rear speaker issue

[sicilianbulldog]

Ok, so I've been trying to install my system myself, as a newbie. It has been quite an experience, to say the least.

Anyway, my plan was to get a 4 channel amp, and bridge the last 2 channels for a sub, and keep the rear door speakers powered by the deck (aftermarket). When it was first finally hooked up, the amp didnt work. I turned the car off, fiddled with some wiring, and all the speakers and sub came on. Later, I came to drive to the store, and now the rear speakers do not work! My headunit has the ability to turn off internal power when an amp is installed, but I have made sure that option is not on. Right now, I am going to redo the wiring to the haraness from the head unit, but does anyone have any idea what it could be?

Thanks.

[C280/////AMG]

I wouldn't tamper with the wiring harness too much, because if you make a mistake somewhere along the line, you might as well buy a new car...trust me, i've been there. I would suggest that you try the easiest things first: wire the rear speakers directly to any radio/hifi and see whether you haven't blown the coil. if the speaker works, then try fitting a very weak fuse to each wire and then wire them up to the head unit and notice if any of the fuses blow.
It could even be a faulty head unit (my friend had an Alpine with a similar problem)

[sicilianbulldog]

Well, I recrimped the wiring in the back, and before I put the headunit back in, I didnt conect the RCAs to the amp, so it was basically wired as if there was no Amp. Still no sound from the rear speakers. So it's either the headunit, or the speakers, correct? there could be no other fault, unless the wiring is messed up somewhere else. I guess I will try the above idea and check the speakers by connecting them to another source. Thanks alot. Any other thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[sicilianbulldog]

Ok. I disconected a rear speaker, and connected both that and a speaker (that used to be in the front before I replaced them) to an outside audio source. The front speaker worked, but the rear speaker did not. Good news, meaning the rear speaker was shot. So I go out and connect the front speaker to the rear, and no cigar. Still not working.

Any ideas?

please

thanks

[C280/////AMG]

So that means that your rear speaker's gone... that's easy to fix. but what do you mean you connected the front speaker to the rear? why would you do that?

[AirPost]

but what do you mean you connected the front speaker to the rear? why would you do that?

I think he put the front speaker that was working externally to the rear to test and see if it is really just the rear speaker or a wiring issue. Unfortunately, it seems like a wiring issue to me since the front working speaker will not work when attached to the rear wires.

[sicilianbulldog]

Airpost is correct. It appears it was the speaker and the wiring. Unless the wiring is ok and it is the headunit. I dont know why that would be, but its a possibility. I guess my next step will be to connect a working speaker to the wire before it attaches to the harness, and see if it is the standard car wiring.


All other thoughts are greatly appreciated!

[C280/////AMG]

well if that's the case, then you might as well redo whe speaker wiring and replace it with high quality cable while you're about it. Btw, it's far easier to run a cable from the head unit to your rear than you think! it'll probably take you about an hour do do all the wiring, including the crimping! all the beadings simply clip off and you can lay the cable in that channel which they provide. it's way easier than hunting for a faulty cable...

[sicilianbulldog]

That's probably what I will end up doing. I just want to make sure its not the headunit first.

Can you tell me the best way to do the re-wiring?

Thank you for your help so far, I really appreciate it!

[sicilianbulldog]

Things have changed. So I hooked up a working speaker directly to the headunit, bypassing the wire and harness, and still no sound. So I guess it must be the headunit? The fuse looks fine, no burnout, so I have no idea what it can be.

[Proven Guilty]

make sure it's not faded all the way to the front. sometimes even the most simple things are overlooked. if that's not the case...

if you connect a speaker directly to the head unit, and only the front left and front right speakers work with no rear speakers working; it's likely the head unit.

[C280/////AMG]

what make is your head unit?

[sicilianbulldog]

it is an Alpine CDA-9856.

[C280/////AMG]

Exactly the same as my friends...If i were you i'd check it out before you carry on...Those alpines seem faulty for some reason!

[sicilianbulldog]

Thanks for all of your help C280/////AMG. Can you tell me exactly what happened to your friends, and how he solved the issue (if at all)?

Thanks.

[trunk-rattlin]

I didnt read the whole thread, But if you arnt getting any sound coming out of your Alpine 9856...

Im pretty sure you can turn off the inboard amplifier (POWER IC) if you are just running amps, I think you go into MENU, then GENERAL and turn it on.

Otherwise sometimes, if one speaker is grounding to the chassis, it will stop all music.

Ive got the 9855(a little higher specced), which im selling at the moment. I think they are similar program wise

[C280/////AMG]

Sure! He bought a new radio...

Problem was he bought the radio in Switzerland and then brought it back here, so he lost the warranty on it... But if your radio is still under warranty, take it back to alpine

[sicilianbulldog]

Originally posted by trunk-rattlin
I didnt read the whole thread, But if you arnt getting any sound coming out of your Alpine 9856...

Im pretty sure you can turn off the inboard amplifier (POWER IC) if you are just running amps, I think you go into MENU, then GENERAL and turn it on.

Otherwise sometimes, if one speaker is grounding to the chassis, it will stop all music.

Ive got the 9855(a little higher specced), which im selling at the moment. I think they are similar program wise

Hey Trunk-rattlin

I knew about the power IC option, I wish it was so easy!

In regards to the grounding issue, I'm not entirely sure that I properly taped up the ends of the cut front speaker wires. Could it be those are touching metal and therefore causing this issue?

[CL1210]

Did you get a wiring harness adaptor when you bought the head unit? I'm also using CDA-9856. The front and rear door speakers are being powered by the head unit. The rear deck speakers (which I've replaced) and subs are being powered by an Alpine 4 channel amp. I've used the existing wiring harness and just cut off the ones for the rear deck and wired them directly from the amp. The rear and sub output from the head unit is connected thru RCA cables directly to the amp along with the blue remote wire. Which rear speakers is not working, the door or the deck? Let me know while everything is still fresh on my mind since I just did mine.

[sicilianbulldog]

Thanks for replying.

I have disconected and removed the rear deck speakers, so my sub can flow into the car. It is both rear door speakers that do not work, and those are the only ones conected to the headunit for power.