Need help with trouble shooting a Car Stereo problem *Solved*

LandRover

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2000
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I'm having a problem with the sound system in my vehicle. From time to time, I am getting a high pitched buzz from my left rear speaker (even with the volume all the way down). As well as bad sound quality from that speaker when I don't notice the buzz. I have swapped the rear speakers and still have the same problem on the same side, so it's not a speaker issue. I've checked all the connections. Could my back amp be dying? Would that explain the high pitched buzz?

Like I suspected, my rear amp was the problem.
 

IamDavid

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2000
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Sounds more like interference on the wire then anything. Have you tried new wire?
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
3
76
Is this on a system that you installed? Did you install your own speakers and use the existing wiring, or did you run all new wiring youself?

Either way, it's a ground problem.

Are all the wires (signal and power and ground) in-phase? Are you SURE? Speakers WILL PLAY just fine with the wires reversed...they'll be out of phase, but will play and this could lead to a ground problem.
 

kt

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2000
6,032
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Yeah, sounds like interference. Also make sure you check to see that you are well-grounded. Although, I got a gut feeling it's signal interference. Are you power and RCA lines on separate runs to the trunk? Usually, I run the power on the driver side and RCA on the passenger side.
 

LandRover

Golden Member
Sep 30, 2000
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Thanks for the replies. :)

This is with all the original Pioneer stereo equipment (front and rear amps, 4 speakers, 2 tweaters, and sub woofer).

I noticed that there is a big volume difference between my rear speakers. The left speaker (the problematic side) is way down on the volume when compared to the other side rear speaker.

I pulled out the radio/cassette unit to check all the connections. Everything looks correct except I did notice something strange... In the very bottom of the stereo mounting space, there is a loop connector on a screw. It has a small piece of black wire on it that appears to have been cut. I'm wondering if the radio/cassette unit should be grounded to that in some way. There is a ground that connects to the stereo and goes into the wiring harness with the other connections. No sign of anywhere that another ground wire was attached to the stereo.

Seems like if that was the case, it would cause problems with more than just the one speaker..

(BTW: This buzz and distorted sound from the left rear speaker does not only occur while the engine is running. It happens regardless if the engine is running or not.)