okay so just the other day when i cranked my stereo to hear a song i liked, i got a weird crackling. i didnt sound like blown speakers, but i had some extras laying around so i popped the door panels off and tried hooking the new ones up. same deal.

here is a better description of the problem. when you are listening at normal volumes everything is kosher. but if you crank it up, you get a weird static, that will not go away even if you lower the volume. you have to turn the stereo off, and then it goes away(until you raise the volume again). the rears work fine, even at full volume, never complain.

sounds like the amp is going bad to me.

now you will have to forgive me for the super newb question. does the 4runners factory stereo have the amp built in, or a separate amp wired somewhere down the line? and do you guys concur that it is likely the amp?

thanks for the help in advance.

edit: it's a 97 FWIW