VR Rear speaker problem

[samson]

Hi All,

I have recently purchased a VR Acclaim and decided to get a Pioneer Head Unit installed (today). I did not worry about speakers just yet, but when I went to pick the car up this avo the installer mentioned that the rear passenger side speaker does not work.

As I have had the car a couple of weeks and just listend to the stock radio I did not even notice one speaker not working. The installer put his hand through the gap to check that it was connected and did not see a problem. Said its probably the speaker!

Is there anything else I should be looking for? Do speakers just stop working? Is it possible to take the speaker out from the top or do I have to take the rear seats out as mentioned in other threads?

Thanks

Sam

[HCVP]

Welcome the the Forum Samson.

To accsess the rear speakers you are going to need to remove your rear seat, in order to remove the rear parcel shelf.Speakers don't usually just stop working, so it's most likely a wiring issue.

However i would take it back to the installer, and demand that they find the problem, and fix, of no charge to you.I personally wouldn't have let the car out in that state.It was just lazy of the installer not to go to the lengths to sort it out.

[holdenboy]

I dont know VP, ive come across a few speakers that just dont work anymore.....connect up a new speaker and its all fine. This is especially with parcel shelf or dash mounted speakers (like the VN/VP had). Also, the installer was paid to install a CD player, not fix wiring issues within the car itself......this would be an extra charge in most cases (if it was a shop that did it then most definitely extra).

Samson, i wouldnt worry too much about it, when you do get around to replacing the speakers then it can be sorted.

[HCVP]

Your probably right Andrew, all though i still think the installer could have done a bit more to help him, even connecting a speaker breifly to the wiring to determine whether it was a wiring issue, or if infact the speaker itself has stopped working.Would have taken 5 mins, and then the customer would have known what was wrong..

[holdenboy]

Very true.....but most "shop" installers are pushed for time, ive experienced this first hand, thats the main reason why i went out on my own.......i get to spend as much time as i like (usually) installing components. As everybody knows, every car is different and that means every install takes a different amount of time.

Anyway....i do agree with you about connecting a test speaker to confirm a wiring or speaker fault.

[samson]

Thanks for the feedback fella`s. I got it installed at Auto Pro and it was just the head unit. He said before he installed the unit he did a quick check to make sure the speakers were working and noticed one of the rear ones did not. I did not really expect him to do much more.

This weekend I will connect a spare speaker and see if it works (fingers crossed).

Sam

[stevenj48]

i have the same problem the right rear speaker has is not working after a new pioneer headunit installed the whole right hand side sounds a little quieter than the left hand side thinking maybe wired wrong?
was also installed at autopro.

the speaker was working with the stock headunit and took it out today
and tested it in another car speaker worked tried another speaker and not working
so i'm guessing would have to be wiring does any know if the wiring harness has to have wires changed over to
install correctly.

should mention its a vt berlina series 2 Wagon.

Thanks Steven

[holdenboy]

If one side sounds quieter than the other firstly check the obvious and that is the balance control on the head-unit. If youve already checked that or its on '0', theres a possibility the installer has wired the two right hand side speakers out of phase (+ and - speaker wires reversed).
A quick and easy way of confirming this is to use the fader and balance controls on the head-unit to play just that one speaker, have a good listen to some music and moderate to high levels (especially take note of the bass response). Now swap the + and - wires around on the speaker terminal, re-install and have another good listen using the same song / volume level. If the sound is better then that speaker was out of phase, do the same with the other speaker. If its worse then the speaker wasnt out of phase.

[stevenj48]

If one side sounds quieter than the other firstly check the obvious and that is the balance control on the head-unit. If youve already checked that or its on '0', theres a possibility the installer has wired the two right hand side speakers out of phase (+ and - speaker wires reversed).
A quick and easy way of confirming this is to use the fader and balance controls on the head-unit to play just that one speaker, have a good listen to some music and moderate to high levels (especially take note of the bass response). Now swap the + and - wires around on the speaker terminal, re-install and have another good listen using the same song / volume level. If the sound is better then that speaker was out of phase, do the same with the other speaker. If its worse then the speaker wasnt out of phase.

already done the balance controls and also the fader to each side the left is fine but the right is very quiet and crappy sound with no bass so im guessing maybe the speakers wired wrong. he used a harness just wondering if maybe the wires need to be changed in the harness?

i will let him swap it around and fix it otherwise will be wanting a refund as they both sounded spot on with the stock headunit only since the pioneer was installed. i tried to take out the stereo today with the keys provided but appears he has jammed it in there and i cant get it to come out so will be ? him about that to.

[holdenboy]

Yep sounds like they're out of phase to me. With the VTs if he used the cradle then it will be a tight fit and the keys probably won't help. You'll need to remove the pocket underneath the stereo, put hand in and up behind the stereo and pull it out towards you. But if you don't want to attempt this by all means take the car back to the installer. The speaker problem is something he should have tested.

[stevenj48]

Yep sounds like they're out of phase to me. With the VTs if he used the cradle then it will be a tight fit and the keys probably won't help. You'll need to remove the pocket underneath the stereo, put hand in and up behind the stereo and pull it out towards you. But if you don't want to attempt this by all means take the car back to the installer. The speaker problem is something he should have tested.

yeah thanks

i installed a stereo in a magna only last week and i tested all before i put the car back together i didnt want to do the wagon myself because i have just bought the car last week but i reckon i should have.

[holdenboy]

Its a shame, but as our industry is regulated (no formal qualification is required) you will get "dodgy" installers here and there. Just as a heads up, next time ask to see / hear some of the installers work before-hand.

Generally, i suggest people to install it themselves if they feel confident enough....oh well youve learnt a lesson and will either go elsewhere next time or DIY

[stevenj48]

yeah i think i know exactly where he went wrong which i will question him about tomorrow the plug he used had to suit vx on the front when its a vt i have seen you get ones specifically for vt maybe they are wired differant but will find out tomorrow.

[holdenboy]

They should be the same AFAIK (i dont use them). I know the VX head-unit goes into a VT though.

[stevenj48]

yep was the wrong plug he used the wires didnt match up all good now tested and working.