Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

New HU

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 28, 2011 | 08:52 AM
  #1  
sempire's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
Default New HU

A while back i put in a new HU using the Scosche harness, and have been getting bad sound ever since, turns out there is no sound coming from the speaker that are next to the backseats, however the ones in the hatch area work fine.

When I asked here last time, everyone said I should be fine with this harness and the 10 speaker system..

Anyone have a clue how I can get those two rear speakers working?
Reply
Old Mar 28, 2011 | 07:45 PM
  #2  
dcm's Avatar
dcm
Registered User
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Default here's the wiring for a 1996 10 speaker system in a fbird

link to wiring attachments

Do you have a subwoofer amp in the passanger side b pillar?

Last edited by dcm; Mar 28, 2011 at 07:46 PM. Reason: added stuff
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2011 | 07:27 AM
  #3  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 344
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

If it has 10 speakers in a 93-96 Firebird then yes, it has an amp. The amp powers only the sail panel subs. I suspect you've blown the RADIO ACCY fuse which protects the amp wiring. It is also possible that the amp or its wiring is bad but I'd check the fuse first.
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2011 | 08:15 AM
  #4  
sempire's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
Default

Hopefully it is the fuse... Then I owe you one..
Reply
Old Apr 1, 2011 | 11:29 PM
  #5  
sempire's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
Default

It turns out that I have 8 speakers and that fuse doesn't exist.

Any new ideas anyone?
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2011 | 07:11 AM
  #6  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 344
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

There never was an eight speaker system in 4th generation Firebirds. You have mids and tweeters in the doors, subs in the sail panels, and mids and tweeters in the hatch area for a total of ten speakers.

The fuse is labeled RADIO ACCY in LS1 models but may have a different label in earlier models. There is a fuse for the amp but I don't know what it's called (I don't have an older manual) so check any fuses that it might be.
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2011 | 01:12 PM
  #7  
Capricio's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 514
Likes: 0
Default

Maybe he's counting the door tweeters as speakers?
Reply
Old Apr 2, 2011 | 05:28 PM
  #8  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 344
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

Would have had to count at least one pair of tweeters to get eight. May have missed the hatch area tweeters because they're under a grille that looks like a single speaker rather than components.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 11:12 AM
  #9  
sempire's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
Default

i've check every fuse and nothing was blown. I pulled the radio and checked everything in the harness. is there something i'm missing?
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 01:01 PM
  #10  
KipMaslonka's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
Default

Have you double checked your wiring into that harness?
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 01:35 PM
  #11  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 344
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

If the wiring at the head unit was bad then there would be no sound from the hatch speakers either since they are on the same channels.

The interesting thing about the problem is that only the sail panel subs are affected. That coincides with the fact that the sail panel subs are the only speakers powered by the amp in that model. That leads to three possibilities... the amp is not getting power, the amp is dead, or the speakers are blown.

I suspect the first case. It's easy to test (at least it's easy once you get to the amp). Use a test light or multimeter to check for power at the orange wire(s). If no power, go back and check fuses again - use a tester rather than relying on visual inspection. If power at the fuse but not at the amp then you have a broken wire somewhere. While checking, make sure the amp connector is secure and undamaged and that the black wire goes to a solid chassis ground.

If power checks out okay then the next step is to test the speakers. You can connect them to another source in the vehicle, connect a different speaker to the sail panel wiring, or use the old 9V battery trick.

If the speakers check out then you're left with the amp. There is no simple way to test the amp. Ideally you know someone with the same setup that you could swap amps with to verify if yours is dead. Otherwise, you'll just have to go with the educated guess that since everything else has been tested, the amp is the only thing left that could be causing the problem.
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 01:40 PM
  #12  
sempire's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
Default

I have triple checked the wiring.

It only happened after i put in the new HU.

Where exactly is the amp? I'm sure that if I plug in the factory HU it would work, but all the wiring is good. Where does the amp get it's power from, could there be a fuse somewhere else that i'm missing?
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 01:56 PM
  #13  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 344
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

The amp is behind the trim in the right sail panel below the speaker and next to the rear seat cushion.

If you still have the factory head unit then plugging it in would be a great test. But, unlike you, I seriously doubt it would work because I can't see any combination of circumstances that would cause the symptoms you describe differently for one head unit versus another.
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 02:13 PM
  #14  
sempire's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
Default

where does the amp get it's ground and power from? Do those wires go to where the HU are? or do they get powered close to the battery or something? I wonder if something got disconnected during some work somewhere other than the HU area?
Reply
Old Apr 4, 2011 | 02:24 PM
  #15  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,328
Likes: 344
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

The amp gets its power from the battery via the fuse panel in the dash. None of that wiring goes to the head unit. It has power at all times but only turns on when it senses signal from the head unit.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:15 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE