Fried Bose front speaker amp

[Jagdpanzer]

Took the Z out on Saturday morning and the front driver side speaker began making horrible hissing and popping noise. Then came the death smell stench of fried electronic components. Pull the speaker out this afternoon and here's what I found:



First time I've had this happen.
Has anyone else seen this?



Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[XfireZ51]

Phil,

Fortunately, this could have been worse. I think the ZR is speaking to you and suggesting perhaps a Pioneer appradio 4.

[Jagdpanzer]

Dom,
I'm thinking the same thing.
The power supply circuit for the Bose amplifiers is protected by a 20 amp fuse (#37). Checked and it's still good. Hard to believe it didn't blow after seeing this damage.
Regardless, next purchase is a good onboard fire extinguisher.

[orthodoct]

That's a lot of damage to have not blown a 20 amp fuse. Would be interesting to pull that cover/heatsink and see what cooked. That's a lot of gunk to have come from even a couple of electrolytic capacitors. Then again, less than 240 watts wouldn't have blown that fuse (12v x 20amps). Nobody could have bypassed that fuse? Have had three Bose amps fail but they have all lost their "proprietary" IC as their failure mode.


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[Jagdpanzer]

Removed the metal case:



Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[Jagdpanzer]

Clear to see why they put the amp circuit board in a steel sheet metal case. Otherwise I would have been crying tears of dispare and kicking myself for not having a fire extinguisher onboard.

[orthodoct]

Wow! I don't know how much you know about electronics. I've had a ham license since I was 15. Looks like it started with a short in that center structure which is a bifilar toroidal transformer with at least two ruptured electrolytic capacitors, fried output transistors. You had a FIRE for a brief period of time. That circuit board is made of an epoxy fiberglass laminate and it takes a hell of a lot of energy to burn one like that. In my experience, a 20 amp fuse would have popped LONG before this kind of damage would have occurred. I would make absolutely sure that fuse wasn't bypassed. That was a CATASTROPHIC failure. Very impressive!! Pull the fuse and see if you still have 12volts on that connector; if so, somebody bypassed that fuse. That board is COOKED!! Thanks for sharing. Hope that helps.
Ty


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[Jagdpanzer]

After dodging this bullet time to replace the Bose amps and possibly the speakers as well.
I already have Pioneer AVIC-Z130BT head unit installed.
Would like to learn more about the modern alternatives available for the C4 Corvettes these days.

[orthodoct]

Excellent idea. Please let me know what you find. Didn't mean to sound professorial. The folks on this list are such experts and have helped me with so much, it's nice when I can maybe give something back. You are the one that solved my fuel pump problem for which I am most grateful! Now, if you want to know something about shoulder arthroscopy......


Sent from my iPhone using ZR-1 Net Registry

[XfireZ51]

Phil,

Gotta say. I used the Pioneer extensively on the MR5 and during The Gathering.
My GF also liked the fact that we could use internet radio.


Here's a review

https://youtu.be/DTgcYd7UEsc