Audio Headache - Right Side Stopped Booming

[Bonkers]

Okay Guys, This is a two part Question.

1 - I Just replaced the burned out passenger side panel and upon taking a test spin (cuz you never know when an interior mod could take of the 1/4 time ) I noticed there was no music coming from the new panel. I took out the new Speaker and put in a spare I had with no avail. I even tried putting the old one back in with no luck. Its not the radio setting and the door latch works fine, I just cannot find the kink.

2 - I also have the old 12 disc changer from my Impala that I would like to install. Its an AC Delco factory changer and I was curious if this was compatiable with the stock radio? Or would it just be easier to trade up radios/changers for a mopar version?

Thanks in advance...

 

[ceieio]

Bonkers - did the radio work before you replaced the damaged area? If the speaker was damaged with an open and the radio was played extensively or loudly, the final amplifier for that channel could have been wounded during the damaged period. When the new load (speaker) was installed it could have finished the job.

While amplifier design has improved over the years, they still need a load to work against or they can become damage.

If the above speculation (damaged, open circuit speaker) doesn't match up with reality, then "never mind".

 

[picflight]

Bonkers,

Did you take any digital pictures of the different stages while you were working? It would be a nice HowTo for others, I certainly would like to follow with pictures what you are doing to fix that car.

 

[shifter]

Looks like it's time to pull out the old voltmeter and start checking for power at speaker wire to speaker (unlikely, but check it for sanity), then speaker out at amp, then RCA in to amp, and finally 'right channel out' at radio. You will track it down. The service manual has the wire colors to help you differentiate. If you don't have a manual, go to your dealer and copy the pages you need.

If the stock speaker wire is pinched at the door and grounded, then you may also have an amp problem. Good news is that the door speakers are easy to re-wire if the amp 'right channel out' is getting power.

 

[Bonkers]

Please forgive - I am not too versed with audio stuff...

Craig asked
Bonkers - did the radio work before you replaced the damaged area?

Yeah the radio, speaker, and ?tweeter? (small speaker) all worked fine pior to the repair. In fact I was very suprised by this because the orginal speaker was baddly damaged from a touch of flame and a whole lot of extinguisher juice...

picflight asked
Did you take any digital pictures of the different stages while you were working? It would be a nice HowTo for others, I certainly would like to follow with pictures what you are doing to fix that car.

I actually did most of this work at the VA/MD meeting in the parking lot. I'm planning to take some "after" pics once I am done (currently waiting for a shipment of parts) but will be more than happy to get some when I get back to it.

This little adventure is actually extremely easy for the newbie as once you realize two of the panel screws are behind the speaker, after that the panel just pops right off.

shifter - Unfortunatly my shop manual is still inbound, but I'll whip out the old volt meter and see what I can do blind.

 

[Jason-Middle Tennessee]

1. Maybe one of the speaker wires got burnt in the flames.

2. Could also be the negative and positive in the speakers wires are bare and are touching some where between the head unit and the speaker itself.


Good Luck!!