Have you just got into your car and put on the music and there is no sound from the front driver speaker? This is a common problem that occasionally afflicts your car audio system.
Driver door speakers are located in the front doors and are meant to provide you with sound when driving. They are a small, powerful speaker system that provides sound for your entire car and can immensely annoy you when it starts acting up.
It would be presumptuous to think that when a side speaker is not working, it is the speaker that has a problem or is worn out. This is because any number of components in the audio system could be problematic.
This guide explains all the issues that would be wrong to cause your driver side door speaker not to work. It will also show you some easy fixes to help you deal with the problem. So, read on
What Is a Driver Side Door Speaker
A driver side door speaker is a small speaker mounted on the inside of your car’s door. This speaker plays music and other important sounds, such as your navigation system directions or the radio.
A driver side door speaker is essential to your car’s audio system. It allows you to play music through your car’s speakers and listen to the radio when your hands are full or you’re driving with just one hand.
Most cars have a single speaker in their driver’s side doors. However, some newer models have two speakers in each door. A double-door speaker provides better bass and sound quality but also costs more than a single-door speaker.
Why Is a Driver Door Speaker Important?
The driver door speaker is a small speaker that produces sound throughout the entire cabin of the vehicle. This speaker is designed to be mounted on the door frame, facing toward the driver’s side.
Because it faces the driver, this speaker can also be used as an audio source for a phone call or hands-free application. This means that you don’t have to disconnect your phone when you need to use your car’s Bluetooth hands-free system.
The driver door speaker is crucial because it allows you to use more than one audio source simultaneously. For example, if you have music playing through the speakers in your car and then want to listen to your favorite radio station from your phone simultaneously, this can be done with just one device (your phone).
The driver door speaker is crucial because it allows you to monitor what’s happening outside the vehicle.
You can listen to music, answer calls, and adjust the sound of your alarm system. The speaker also lets you know when your doors are locked or unlocked.
Changing the volume of the speaker is easy. Just press the volume button located on top of your radio.
The Causes of a Driver Side Door Speaker Not Working
If you notice that your driver side door speaker is not working, here are some common causes and possible solutions:
1. Bad Speaker
If you hear no sound from your speakers, the first thing to check is whether they are working correctly. The speaker itself may be damaged, or the connections between it and the radio or amplifier may be loose.
2. Bad battery
This is one of the most common problems with door speakers as they rely on connecting with a small battery inside your car to power them. If this battery dies, then so does your speaker. You can test this by unplugging the door speakers from their electrical connection and plugging them back in to see if they work. If they do not work, there’s an issue with either the battery or electrical connection on your vehicle’s interior panel.
3. Defective wiring
In addition to bad batteries, another cause of dead door speakers can be poor wiring within your vehicle’s wiring system. It could also be damage caused by water in your car during rain storms or snowflakes hitting it during cold weather. To test for lousy wiring, remove any external wires connected to your speakers (usually blue, red and white) from their plugs to isolate any problems.
4. Broken wires
The wires for your speakers are usually located near the battery and fuse box on the driver’s side. If you see any broken or frayed wires, you should replace them immediately. These can be easily replaced with wire nuts and needle-nose pliers.
5. Faulty connector
Sometimes small connectors can get damaged and cause a short in the system, which will cause your speakers to stop working. If you find this is the case, carefully remove the connector from its socket by using needle-nose pliers. Solder it back together so that it does not fall apart again.
6. Damaged wiring harnesses/connectors
This is an advanced repair because it requires disassembling your car’s electrical system to inspect all its components for damage. Ensure you have access to a good toolbox with all the necessary tools before attempting this repair on your car.
7. Radio Signal Intermittent
If you hear some sound from your speakers but not all of them, this may be due to conflicting radio signals being received by different speakers. This can be caused by an amplifier installed in the wrong place and cannot correctly handle two different stereo sets simultaneously. Before proceeding with any repairs, you should check that all your speakers receive a strong radio signal.
8. Incorrect Frequency Setting
If you have only one set of speakers fitted in your vehicle and they work fine but not when another set is fitted, then this could mean that there is too much resistance on the wiring between the two sets of wires, causing interference in one or both sets of wires. If this occurs, you should try changing the frequency setting on your radio to a lower level. Both sets of wires will use more power, and other devices will use less power.
Driver Door Speaker Troubleshooting Tips
It can be frustrating when you’re trying to troubleshoot the speaker system in your car. You don’t want to spend money on getting the problem fixed when there are cheaper fixes that work just as well.
Here are some tips for troubleshooting if you have a problem with your driver’s side door speaker:
- Try turning the volume up and down.
- Use an app that lets you test the radio by playing different sounds through the speakers.
- Check all of your connections.
- See if anything is loose or broken.
- Make sure the car is turned on and the engine is running.
- Check that all wires are connected correctly to their respective terminals on the back of your head unit.
- Ensure you’re using an RCA cable with an in-line fuse (not included with your head unit). This will help prevent shorts or damage if something happens during installation that would otherwise damage your speakers or wiring (like accidentally pulling out a wire and snapping it off).
- Check wiring to ensure there are no loose connections or broken wires in your vehicle.
- Disconnect all external devices such as mobile phones and MP3 players from the speaker system.
- Look for any cracks in the connection between the speaker and its socket. If you find any cracks or breaks, replace them with a new one.
- Check if there is any dirt on the terminals of the speaker unit. If so, clean it with a dry cloth to remove any dirt/dust particles that may have accumulated on it over time.
- Make sure that you have removed all loose items from around your vehicle before proceeding with this repair process so that nothing gets in the way of working correctly again.
How Can You Fix a Driver Door Speaker?
It’s a common problem you need a little help with when it comes to fixing a car speaker not working on one side. Here are some tips to follow to get your driver’s side speaker working again:
- Check the wiring harnesses for any loose connections or damaged wires. If there is a problem, the speaker will not be able to work correctly.
- Check that all of the wires are connected in the right place. If they are not connected correctly, it may lead to problems later down the road.
- Ensure all the wires are securely attached to their places so they do not come loose during use or after heavy weather conditions.
If you see “error” instead of “speaker” in your dash, or if the door doesn’t respond to your commands, it’s probably time to replace the speaker. Here’s how:
- Remove the dashboard panel. You’ll need to remove the panel on your door to access this area.
- Remove the speaker cover plate. Use a T-25 bit or equivalent to remove these screws and lift off the speaker cover plate.
- Remove the old speaker from its mounting bracket and carefully slide it out of its plastic housing.
- Install the new speaker into its mounting bracket using included mounting hardware.
- Reinstall the new speaker cover plate onto the dashboard and reattach all your panels in reverse order. Start with the dashboard first, then interior panels such as door trim pieces and more, so you don’t get confused about where every panel goes.
How to Prevent Driver Door Speaker Problems
There are several things you should always do to ensure your speaker does not get spoiled:
- The best way to prevent driver door speaker problems is to keep your car clean and well-maintained. This means having the windows clean, the interior vacuumed, and the exterior washed.
Use a good quality car wash soap and spray it on a microfiber towel. You can also use a “Brake Cleaner,” which is made for brake dust removal. It works just as well on car interiors. - You want to keep your battery fully charged when it’s cold out. If you run your car on a battery that’s not fully charged, this will cause your speakers to overheat and start acting up.
- Check if there is any water in the speaker compartment. Water can get into the speaker through tiny holes in the back of the unit where water gets trapped between them when they dry out after being submerged underwater for too long.
Try wiping off all of these holes with a cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol or denatured alcohol (found at most hardware stores).
Final Word
The driver side door speaker not working can undoubtedly be disconcerting, but the reality is that it’s a problem you can fix or any competent technician. Our guide will help you get the speaker replaced at your earliest convenience. It’s a relatively quick process that can restore your hearing to normal levels in no time.
For best results, follow this guide to the letter; you will find it pretty simple to fix and won’t cost you a penny. If you need more advice or want to know exactly what the problem is, leave a message below. We wish you all the best in your repairs.
