Rockford Amp Repair
07-27-2005, 09:09 AM
#1
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 419
Well...my Rockford Fosgate 1500bd up and died on my last night. It blew a fuse, which I replaced, and then it made a high pitched squealing sound before blowing another fuse. At this point, I assumed the amp was cacked.
I called Korbon to see about having it repaired (it is out of warranty, purchased used from someone on this board) and they said that I had to get a return authorization number from Rockford USA. I called Rockford USA and they informed me that there is a flat rate repair fee of CDN$1037 on the amp. I couldn't believe it!!! I only paid half of that for the amp!!! I could buy a replacement for a third of that cost!!!
So, is there anywhere in the GTA that I can take this thing for repair?
BTW, I won't EVER be buying another Rockford amp.
Thanks,
Lawrence.
[ July 27, 2005, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: Fishbone ]
I called Korbon to see about having it repaired (it is out of warranty, purchased used from someone on this board) and they said that I had to get a return authorization number from Rockford USA. I called Rockford USA and they informed me that there is a flat rate repair fee of CDN$1037 on the amp. I couldn't believe it!!! I only paid half of that for the amp!!! I could buy a replacement for a third of that cost!!!
So, is there anywhere in the GTA that I can take this thing for repair?
BTW, I won't EVER be buying another Rockford amp.
Thanks,
Lawrence.
[ July 27, 2005, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: Fishbone ]
07-27-2005, 09:56 AM
#2
0 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 9
I have a suggestion contact Dr. Fosgate ericjunk@soundbuggy.com from the sound buggy forum, he is real good with repairing dead amps. Take a look at this link. This is a RF amp that he brought back from the dead. http://www.exilecaraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61
Other samples of his work.
http://www.soundbuggy.com/Eric/Car%2...tor/index.html
I have seen him do mods on a PG MS 1000 TA as well as repair some old PG ZX amps and some PPI amps.
The guy is just that good which isn’t surprising when you know his background e.g. worked for Fosgate for a while and is an electrical engineer.
Drop him a line he’s a good guy ask him if he can help you out.
Other samples of his work.
http://www.soundbuggy.com/Eric/Car%2...tor/index.html
I have seen him do mods on a PG MS 1000 TA as well as repair some old PG ZX amps and some PPI amps.
The guy is just that good which isn’t surprising when you know his background e.g. worked for Fosgate for a while and is an electrical engineer.
Drop him a line he’s a good guy ask him if he can help you out.
07-27-2005, 11:17 AM
#3
Curious, why would you not buy another Rockford product again? Is it because of the cost of the warranty making it a new amp (they usually insert an entire new amp board into the old heatsink), the fact that it died (like any other brand of amp could) or that your faith in a good amp like the Rockford has been shaken. I would first find out what caused the failure before stating that I would not even buy brand X again. What if it was something you did that caused this issue? Would the next brand you install meet the same fate?
To me it sounds like you got a great deal on a used amp and it did the job for you until it died a horrible and untimely death. I would want to know what caused the problem to keep it from happening again with a new amp.
To me it sounds like you got a great deal on a used amp and it did the job for you until it died a horrible and untimely death. I would want to know what caused the problem to keep it from happening again with a new amp.
07-27-2005, 11:36 AM
#4
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 419
My problem is not with the amp dying...products sometimes break down. Until now, it has been a great amp. My problem is with the $1037 FLAT RATE fee for repairs. In other words, if the actual cost of labour and parts for the repair is $100 or $200 or $500 or even $750, I STILL get charged over $1000. How many businesses do you know of that have flat rate repairs without even knowing what the problem is?
I don't agree that they are making it a new amp. Regardless, I don't want a new amp. I want my old amp, but working. Imagine if you took your car in with an engine problem and they told you it would be a flat rate of half of the MSRP of the car to repair it, but you get a new motor. That's a car I would NEVER buy.
You will not convince me to buy another Rockford amp - based on their repair policy. I hope many others heed my warning.
BTW, I am as positive as I can be that the problem is a manufacturing problem, not an installation problem. And I know it is not a user problem.
Lawrence.
[ July 27, 2005, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: Fishbone ]
I don't agree that they are making it a new amp. Regardless, I don't want a new amp. I want my old amp, but working. Imagine if you took your car in with an engine problem and they told you it would be a flat rate of half of the MSRP of the car to repair it, but you get a new motor. That's a car I would NEVER buy.
You will not convince me to buy another Rockford amp - based on their repair policy. I hope many others heed my warning.
BTW, I am as positive as I can be that the problem is a manufacturing problem, not an installation problem. And I know it is not a user problem.
Lawrence.
[ July 27, 2005, 12:45 PM: Message edited by: Fishbone ]
07-27-2005, 04:02 PM
#5
Not that I am trying to convince you at all as you will do what you think is right, but as a dealer of the line (not that big of a dealer however) and as a person who has seen these issues before... I know how they repair their amplifiers. So when I say the flat rate is for basically a new amplifer, it is because they do infact, replace the entire circuit board as the board itself has little to no serviceable parts on it. I do not agree with their policy on repairs either but what can we do about it?
As far as the install goes, how can you guarantee that it was not install related? If a part in a amp fails, it is for one of two reasons, something caused it to fail that is install related that you are unaware of (with Rockford amps it is a bad ground (one with a return resistance reading above 1/2 ohm)) or it is indeed a failure of a part of the amp due to whatever natural causes made it fail. Either way, do not limit out installation as the root cause until you verify that ground return reading. I have seen way more than my share of Rockford amplifiers mysteriously die due to a high ground return resistance....something that most installers never even think to check.
As far as the install goes, how can you guarantee that it was not install related? If a part in a amp fails, it is for one of two reasons, something caused it to fail that is install related that you are unaware of (with Rockford amps it is a bad ground (one with a return resistance reading above 1/2 ohm)) or it is indeed a failure of a part of the amp due to whatever natural causes made it fail. Either way, do not limit out installation as the root cause until you verify that ground return reading. I have seen way more than my share of Rockford amplifiers mysteriously die due to a high ground return resistance....something that most installers never even think to check.
07-27-2005, 04:39 PM
#6
IMHO fosgate has been on a long road downhill for a while. i bought a bd1000 that came with a factory defect. Fosgate customer service could care less about my questions. sold the amp, bought a bd1500, ended up with the same issue. eventually the amp got stolen. no more fosgate for me. however, to each his own...
07-27-2005, 06:22 PM
#8
Yes, there are plenty of repaired amplifiers for the parts not in the board, like output devices and power supply caps, but for the inner workings of the amp, they do infact replace the board. Seen it in person, right here in the store with a Power 1000a2, a warranty issue resolved for a customer with a new board being sent. (after 3 previous warranties for the same problem for the same customer) Most all of Rockfords amps are built in the same fashion.
07-27-2005, 06:31 PM
#9
50 Watt CAFz'r
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 419
[QUOTE]Originally posted by GearPirate.com:
I do not agree with their policy on repairs either but what can we do about it?
I know what I can do about it...NOT BUY ANOTHER AMP FROM ROCKFORD FOSGATE!!!
Lawrence.
I do not agree with their policy on repairs either but what can we do about it?
I know what I can do about it...NOT BUY ANOTHER AMP FROM ROCKFORD FOSGATE!!!
Lawrence.
07-27-2005, 08:20 PM
#10
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
With that train of thought it won't be long fbefore you won't buy anything. Every product has a failure point. [img]graemlins/deal4u.gif[/img]
You asked the MANUFACTURER for a repair cost and your upset that the price is high
The unit is long past warranty so you do not need to take it to an authorized repair depot. Try another depot. You and (more importantly) they do not know exactly what is wrong with the amp until they get it on the bench.
Pretty sorry excuse to write off a line of amplifiers that helped power many world record holders for many years.
I run the RF1000BD and I push it very hard, very frequently. [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] If it ever died on me it would hold a special place in my heart for doing it's job so well these years and I would not hesitate to spend my hard earned money again on a Fosgate Power Amplifier. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
I don't think a single Fosgate Power amplifier produced ever received light duty. The amps a work horse....especially a [img]graemlins/bow.gif[/img] 1500BD.
Rob is right. Ground issues have been the bane of many RF amps and many others. Although the ground is the most important wire in your audio system it is almost always the most overlooked.
You asked the MANUFACTURER for a repair cost and your upset that the price is high
The unit is long past warranty so you do not need to take it to an authorized repair depot. Try another depot. You and (more importantly) they do not know exactly what is wrong with the amp until they get it on the bench.Pretty sorry excuse to write off a line of amplifiers that helped power many world record holders for many years.
I run the RF1000BD and I push it very hard, very frequently. [img]graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] If it ever died on me it would hold a special place in my heart for doing it's job so well these years and I would not hesitate to spend my hard earned money again on a Fosgate Power Amplifier. [img]graemlins/thumb.gif[/img]
I don't think a single Fosgate Power amplifier produced ever received light duty. The amps a work horse....especially a [img]graemlins/bow.gif[/img] 1500BD.
Rob is right. Ground issues have been the bane of many RF amps and many others. Although the ground is the most important wire in your audio system it is almost always the most overlooked.
