Electrics: Main Speaker, front door silent.

[Stu V8 2007]

2007 V8, with Dynaudio.

The main (large) speaker in the driver's door is silent. All other speakers in the car including the small tweeter in the top of this same door are working.

Have tried fader/balance, and all audio inputs including aux and the problem is the same regardless.

Do I need to remove the door panel to investigate? Is this safe with airbags?

To be honest, anything beyond checking if a wire has come loose would be beyond me, I don't have any electical testing equipment.

The sound is really annoying as it's obviously unbalanced. Is there anything I can easily check, otherwise I suppose I'll have to take it to the garage, or is this something a car electrician would usually come out and investigate?

Any ideas before I get someone out?

(As the 12v socket in the dash doesn't work [keeps blowing the fuse], I suppose they could look at that too.)

Thanks.

[Moose Test]

Hi Stu,

Same car, same problem, except for me it affects the passenger side.

You would need to remove the door panel for any kind of useful investigation. There are videos covering this relatively simple proceedure on YouTube. It doesn't involve having to deactivate the airbag system and is perfectly safe from that perspective.

That said, without some basic test equipment (at least a multimeter) it will be difficult to do anything meaningful. At best, you could check that the speaker connector is still seated and that there is no corrosion on its contacts (door inners can retain damp).

IF I ever get mine back from the local dealer here (another story) I'll pull mine apart and see if I can provide you any clues.

I would guess that, in all likelihood, it is one of three things:

1) Connection issue (at the speaker, at the amp, or a wiring break at the hinge section)
2) Speaker is damaged (electrically or mechanically)
3) There is an electronics problem affecting that channel on the amp

[Stu V8 2007]

Thanks Moose, good luck with yours...

[oragex]

I've sold the premium speakers to someone who said he was on his third pair... for some reason these may indeed go bad (only the large one, the mid one just nearby doesn't seem affected)

[Father Ted]

Mine does similar, but if I wack the volume up briefly it comes to life.
I suppose if it is just the speaker then it's a fairly cheap repair.

[SwissXC90]

The tweeter and the woofer are fed from the same amplifier output

So if the tweeter works and the woofer does not it can only be:

1. Wiring in door (highly unlikely)
2. Connector on back of speaker is loose (unlikely)
3. Speaker itself damaged (highly likely)

[owenfackrell]

I had to replace 2 of mine which went bad. One in the passenger door and one in the drivers side rear door. I had to disconnect the passenger one and hold we were in France as it made a horrible noise and it is indeed a very simple procedure to remove it.

[aslan]

Originally Posted by Father Ted

Mine does similar, but if I wack the volume up briefly it comes to life.
I suppose if it is just the speaker then it's a fairly cheap repair.

Exactly like mine!

I've tried cleaning the connections at the speaker and the amp beneath the seats with no luck. I've thought of getting a used speaker from another XC but not on the high priority list for now.

[spoonsuk]

Originally Posted by aslan

Exactly like mine!

I've tried cleaning the connections at the speaker and the amp beneath the seats with no luck. I've thought of getting a used speaker from another XC but not on the high priority list for now.

I am glad its not just me then, was beginning to think I imagined it....

[oragex]

Could it be just the capacitor attached to the speaker? Not sure if it's accessible without removing the speaker from the door, but if it is then it's worth testing it.