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Car stereo works, but won't work plugged into it's normal position
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eagles
New User
Jan 12, 2012, 11:24 PM
Post #1 of 6
(2587 views)
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Car stereo works, but won't work plugged into it's normal position
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Hi, I am a novice at car repair and have only basic electrical knowledge. My car is a '95 Mercury Sable. 3.0 L Engine. Even without all those specifics, perhaps someone could tell me what might be going on with my driver side speaker. It started to play intermittently and for months now hasn't played at all. I finally took the door panel off for some other work, and decided to address the speaker too.
I tested it after unplugging with an ohmmeter. Ohmmeter showed resistance, so the circuit had continuity. I then plugged it into the passenger side, and it plays. However, it still does not play on the driver side. Testing the connector on the driver side (with voltmeter grounded to door metal), one side (presumably the "hot" wire) gets 12V as from battery. The other side nothing, so I suppose that is the neutral/ground and all is normal? So given all this, what might be going on? It doesn't make much sense to me. I don't believe there are any fusible links in this car.
Notes: Stereo has been used heavily over the years, often at high volumes. Is it possible an actual wire may have burned out from current overload at some point? Where would this wire likely be?
Another note: The electrical has been having issues overall, which is why I opened the door panel on that side to begin with, to figure out why the drivers master power window switch wasn't working for the drivers window. While testing the switch circuit (using a jumper wire) I actually blew out the clock. I don't know how, unfortunately my Chilton repair manual does not have the electrical body schematic for that year. I am sure not tearing apart the car to get to that clock wire/connecter.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 13, 2012, 4:18 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: Car stereo works, but won't work plugged into it's normal position
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I think it would be much more likely that you have a burned out amplifier on that channel. Playing a radio loud wouldn't hurt the wires but could damage the amp.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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eagles
New User
Jan 13, 2012, 10:43 AM
Post #3 of 6
(2533 views)
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Re: Car stereo works, but won't work plugged into it's normal position
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Thanks, but in trying to find the amplifier, I found this website link deleted..... not allowed which claims there is no car stereo amplifier (they list it as n/a, that may mean they just don't know where it is or it doesn't exist). Is it possible for these stereos to work without amplifiers? Maybe they are in built into the radio apparatus in these older cars?
If you have any idea where the amplifier might be and how I could access and test it, that would be very helpful. Thanks again.
(This post was edited by Hammer Time on Jan 13, 2012, 10:48 AM)
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 13, 2012, 10:48 AM
Post #4 of 6
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Re: Car stereo works, but won't work plugged into it's normal position
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All radios use an amplifier. Yours is just built into the radio.
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jan 19, 2012, 3:44 PM
Post #5 of 6
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Re: Car stereo works, but won't work plugged into it's normal position
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Just a thought if I read this correctly. This speaker worked on passenger's side but wont work on driver's side? One thing that can happen and usually to driver's door is it likely gets used the most and hidden inside a rubber snorkel in door jam which is bending wires with each time door gets opened and the wires can fail in there.
Also - try to use main body metal for test lights as door itself may not be a dependable ground as it moves on hinges of course. The striker where door latches is usually a dependable ground,
T
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seriousfreedom
User
Feb 21, 2012, 3:37 PM
Post #6 of 6
(2380 views)
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Re: Car stereo works, but won't work plugged into it's normal position
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i agree with tom it sounds like you have a broken wire that goes to that speaker
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