Eclipse Amp keeps turning off. Suggestions?

[pitlover]

I have an older Eclipse 3241 (100watts x 4) amp that I am reusing in my 96 DX hatch (35 mg FTW - my 91 CRX SI gets me in enough trouble). It should have more than enough power to drive the speakers, considering they are only 35w rms/ 180peak.
I no longer want to blast my eardrums out, so figured these would be adequate, at least until I can figure out what components will fit in the doors using the EX tweeter pods I picked up and still look like they were meant to fit.

My theory is, I'll amplify the front speakers, and bridge the rear channel for the sub. I can always add another dedicated sub amp later.

So I run a 4 gauge power cable kit through the car, and everything seems fine at first.

The problem is, even without the sub hooked up and just driving the front speakers, if I turn the volume up too high, the amp shuts off for a few secs. If I do have the sub hooked up, it does the same thing, after the same approx volume lvl.

My ground goes to the rear seat hold down bolt, which I sanded the area around it to bare metal.
Battery is a Yellow Top Optima.

Any suggestions on what could be the culprit here?

Old amp going belly up? Bad ground? Me too noobish?

Thanks for any pointers.

[96greencivic]

Well, my first instinct goes to a bad ground. That is what my problem was when my system would come on and off.

[cujo613]

test each speaker up front off the amp. I bet you have a bad speaker.

[civic hatch]

your clipping the amp, causing it to turn off, check all your wires for a short cause you might have some touching, then if all is good there the amp might not be capable to push the speaker you using.

[mienboiracer209]

^^^yup, check that...but ur ground should be pretty good, since u've sanded that area already...

[cujo613]

your clipping the amp, causing it to turn off, check all your wires for a short cause you might have some touching, then if all is good there the amp might not be capable to push the speaker you using.
clipping the amp wont cause it shut off. A piched wire will throw it into protect right away. And with it shutting down without the sub attached, hes probably got a bad speaker up front