Why do my 96 Honda Accord Left Side Speakers Fail?

I have a 1996 Honda Accord LX 4dr. Don't ask, but since 1998, the
right side speakers have been the only side that work. If I turn the
balance on left, and turn up the sound all the way, I can here them,
but just barely. This is the same on the front and back for the left
side.

I took the left front speaker (the "bad" side) and put that speaker on
the front right side. The speaker worked fine. It is not a bad
speaker (and it would have to be both front and back that were bad)

Something is screwed up on the wiring or the radio. I do not know
where to start on this. I cannot see any loose wires. I have removed
the radio. Nothing loose. It is simply that the entire left side,
front and back speakers, produce no sound (that is very very small
volume).

Any ideas or where to start to fix this? Thank you.

 

This sounds like there is a short across the two wires (they are shorting
together) to the left side speakers.

What happened in '98 when they stopped working?

 

Most head units have two internal amps, one for the left channel and one for
the right. If you can switch the spears and they are fine, then it sounds
like the left channel amp is blown.

 

The stock stereo in my '93 Accord behaved very similarly last year. The
problem is that some of the electronics in the head unit are going bad,
likely the result of solder joints coming undone (much like main relay is
known for doing). There are only 2 connections at the back of the head
unit--one for the antenna and a single harness for power and speakers.

So you can either take the head unit apart and fix the bad solder joints, or
you can buy a new head unit (the speakers are obviously fine). I bought a
new head unit because the stock unit came with a cassette deck and I wanted
a CD player.

This site has instructions on how to replace the head unit for your car (you
will need Adobe Reader to view this).
http://www.installdr.com/InstallDocs/Honda/PDF/466053.pdf

 

That was the year I bought it. I never had it fixed. Yes, I know that
was stupid.

 

Can you rig one of your good speakers directly to the radio with a small
length of wire? Moving the connection from F to B and L to R, you'll be
able to check all four outputs. If there are only two ( L and R ) then
check
them and be sure to check the vehicle wiring loom with a VOM or put a
speaker on the end and a single AA Alkaline across the wires at the
radio end, but not connected to it! DON'T use 12V to do this!!!
The 1.5 v cell will get you a 'scratching' noise from the voice coil and
cone
if there is continuity present. Report back.


--
Graham W http://www.gcw.org.uk/ PGM-FI page updated, Graphics Tutorial
WIMBORNE http://www.wessex-astro.org.uk/ Wessex Astro Society's Website
Dorset UK Info, Meeting Dates, Sites & Maps
Change 'news' to 'sewn' in my Reply address to avoid my spam filter.



..

 

Instead of doing all that (it sounds difficult), could I just jumper or
change the right and left speakers pinouts and see if the left starts
working and the right fails? Does that sound logical?