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Passenger speakers not working where to start?

Stephenjk

Stephenjk

PCGB Member
Hi,

The passenger side speakers (tweeter and main speaker in door card) arent working. I’ve swapped one of the speakers from passenger to driver and the speaker itself works, hence I’m assuming the problem is wiring. I’m guessing the most likely failure point is going to be between the door and the wire into the cabin. What do you think and any ideas where to start? I’ve a becker grandprix. I did check wires into the stereo and they also look okay and rear and driver side speakers are fine. Just looking for some advice on if the typical failure is going to be the wire into the cabin from the door or not and how to go about replacing, do i need to start by taking the door card off? Or can i get to the wire some other way? Should i also check the amp? I‘m not sure if i have one or where to find it.

It has never worked in the time I’ve owned the car unfortunately so no clues there!

thanks
Stephen
 
Original or aftermarket speakers? Asking in that (as I've experienced the vary same issue), audio installers often do a rush job and badly splice, or hand join, two cables together with a bit of tape then push the cable down on the door. If you have a multimeter handy and have the Becker out from you earlier cable check, then a simple continuity test between the Becker speaker output (probably a pin in one of the connectors) and the end of the cable to the speaker. No continuity, then a cable break in between (likely between the door cable bellows and the speaker itself). Check the door speaker cable connector (supplies both speakers). Unfortunately and quite likely you may indeed need to remove the door card to check connections. Good luck.
 
Original speakers. Ok thanks, door card it is then as a starting point. Ok on multi-meter i have one. I think i have a continuity tester too somewhere.

If i have the becker do you think i dont have the amp? Would the head unit be connected straight to the speaker or via an amp? I do see boxes and wires under the seat though I‘m not sure what the amp looks like or whether it would be connected.

Stephen
 
Multimeter may have a continuity test function on it - a )))) icon maybe with a small buzzing or ringing noise when both probes are touched together.

I'm not an in-car audio expert but would have thought the head unit can be used on its own without an under seat pre-amp. You'd have to remove the seat and get any labels or markings to know what pre-amp model it may be (if you have one). However, wouldn't have thought any pre-amp would specifically separate right/left and rear channels. I'd go the door card route first.
 
If you have the door cards out and can identify the speaker wires, leave them connected and go to the plug on the back of the radio. You can get an AA or AAA battery and connect across the speaker connections on the radio plug. Each speaker will give a click and you will prove that the output stages of the radio are working or not. You can use a similar test from the output stage of the amplifier if fitted.
Speakers on our 25+ year old cars had speaker cones made from cardboard and these tend to perish with age with the 1st symptoms being lots of distortion before they fail completely.
On re-reading the initial post, have you checked the balance control??

 
Yes i tried the balance :). You are making me think they might have deliberately been removed as they were not working. Any ideas where to source a replacement? I do remember the tweeter didnt sound great when i did connect it to the other side.
 
Looks like jbl gt7-5c would work if i need speakers. Let me know if anyone else has suggestions. I got this from rennlist.
 
Removed the door card on Saturday, turned out to be the connection from the wiring to the speaker cables in the door, there were two spade like connections and one of them had come apart, also the wire was a bit tight so saw how it could have popped apart over time. Anyway connected it back, removed a bit of tension on the cable, put the door card on and I have stereo again! Relieved everything still works on the door. Now i need new tweeters though as the one that i hadnt been using has some distortion. The main speakers i dont think are original they were infiniti 5010cs speakers. i swapped them out too for a pair of new JBL gt7-5cs, i tried the existing inifinti and a pair of new JBLs and the JBLs did sound better so put them in while i ws there.

thanks for the help.
 
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