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Go Back   Hummer Forums by Elcova > Hummer H3 Discussion Forums > Technical Discussion and Customizing your H3

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  #1  
Old 07-06-2007, 04:58 PM
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Default Radio/Speakers problem

hi everyone.

i have a pioneer z1 in place of the stock radio installed. everything else is stock. from a month or so ago, many times when the volume level on the radio is below 1/4 or so of the full volume my front left speaker stops working, and at that moment if you increase the volume some the speaker starts working.

can some audio savy person tell me if this is a head unit/speaker/amplifier problem. or point me to where i should look for trouble. cant take to teh dealer since its aftermarket. but if its the head unit i will send for repair.

if no one knows what it could be im gona have to tear everything out and check where the problem could be. I have no idea how to test if the stock amp is bad.

also the problem with tearing everything out and testing is that its not all teh time its intermitent(spelling???) so its gona stay apart maybe for days.

thanks
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  #2  
Old 07-06-2007, 07:21 PM
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Default Re: Radio/Speakers problem

The first thing I'd check is the electrical contacts. If they're loose or dirty, that increases resistance to the speaker, which requires more current (higher volume) to overcome.

Don't know how it was installed, but if you didn't use a factory harness adapter, make sure all connections are clean, sautered and shrink-wrapped. Don't trust electrical tape or wire nuts in vehicle installations. Tape melts and fouls the connection. Wire nuts vibrate loose and have higher electrical resistance. Some swear by crimp connections, but I don't like them. Even with a sleeve, they're vulnerable to dirt and condensation.

Here's a short guide to 12v electrical splices

If you do have electrical tape somewhere, clean the wires off with rubbing alcohol and brighten them with steel wool (cut and strip to new copper if you have to). Then solder and use a shrink sleeve when you re-splice.

Good luck finding the problem
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Last edited by Wisha Haddan H3 : 07-06-2007 at 07:24 PM.
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  #3  
Old 07-06-2007, 08:05 PM
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Default Re: Radio/Speakers problem

Quote:
Originally Posted by Wisha Haddan H3
The first thing I'd check is the electrical contacts. If they're loose or dirty, that increases resistance to the speaker, which requires more current (higher volume) to overcome.

Don't know how it was installed, but if you didn't use a factory harness adapter, make sure all connections are clean, sautered and shrink-wrapped. Don't trust electrical tape or wire nuts in vehicle installations. Tape melts and fouls the connection. Wire nuts vibrate loose and have higher electrical resistance. Some swear by crimp connections, but I don't like them. Even with a sleeve, they're vulnerable to dirt and condensation.

Here's a short guide to 12v electrical splices

If you do have electrical tape somewhere, clean the wires off with rubbing alcohol and brighten them with steel wool (cut and strip to new copper if you have to). Then solder and use a shrink sleeve when you re-splice.

Good luck finding the problem

thanks. i did the install myself, and most of the connections in the back are soldered. i think i did a pretty good job but will recheck. also i did use shrink wrap but alot of tape too in some places. will check that too. today i noticed my front left tweeter sputtering and has noise, so it looks like you may be rite.

as long as its not the amp, speaker, or unit itself, im happy, dont mind redoing my work.

thanks for the help.
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Old 07-15-2007, 01:29 AM
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Default Re: Radio/Speakers problem

hey its me agian.

i checked all the connections with the ohm meter and for sturdiness and they are pretty much ok.

Anyone have any ideas on what could be the problem.

How can i test if speakers are bad?
How can i test if sub is bad?

thanks
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  #5  
Old 07-15-2007, 03:51 PM
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Default Re: Radio/Speakers problem

i think you were given some good advice to check all connections. especially if you are hearing some static.
if the system sounds fine att medium to high levels, then you may have the same issue we have on our boat.
one thing to keep in mind is that some audio systems do not deliver audio signal to some of the speakers until a predetermined volume level is reached.
i didnt know about this before, but the sytem on our boat was driving me crazy because at low level only the aft speakers produced sound. turn it up a little and then all speakers functioned.
i was sure it was a bad connection, but we had every wire and connection rechecked. i even called the installer at tiara and they knew about this issue.
if you would rather the front speakers have sound at all levels, then simply switch the front and back inputs.
hope this helps!
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Old 07-17-2007, 11:49 PM
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Default Re: Radio/Speakers problem

Since you already took a stab at the connection issue which does sound like the most probable point of trouble. Call the Pioneer 800 help line and see if there are any issues with your version of the system.
If that does not work I agree with the last post that you should swap out the connection with another speaker and see if the problem moves. That will prove out wether or not its in the head or speaker direction.
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