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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Friday November 2nd, 2007 09:32 am |
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Has anyone experience of their speakers packing up?
On a recent journey, the rear shelf (standard fit) speakers gave a couple of crackles and then went dead! The (JVC) head unit has a graphic display which showed it still to be working/transmitting, but no sound from the speakers.
Well, thats not strictly true - every now and again there is the odd crackle. I remember when I had a brand new Mayfair years ago I had something similar happen and ended up having the speakers replaced under warrenty.
So, does anyone have any ideas where to start checking?
Last edited on Friday November 2nd, 2007 09:32 am by Graham Bichard |
Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Friday November 2nd, 2007 09:35 am |
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| One thing I should mention, now that the speakers aren't working I've started hearing/imagining all sorts of other noises! I'm wondering if one of the wheel bearings isn't on its way out (its not when going around corners, but a speed related rotating rumble, if that makes sense!). One more thing to check out!
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AMS
MCR Member
| Joined: | Thursday January 12th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 105 |
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Posted: Friday November 2nd, 2007 11:37 am |
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Two things, first try putting a small torch style battery (1/2 volt) across the speaker wires in the rear. If the speakers are working they will crackle when you do this.
Then check the stereo by using another speaker if you have one. The only way to do this really, is to splice another speaker onto one of the speaker outputs. Alternatively take it to your local in car entertainment specialist who should be able to bench test the headunit for you. (NOT Halfords, I doubt they would have any facility).
It is not unusual for a head unit (stereo) to have an output failure. Likewise the speakers are prone to failure.
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jamesquintin
Member
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Posted: Friday November 2nd, 2007 04:21 pm |
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Yo
Has your windscreen got a leak? My wifes MPI did once and the water got onto the radio...
Q
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snoopy64
Member
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Posted: Friday November 2nd, 2007 05:26 pm |
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| I had that too, water in the radio, head unit looked fine but the windscreen was the problem. It also caused the battery to drain overnight!!
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Friday November 2nd, 2007 05:31 pm |
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I have to agree that it sounds more like a fried stereo, because it's very unusual for both speakers to pack in at the same time.
My Mini is 17 years old, I have the same type speakers and although their well passed their best (probably blown), they are still working anyway.
Get your windscreen seal checked and thoroughly resealed. I think you'll also be needing a new stereo though unfortunately.
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DaveShreeve
Administrator
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Posted: Saturday November 3rd, 2007 12:29 am |
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| You may be lucky. Some of the later head units are dual fused, one for the electronics the other for the amps. If you're lucky enough to find a blown fuse check wiring and speakers very carefully. Disconnections shouldn't cause a problem, but a short will blow the fuse or fry the amp. Suggest if you've blown the fuse once you don't risk it again!
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hawaiianblue
Member
| Joined: | Saturday June 2nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 214 |
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Posted: Saturday November 3rd, 2007 02:22 pm |
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AMS wrote: Alternatively take it to your local in car entertainment specialist who should be able to bench test the headunit for you. (NOT Halfords, I doubt they would have any facility). Funilly enough halfords can. They just unplug one of their display units and plug it in there. They did one for me once.
It is not unusual for a head unit (stereo) to have an output failure. Likewise the speakers are prone to failure.
This is true, you can also blow your speakers if you've been running them at high volume for long periods of time. Also check your front windscreen for leaks, water will drip straight onto the top of the headunit and run in through the vents in the casing.
Last edited on Saturday November 3rd, 2007 02:24 pm by hawaiianblue
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Monday November 5th, 2007 10:59 am |
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Thanks all, I'll try these at the weekend.
HB, I was on a long journey (but I'm too old to have the radio THAT loud), and yes James, I've recently had the windscreen out for repairs to the scuttle panel - I can't say it's not leaking, because we've had very little rain since (so because of that I don't think it'll be rain shorting it out) - I'll start by checking the in line fuses.
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Monday November 5th, 2007 12:06 pm |
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Well it doesn't take much water to cause the problem and even it hasn't been out in the rain much, I bet you've given it a wash?
I might be wrong, but it's such a common occurrence and it seems that fried stereo's were a standard feature on later Minis.
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Monday November 5th, 2007 01:32 pm |
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It's just occured to me, could this be the excuse I need to get one of those all-singing, all-dancing head units with the flip out sat-nav screens? (Provided I cure the original problem of course!!)
Is this a common problem on later minis? (The stereo/speaker blowing, as opposed to rubbish windscreen seals?)
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Monday November 5th, 2007 02:48 pm |
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Bit of both really and the paper cones speakers they fitted are pretty useless after you've been listening to "Stairway To Heaven" by Led Zeppelin a few too many times with the stereo cranked up. Or just about any early Pink Floyd.
Oh and I once owned a 1987 Mini Park Lane LE that was forever leaving my stereo fried and that was due to the dreaded front windscreen leak.
I think it's probably worst on later models as the stereo is mounted in the dash, so it's right beneath the windscreen seal. At least my 87' Park Lane had it fitted just as Issigonis wanted and that was under the parcel shelf and out of reach whilst you're driving.
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Tuesday November 27th, 2007 07:01 am |
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I managed to have a look at the radio/speakers this weekend.
After taking the radio out, I couldn't feel any dampness throught he apature (it was very cold though, so wouldn't be suprised if this is an area for condensation to gather) pointing to a leaking windscreen seal. In addition the 15 amp fuse in the back of the (JVC) head unit was intact.
So moving onto the speakers.... I tested these using two lengths of wires connected to the speaker terminals and a 9 volt battery. One one there was the faintest of crackling, from the other nothing!
So my question now is, I'm almost certain its the speakers not the head unit but is it possible for one speaker to pack up and the other to still work, while not getting anything out of either? (Are they wired in series? Wouldn't think so!)
Graham
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Tuesday November 27th, 2007 10:46 am |
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It might be worth taking the head unit to a good motor factors and asking them to test it. I'm sure Halfords will do this?
I still can't imagine it's the speakers that are at fault, because you'd still get some sound through them even if they were blown.
Unless the speaker or stereo wiring has been disturbed then I'd still say it's a fault with the head unit.
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Tuesday January 8th, 2008 07:39 am |
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AMS, I tried the small battery thing on the speakers. One was absolutely quiet, from the other the faintest of crackles.
Any ideas - one dead, the other all but?
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AMS
MCR Member
| Joined: | Thursday January 12th, 2006 |
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| Posts: | 105 |
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Posted: Tuesday January 8th, 2008 08:57 am |
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It sounds very much as if you have found the problem. If you can find another speaker splice that in to one of the circuits and see if it works. That would be the ultimate confirmation.
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Monday January 14th, 2008 07:07 am |
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Does anyone know where I can get replacement speakers from?
I'm after reasonable quality/priced items that will simply replace the one in the parcel shelf. I've had a look on the minispares/sport type websites with no luck.
Any suggestions?
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hawaiianblue
Member
| Joined: | Saturday June 2nd, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 214 |
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Posted: Monday January 14th, 2008 10:54 am |
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I bought some Jensen branded ones from Maplin a few years ago.
With mine i had to use some small brass bolts to secure them, as i remember i could only use 2 in the existing holes, rather than the 3 i think the originals use. They're perfectly secure though.
Rover paid around £3 each for thier speakers, so i would imagine any 6.5" speakers around the £20 a pair range would be at least as good as the factory ones.
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taffy1967
Member
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Posted: Monday January 14th, 2008 11:38 pm |
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Or if you just want to replace them with standard original items you could try MegaMini: -
http://www.megamodz.com/html/megamini.html
They only charge a tenner each.
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Graham Bichard
Member
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Posted: Wednesday February 6th, 2008 07:16 pm |
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Bad news - stereo still working, speakers still don't!
I bought a new, original pair of speakers form megaminis (cheers Taffy), connected them up, feeling all confident I'd soon be listerning to some tunes and........nothing!
I checked the speakers again using the battery method (still nothing), I checked the battery to make sure I wasn't using a duffer, I then checked the fuses again and also the connections for corrosion/good contact etc.
I think I'm going to now have to delve deeper into the realms of electrickery! Broken wire between the stereo and the speakers, do you think?
I take it there will be two wires running along the length of the car - one to each speaker? What colour code are these? (Or is it another case of what ever was to hand!)
Oh well, back to the drawing board!
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