Things You'll Need:
- Handheld power meter
- Wire strippers
- Screwdrivers
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Step 1
Check the balance control on the car's head unit (a fancy name for what used to be called the in-dash stereo system). If the balance control is set to one extreme or another, you won't be able to hear sound in one or more channels, so adjust the balance to the middle setting.
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Step 2
Check the wire connections to the amplifier that powers your system. Most after-market amplifiers (equipment installed after the car was manufactured and sold) are located beneath the driver's seat or the front passenger seat.
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Step 3
Check the wire connections to the speaker(s) that will not produce sound. You may have to unscrew and remove the speaker grilles to access the speakers.
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Step 4
Reattach any loose wires by making a clean cut with the wire strippers, removing 1/2 inch of insulation and tightening the wires to their proper posts. The red wire connects to the positive terminal and the other wire (black or green) connects to the negative terminal.
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Step 5
Turn up the volume midway on the head unit and listen for any humming or buzzing sound, which can indicate a blown speaker cone. Replacement is the best option for a blown cone although a temporary fix can be a piece of electrical tape placed over the hole or split in the cone material.
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Step 6
Check the speaker wire to make sure current flows through it by detaching both wires from the speaker and connecting each to a handheld power meter. If you receive a volt reading off the speaker wire, then you can be assured that power is getting through and the problem is most likely a blown speaker. If there is no reading from the meter and you are certain the wires are connected properly to the head unit or radio, you may have a break somewhere in the speaker wire. The easiest, most dependable solution for a broken or pinched wire is to run new wire to the speaker rather than attempt a splice.
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Step 7
Check the fuse link from the amplifier to the car battery to make sure you haven't simply blown a fuse. Glass tube-type fuses are available at hardware stores and electronics shops.
