek \| Eibach \| Nismo \| Whiteline \| Quaife \| Invidia \| Fly1 \| CF Element \| Carbon Signal

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06-13-2011, 11:15 AM	#2 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 420	does the car have bose, base stereo? did you use an interface?

06-13-2011, 12:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
370Zapper Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 116 Drives: PG auto/sport 370Z Rep Power: 15	Sorry, should have included that information. It's base and I used the metra harness adapter.

06-13-2011, 01:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
TreeSemdyZee Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Kentuck-IANA Age: 59 Posts: 4,880 Drives: '09 370 & ‘14 Juke Rep Power: 27408	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.

06-13-2011, 04:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
370Zapper Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 116 Drives: PG auto/sport 370Z Rep Power: 15	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?

06-13-2011, 07:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 420	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?

06-13-2011, 10:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
370Zapper Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 116 Drives: PG auto/sport 370Z Rep Power: 15	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?

06-14-2011, 06:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
370Zapper Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 116 Drives: PG auto/sport 370Z Rep Power: 15	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.

06-14-2011, 10:52 AM	#13 (permalink)
90 ST A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,861 Drives: 90 and 15 GMC Sierra Rep Power: 420	No problem! If you need there is a trouble shooting thread for the wheet controls in here somewhere also, sticky maybe.

06-15-2011, 06:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
whealy Base Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Indiana Posts: 40 Drives: 10 370Z Roadster Rep Power: 13	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.

06-21-2011, 09:26 AM	#15 (permalink)
370Zapper Base Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 116 Drives: PG auto/sport 370Z Rep Power: 15	Well, I finally got time to fix my speaker/volume issue. Everything works great in that respect. Unfortunately, the Axxess controller does not want to work. 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?