Car Sound System Repair

Speakers and wire connector problems are common. Access the back of a speaker either through the trunk compartment or a door panel.

The Fix-It Club has helped people fix things inside their home for over a decade. Now it includes Car Repair Fix-It Guides to help keep your car running smoother longer. This Fix-It Guide covers car sound system repair.

Car radios and sound systems, too, are complex electronic devices. So most repairs mean replacement. However, before you start ripping up the dashboard, here are some things you can do to repair a car’s sound system.

• Describe the exact symptoms (radio doesn’t come on, left speaker doesn’t work, sound is muffled) as it often will suggest the actual problem and solution.
• If the radio is ON, but no lights or LED indicators are on, check the radio’s fuse (either in the car’s fuse box or on the power wire to the radio and under the dashboard).
• If power is to the radio, but no sound comes out, first twiddle with the knobs to see if something is incorrectly set.
• If there is no sound, check the speaker connection on the side or rear of the radio.
• If the sound is not at all speakers, check the connection behind the quiet speaker by removing the speaker grill and speaker or by removing part of the car’s interior if needed.
• If the sound from a specific speaker is raspy, the speaker cone may be damaged and need replacement.

In most cases, the problem will be a loose connection. However, getting access to the connection may take more time than the actual repair. Your local auto parts store or electronics store can help you find the correct replacement speaker, fuse or wire connection to finish your car sound system repair.