Hey guys and girls, I was hoping someone can help me with a problem with my amp. I have a 2003 Electra glide classic and my amp is part #77179-01. It's the enhanced sound system. Problem: just recently my amp would cut out, there would be no sound, stereo is still on and fuse has not blown. If I turn stereo off for a while, say 20-30 minutes and then turn it back on, I would have sound again. If I crank it up then it would shut down again. I tried to have the stereo on and the volume on real low thinking that maybe the amp is overheating and shutting down but even on low it still shuts down. It's driving me crazy!! I was thinking about buying a new amp but I would like to get the exact same amp and I can't find one. My amp is mounted under my tourpak. I checked the wiring and everything thing seems to be good. Remember that I am an electrician and can trouble shoot very well but this has got me stumped. Anyone else have a similar problem?? I would love to hear from you. I would really appreciate any help. Thanks everyone and ride safe!!

 

Bad HU. IMO

 

Bad head unit? I don't think so, I definitely think it's the amp. It seems like it over heats then once it cools down it starts to work again. Maybe bad heat sinks?? What does IMO stand for?

 

IMO means In my opinion. Sorry about that. Have a buddy going thru this now. Heat sinks per say don't go bad unless they are just loose. They are just metal that take on the heat. When an amp goes into protect mode it can be loose wires. I would think it's hooked up right because it was working for a while right? Check loose speaker wires and polarity. If you can get it to work by turning it on and off. I still say it's the HU. If you have a speaker switch flip that on and off see if it cones back for a bit. When you turn it on and off it is a reset of the HU. Which is why it would cone back up. Good luck.

 

Thanks Budda for the quick response. It's ironic that you said loose wires because three weeks ago I had a problem where my accessory fuse kept blowing. It would knock out my brake lights, oil temperature gauge light, odometer, turn signals and the AMP!!! I spent 9 hours on a Saturday looking for the problem and I finally found it (at 10 pm and a twelve pack later) LOL Anyway it was in my switch housing on my clutch side. I opened it up and found a ground wire and a hot wire (which is the same circuit as my amp) where chafed and shorting out when I pulled the clutch in. The clutch handle was rubbing against the wires and it was intermittent. I fixed it and my fuse doesn't blow no more. But after that problem that's when my amp started to act up. I wonder if while I was moving wires around and I moved a ton of wires all over my bike that I may have loosened up a ground wire for the amp. Do you think a loose ground could be the problem??

 

If when you turn it on it shuts down. I would say make it so you can see the amp. There should be a protection light. In most cases it is red and is labeled, If there is a light and it does not come on but you lose sound. It is the HU, If the red light come on it could still be HU but most likey something else. If there was a short. Some electronics are less forgiving when there is a problem. Stock HU's are very weak IMO. Start with the stuff you can see and go from there. Check all connections. If you know how to use a meter check the coil on your speakers If the speaker are stock they should be 2 ohms. Accross the coil you should ream 2 ohms on each of the 4 speakers.

 

Just to clarify.. so i totally understand.. the amp.. is it an aftermarket amp put in? or is a stock amp? In my opinion.. if it is the stock amp .. its the amp.. its prob just gone bad.. id replace it. Just my thoughts though

 

J -
Don't recognize the amp part number. What amp?

 

My amp is a Harley Davidson amp. In fact it is a ESS.... Meaning Enhanced Sound System. It is bad ***... When it was working right. �� I have the original HD Head unit with CD and that is working fine. I just unplugged my rear speakers in an attempt to isolate the problem and it seemed to work with out cutting out. But when I took it for a ride the sound cut out again!! If I turn the stereo and the bike off for a few minutes (3,4,5 minutes) then it will work for a little while... But if I crank up the volume it will cut out!! I am at a total loss to the problem!! Remember that I am a union electrician for the last 31 years and have a great understanding of electric and electronics, but this has me totally stumped!!! Any more ideas?? I would really appreciate any advice or comments. Thanks

 

Let's make one thing perfectly clear. THERE ARE NO BAD *** HARLEY DAVIDSON AMPS!!
Now that we have that out of the way your problem is most likely THE AMP. Those amps have a long history of doing exactly as you described. IMO it's getting hot and going into protect mode. Time to let it go my man.