Sound system dilemma :'(

[AbuNigel]

-2000 2.0 NB
-Non Monsoon
-Replaced stock radio with Pioneer Head unit installed by Best Buy car audio guys. Also, has only been able to play 1 radio station since i got it, even after getting a new antenna.
-Replaced front 2 speakers with Infinity Reference Speakers installed by myself and my friend who is an electrician.

So, those are my stats, so to speak.

My PROBLEM, is that recently, my head unit will be working, everything showing properly and what not, but no sound comes out of any of the speakers, not the new ones, and not the stock ones in the rear. Not with my ipod, CD, or tuner, nothing. Today it hasn't worked at all, but until now it's been working on and off. However i didn't have this problem till we installed the speakers.

I took it to the best buy guys, and even though they installed the radio, because i put the speakers in myself, they have to charge me for trouble shooting even though it's possible the speaker installation has nothing to do with it

And once they do that ($80 and hour) they have to fix it ($80 an hour) The guys were saying that the speakers may have fried or messed up the stock amplifier. But from what i've heard, only the monsoon systems have an amplifier. The theory of my electrician friend is that the wires connecting everything are shot, since we've changed the radio and speakers, but not any of the actual wire.

I really don't know what to do, i just want to listen to some music when i drive, not so much to ask.
Any ideas or theories on what my problem might be, would be GREATLY appreciated.

Now for my rant. Ok, so i pay the extra $100 after buying the radio to get it installed and all the harnesses and crap. This way, if something goes wrong, they will fix it because it was their fault. I opted to install the speakers myself, because i heard it wasn't that hard, and i only really had money for the speakers themselves, not the $70 installation fee on top of it. I get the warranty on the speakers, and the only risks explained to me are that if i don't get the warranty, and my speakers blow, i will have to buy new ones. With the warranty, they will replace them for 4 years, for free. So i got it. At no time did they say 'oh yea, and by putting these in yourself, you completely nullify the whole benefit of having had us put your radio in for an extra $100 because if anything goes wrong we have to assume it was your fault.'
So frustrated. I swear, as soon as i fix one ridiculously annoying problem on this car, and i finally feel like i'm driving a pretty awesome car, something else goes wrong, it never stops!!!!!!!!

[Toad]

You are correct that there isn't a "stock amp"

If there is a fried amp, it's the amp inside the radio. If you trust your electrician friend, I'd ask him/her to bench test the radio with a different speaker connected right to the speaker outputs of the radio. It's incredibly easy if you have a 12v dc power source, and I know i've done my share of testing car stereo equipment this way.

Also, there has to be an antenna adapter to convert the antenna plugs to get an FM signal. There are powered and un-powered ones. I've only used powered ones (it amplifies the signal a little bit), but there should be something in between the antenna wire and the radio. If there's a metal cylinder as part of it (aka not just a black wire) make sure the wire coming out of it (99% probability its gonna be blue) is connected to the power antenna lead connection on the back of the radio (also usually the blue wire).

edit,

i just checked the specs... those infinity speakers are 2ohms each.... I don't know what infinity's deal is, but most (if not all) radio amps are only stable down to 4 ohms, so running it with less resistance will cause it to run hotter, and well..... die prematurely. It's something that infinity doesn't tell you, and probably tells you it's actually fine...

[sean_fabanich]

most...if not all aftermarket radios are only capable (at least by spec) to drive speakers at 4 ohms...

i have however seen in many instances where they run a 2 ohm load just fine....so while the amp may have overheated and died...id also check a few other things...

first...alot of aftermarket radios will stop working when a speaker goes bad or is disconnected (essentially anytime the radio sees an open load it shuts down the internal amP)

so id go and make sure the speakers you replaced didnt have a wire loose...or didnt get stripped and is shorting out somewhere near the speaker....also check the continuity of the new speakers (the electrician should know how to do that with a ohmmeter...im sure he has one)...but id also check the continuity of the old speakers in back....

this is the first place id start if you brought it to me....sounds like they wanted to charge you such a high price cause they really didnt want to get into it...i know i wouldnt want to do that kinda wire tracing...basically the second they touch anything more than the wires (that they probably just t-tapped and didnt solder) behind the radio...then they become liable for it....right now they are liable for the radio install...however to trouble shoot this issue theyd have to go and pull the door panels and speakers and check them...so by doing that theyd become liable...its a crappy situation...and i feel for ya...

but yeah...if those speakers are really 2 ohm..then you could probably use to your advantage....if you bought the radio at best buy..and then the speakers there...they shouldnt have suggested 2 ohm speakers to you....(youd only want those speakers if you had an addition 2 or 4 channel amp)

so maybe you can try and work that angle to get to the bottom of it all...however if its not the new speakers...but your workmanship...they what will they do for you...?

best thing is to think about it...did the sound just randomly go out at first...or was it only after it was on for a while...? after the amp had a chance to overheat? there isnt much room in the dash for air cooling of a hot amp....id use those clues to figure out what the problem is....bench testing the radio is a great way to go....id ask best buy to do that...at least then youd know if the radio amp is bad or if its your wiring or speakers....then you can check your wiring...and if it is the 2 ohm speakers are messing up...or fried the amp...then best buy should be held accountable cause they told you to buy them...

alot of best buys wont be able to fully bench test a radio...so ask if they could plug in a new one...(one that they know works) to your car...and see if it works...if not then you know its probably your speakers or the wiring...if it works then you know the radios amp is dead...and that was probably caused by the 2 ohm speakers...

you should be able to get them to do that...free of charge...

good luck

[pikagirl]

Just a thought here - given most of the guys at Best Buy type places vary from guys with a serious clue to someone hired off the street, it's catch as catch can in their audio group. (I know the guys at one BB around here are serious audio guys and the other BB are idiots.)

IF, after installing an aftermarket radio, things weren't working properly (receiving one radio station for example), then it could be the installation guys messed up. BUT because you didn't take it back and say, "Hey, why am I only getting one station?" the presumption is the radio was fine until you did the speaker installation.

At this point, if BB is charging you money to troubleshoot (and it will be YOUR problem, not their problem, even if it is their problem), go a few extra dollars and go to a local car audio shop with a good reputation. Have them troubleshoot and do any repairs necessary.

[AbuNigel]

This is some great advice guys. Sean you brought up a great point that they told me to get those speakers. I told the guys helping me what radio i had too. I said, will these speakers be ok with this radio i have? and he said yes. So are we sure there is an amp in the radio i got that could have been fried?

[sean_fabanich]

well....i assume you are not using a seperate 4 channel amp to power the door speakers...if thats true...then you are using the onboard amp in the new radio....one of the specs was probably something like 50watts peak/22 rms. so that means it has an internal amp...so yes it could be fried...
but to be honest i think its more of a potential that one of your two new front speakers is creating an open load (either by shorting or disconnecting) and causing the amp to kick into protect.
but its all part of the trouble shooting process....first thing id do is take it to best buy...present the issue...reminding them nicely that they installed teh radio then suggested speakers that are not quite compatible for a radio without an 2 or four channel amp. do it all nicely....as if you just want to get to the bottom of it...that will most likely get the fix you want. dont be afraid to invlove the manager...just ask them to try a similar model radio (something that should plug right in) in place of your radio...and see if it works or not...hopefully it works...and you know that somehow the amp went bad...ask them to exchange you a new replacement for you radio...then dont have it installed until you replace the front speakers...which they should exchange for you.

good luck

[AbuNigel]

Friend of a friend finally helped me out (to this day best buy refuses to touch, literally touch, anything in the car sound system without troubleshooting fee) and we discovered the wires on the driver side door were grounding out. He did a little re-wiring and i'm bumping loud and clear as ever!
thanks for the help you guys!

[sean_fabanich]

hey....i was right....haha..

[LTBeck41]

Can you guys recommend a replacement for the Monsoon Radio/CD in my 04 NB? It started eating CDs then, I guess, got full and will no longer "accept" them. Local yokel radio stinks on long road trips! Sure could use some CD access again. Where can I find unit that fits that oval hole in my dash?

I have searched around this site for about two hours and found hints and clues to new units but no solid product names or anything.

Thankx in advance!!

[The Cheat]

there are no aftermarket units that are a 100% oem look.

they do make a faceplate that allows a conventional radio to look decent in there.

a personal favorite for aftermarket stuff is the kenwood mp435u. plays mp3 cds (like factory), has a usb port (BIG plus, it can charge your phone and play music off it too), satellite ready (sirius), and hdradio ready as well.

i spent under $150 for mine with all harnesses and the pocket for my 2000 jetta. liked it so much my 01 wagon has the same unit too.

ps: nige, your speakers were the answer to my dilemma. 2-ohm was needed for my rear doors in the jetta to keep the monsoon amp happy.

[LTBeck41]

The Kenwood unit loks like it will do nicely. Any suggestin on wher to get the faceplate you mentioned?

[ernperkins]

You could always get an OEM Monsoon/CD player replacement. They have them on E-bay, originalcaraudio.com and other places. Just be sure to get a Monsoon and the right color display (they come in white or blue).