Help! Door speakers stop working intermittently

[Bama J]

Vehicle is an 02 Chevy Avalanche. Installed a new Pioneer DEH-3200UB head unit and also did the factory amp bypass procedure using a Metra 7000-02. New Apline 6.5's in all 4 doors that are powered by the Pioneer. Added a Kicker amp and a 10" sub.

Everything worked great for about a month or so. Now, you'll be just going down the road and all of the door speakers just quit playing. They may quit for 10 seconds, 30 seconds, a minute or so, then come back on. The Poineer is still on and sub keeps playing during this, so you just hear bass. I took the head unit back out and checked all of the wiring and also checked the amp bypass connector, everything looks fine. I moved everything around trying to duplicate it, but couldn't, so I don't think it's a loose connection.

It seems like the internal amp of the Pioneer is shutting down for some reason. I got the Pioneer from Crutchfield, so I called them and they sent me another head unit (Crutchfield is awesome BTW). Installed the replacement, 2 days later, it did it again. I can't figure out what could be causing this. If there was a problem with the amp bypass, then the door speakers would never work. Anyone have any ideas?

Click to read more...

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

how do you have the speakers wired and what is the impedance on everything. it sounds like you have too low of and ohm load and your internal amp is going in and out of protect.

 

[FenixAudio 10+ year member]

nope. you have a speaker grounding somewhere. pioneer will cut off audio on the power ic unit internally to prevent any damage unit. check the conection at the speakers and go from there.

 

[Bama J]

Bingo FenixAudio! Noticed that the left rear door speaker wasn't playing at all. Popped off the door panel and removed the speaker, and found it was disconnected and the wires had been cut and were dangling. It turns out that the way the wires were routed they were in the way of the window, and when someone lowered the window it cut them into. I had used some speaker connectors from Crutchfield so I wouldn't have to cut the factory wiring (ironic huh), and I guess this connector gave enough slack/length to get caught under the window. I tucked them in behind another set of wires in there so they would be out of the way. Also checked the other side (left rear) and they were ok.

But this is something to keep in mind that CAN happen on the rear doors if you have an Avalanche or probably Tahoe/Yukon/Crew Cab GM truck. Just take the door panel off and lower the window and you'll see what I mean. There is a sharp square metal peice on that bottom corner of the window that could potentially cut the wires.

Thanks everyone for your help!

 

[FenixAudio 10+ year member]

your right, i have seen whatyour talking about. thats whu i zip tie all my wires. by the way, bama i actually live in alabama for a bit. im in mobile. if you have any questions let me know ill be able to help you out.

 

[Bama J]

Thanks FenixAudio, I am up here in Huntsville. I love it here but I also love the gulf coast area though, and one of these days I plan on making the move down there. One of these days.....

 

[FenixAudio 10+ year member]

dont. im heading back to phx asap.