Radio troubleshooting

[self-made-mechanic]

This weekend I replaced the radio under the dash with a working unit but the same symptoms remained (no sound from the rear or left front speakers, on and off sound from center and right). The wiring diagram shows two other radio components, the graphic equalizer ( attached to the radio control head), and the control head. Would anyone know what to replace next as the most likely failed component? Thanks

[FearlessFoe]

sounds like more of a speaker/speaker connection problem to me.. make sure the speakers are still good before doing anything else. Check the connections.. You might've blown the speakers out.. but hey you wanted new ones anyway right? Speakers would be making a static or feedback noise if they were getting any power at all

[kenny-1907]

Easiest way to see if the speakers are blown is to take a 9volt battery and attach a couple of wires to the battery then just connect one wire of the battery to the + speaker contact and tap the other wire against the - speaker contact. If the speaker is ok you will hear static each time you touch the other wire from the battery to the speaker contact.

[self-made-mechanic]

In taking out the front right dash speaker and bench testing it...guess what?
Sure enough, bad speaker! The speaker is much smaller than the size of the grill, measuring 6"x4". I'm guessing that the rear speakers are similar in size.
How much of an upgrade in speakers will result in improved sound using the same factory radio? Thanks for the advice.

[FearlessFoe]

ehh.. Thats kinda tough. I forget what the stock radio puts out but I remember my speakers were 9.8 ohm.. I just installed audiobahns just a month ago.. I think it mgiht've been a mistake. They run 40 watts RMS per speaker (beware.. audiobahn rates their speakers as a pair so the 80 watt 4x6's are actually 40 per speaker). Now I'm going to have to put in a 40 watt 4 channel amp so they aren't underpowered and so that they sound like they should.. Make sure you match the speakers to your radio (I forget all of the specs) I know pioneer makes new ones that are pretty good... But anything is an improvement over stock paper speakers.. it all depends on how far you want to go and what you use to install them (dynamat or other sound deadening)

[self-made-mechanic]

My factory speaker is rated at 9.5 ohms (Delco Electronics). I just got back from Circuit City with the only in-store speakers that would match the screw-in pattern, Polk DB460's. These are 4 ohm 40 watt RMS, 120 peak. I don't know the wattage on the factory speakers, but my guess is @25 watts? Looks like I'm going to need an amp as well if I don't take these back and keep looking for a pair that match the original specs.

I do have an old Blaupunkt that would handle the power, but I was trying to get around reaching for it..... as best I can tell, I've got to mount the Blaupunkt under the dash. It seems like it will not fit the power head hole very well, if at all.

Oh, by the way, there is no center speaker. My hearing just ain't what it used to be.

[FearlessFoe]

It all good.. I'm not sure about ampin the factory radio though.. I don't believe the factory radio has any a/v outputs so make sure the amp has speaker line inputs.. You can still run the speakers though, but I wouldn't blast them if I were you.. A good amount of distortion will be coming from the factory radio because it can't put out.. and it will stress the new speakers trying to make that distortion

[mirrox]

Originally Posted by self-made-mechanic

In taking out the front right dash speaker and bench testing it...guess what?
Sure enough, bad speaker! The speaker is much smaller than the size of the grill, measuring 6"x4". I'm guessing that the rear speakers are similar in size.
How much of an upgrade in speakers will result in improved sound using the same factory radio? Thanks for the advice.

Good luck finding quality speakers that will fit the stock holes. either get ready to do some fabricating or find a way to improvise.

The best thing I've done to the stereo in my truck:

Alpine cd head unit (has aux in for sat radio, mp3 etc (also reads mp3 cds).
200watt 2 channel Pioneer amp
2x cerwin-vega 3 way 6x9s in boxes behind the bench seat. I even left enough wire to pull the speaker boxes out and set them on top of the cab or toolbox.

Then just run some cable.

Pawnshopping and clearance shopping = total cost of about $250.

Time spent = about 4 hours (ripping out old stereo and control unit, running power, ground, and low level rca cables, soldering and insulating wiring harness, installing deck, amp and a nice little cubby hole where the old stereo controlls used to be.)

Benefit = AMAZING sound. (and if i want i can drive around town blasting country music )

[Rs051802]

Easiest swap would be a set of pioneers for those trucks. Power ratings should not ocncern you to much. You can underpower a speaker all you want without hurting it, or distorting it. It is overpowering and abuse (knob monkeys) that hurt speakers. I ran a set of pioneers of my factory deck before changing everything out.

[FearlessFoe]

Originally Posted by Rs051802

Easiest swap would be a set of pioneers for those trucks. Power ratings should not ocncern you to much. You can underpower a speaker all you want without hurting it, or distorting it. It is overpowering and abuse (knob monkeys) that hurt speakers. I ran a set of pioneers of my factory deck before changing everything out.

there is such a thing as underpowering speakers.. the factory radio starts to distort on the bass hits from lack of power and the speakers are forced to recreate these distortion waves which creates lots of heat in the voice coil.. That's the problem i'm having now.. crappy headunit

[Rs051802]

Originally Posted by FearlessFoe

there is such a thing as underpowering speakers.. the factory radio starts to distort on the bass hits from lack of power and the speakers are forced to recreate these distortion waves which creates lots of heat in the voice coil.. That's the problem i'm having now.. crappy headunit

Bad power is the problem you have, with your HU. A new HU will run those speakers underpowered all day without distortion given your EQ settings are appropriate. Innapropriate EQ settings/gain settings ect.. is the cause of clipping and distortion.