Loose Amplifier in Mach 460 System?

emereldastarsign · 03-23-2008, 07:46 PM

I recently purchased my car at auction, and I have a very annoying rattle coming from (I think) the left ampifier in the mach 460 system. I have no idea if anyone who owned the car prior has done anything to this system so it's possible it's been messed up by someone else, but I was wondering if there is a way to tighten things up back there? At the moment I can't afford to replace anything so I thought maybe I could adjust things to get me by until I have some money again. I have pretty much no audio experience, but I thought if something was just loose, rather than paying someone something ridiculous to tighten a loose screw, I'd give it a go myself if I could.

ttocs · 03-23-2008, 09:00 PM

it could be as simple as tightening some screws on the amp or amp rack.

emereldastarsign · 03-24-2008, 03:12 PM

That's the theory I'm working off of, only I don't know what the best way to go about tightening things up is. Am I supposed to pull the whole board out or is there something on the trunk side of it that can be tightened? If I have to take the board out, how is it attached? I looked and didn't notice any screws or anything back there.

ttocs · 03-24-2008, 05:02 PM

tightening is easy to remember. Righty-tighty[:-]

All jokes aside, and assuming this is not a vert, the amp rack is held up by 6 screws if I remember correctly. 4 of them are easilytightenedas they are inside of the holes that you see on the bottom of the enclosure, try a 7mm(9/32").

The other two screws are actually hidden under the amps on either end of the enclosure. I would start by tightening all the screws you can see(on the amp and the bottom of the enclosure) and if that didn't work then you can try removing the amps and try the screws under the amps.

You need to isolate the rattle and then see what you can do to tighten it down. If you notice that it does it during a certian song, play that song and then see what you can push on to make it stop. If the rattle stops when you push the amp, tighten the amp or try to wedge something(dynamat or foam damper) under it to make it stop. If it does it on a certain road then lay through the back seat and have somebody drive on that road while you once again start to isolate the rattle. At no part in this sequence will you be comfortable(either tightening screws or driving and rattle testing) but that is the great part of being an installer, tying yourself in nots.

emereldastarsign · 03-24-2008, 08:21 PM

Thanks! That gives me something to start out trying this weekend to see if I can *not* rattle. It tends to rattle most on bumps or rough pavement, which is why I suspect something is loose. I will play with it and hopefully I can fix it myself. Thanks for the suggestions!