10 Reasons For Car Speakers Not Working On One Side

From a bad amplifier channel to RCA cable problems and more, there is a myriad of reasons for car speakers to stop working properly. This is a recurrent problem with Original Equipment (OE) and Factory-installed speakers.

Nothing is more annoying when driving than to have your car speaker not working on one side while you're enjoying your favorite song.

Of course, the music no longer has the same vibe plus it affects the melody, depending on which side stopped working and if the music was produced to pan to either side. It's not always a quick fix, especially since it could be one of the multiple reasons for the speaker to malfunction.

Let's take a look at the list of issues that may have led to your speakers not working on one side.

What Could Cause the Car Speakers, not to Work on One Side?

Here are the main reasons for car speakers not working on one side of your vehicle:

Bad amplifier channel

Disconnect the audio cables from the amplifier's input while the car is off and the stereo is off. Then, swap the wires so that the left cable is plugged into the right input and vice versa. Switch on the stereo.

You can believe the amplifier is the issue if the right channel still functions but the left channel does not. This is because both the components before and after the amplifier have been removed.

The right amplifier channel would've been affected once the cables were swapped if the issue was coming from the left side of the audio system. Ask a qualified repairman to examine the amplifier.

If the right channel is still not working but the left channel is, you know the issue is with the amplifier. Since the issue followed the cable switch, you may also be certain that there is a problem on the left portion of the system.

It can be in the left channel of the wires or another component. Put the audio cords back in their original position after turning off the stereo (right audio wire to the right amplifier input and vice versa).

Balance or fade not set correctly

This is another typical explanation for why folks only have problems with one speaker side. The radio's balance control or fader adjustments may be to blame if they are set to one side only.

For instance, despite the speakers on the right side being fine, if the fader is set up for the left side and down for the right, the left-side speakers won't function.

Position the radio to surround sound then gradually increase the volume until you hear both speakers operating on one side to verify this. Then alter the fader settings or balance setting to equalize the level of each speaker. Just maintain the indicator in the center of the scale!

Problems with the audio cables

The cords between the intermediary part and the amplifier should get the first testing. Plug the good wires into the bad side after unplugging the cords from the component's output.

For instance, to turn on the stereo if the right channel is functioning, connect the right audio line from the amp to the other crossover side. The audio connections between the amp and crossover may be the issue if the working channel, which is the right in this scenario, continues to function.

The audio cords are in perfect working order unless the left channel doesn't function. Connect the amp's right audio line to the crossover's left audio output while the stereo is off to confirm the issue.

Turn your sound system on again. The right speaker should output if the cords are in working order. This verification procedure is essential since it will enable you to establish whether there is an issue with either side or any other component in question.

After determining the exact location of the issue, turn off the radio and reposition the audio cords. If there is an issue with the wires, you might need to repair or replace them right away.

Problems with the head unit

Making sure to leave no other wires connected, carefully unplug both audio lines from the device. Turn on the system by connecting the right cable to the unit's left channel. You can eliminate a head unit issue if you perform this and the speaker is functional.

This could be a sign of a problem with the connections connecting the unit to the amplifier or intermediary part. Turn off the stereo, unplug the right audio wire, and plug in the left audio wire to the right output as outlined above to identify the true root of the issue.

This will reveal if the audio cable is to blame. Furthermore, the head unit can have an issue if you attach the right speaker to the left channel but it quits operating.

It does happen on occasion that the audio cord and the head unit will both malfunction. You should either get the head unit inspected by an expert or think about replacing it if it is broken.

Continuity problem

Checking for continuity is an important step if the speakers on either side of your car aren't functioning. On the door panels, there is a space where the wires pass through between the door and the door frame. This area can be a vulnerable spot.

Although a durable rubber sheath is used to safeguard the speaker wiring harnesses, with time, the repetitive use of the car doors might lead to the sheath cracking. Before disassembling your speaker, be sure the wires are still connected when you open and shut the car door.

The crossover is not set correctly

This is yet another reason for car speakers not working on one side of your vehicle. Make sure you have the speaker's crossover as well as phase set properly if the car's left or right speakers suddenly stopped working. Switching the RCA cables and turning on the system will allow you to examine the crossover or the input of the intermediate part.

The crossover may be the cause of the left channel stopping while the right channel continues to function. You can rule out a crossover issue if the left speaker quits functioning and then the right one starts to work.

Select whether to fix or change out the crossover after determining that it is broken. Be aware that crossover installation involves a lot of work and requires some technical knowledge. Consider hiring a skilled technician to make sure your system is secure.

Loose Or damaged speaker wire

One section of the speaker may not operate if there's been any kind of harm to the cabling in the vehicle. This may result from a variety of events, including mishaps, bad weather, or even mice gnawing on the wires.

You must do a continuity check to determine whether the speaker's input power and the head unit's power output are identical. Using a multimeter is an easy way to accomplish this.

If there are any discrepancies between the input and output voltage, your wire harnesses need to be repaired or replaced. You should check the following items if you are certain that the wires are not the problem.

Bad car radio

The issue with your car speaker is most likely caused by a defective car radio. The speaker may brief out or stop functioning entirely if your car radio is broken.

In certain instances, a poor car radio might even harm the wiring, which may cause more issues in the future.

It's a wise idea to begin by inspecting the state of the car stereo if you're having issues with the car speakers. You might think about changing it if it's not in an excellent state.

Faulty audio output or transistors

A damaged audio output jack may result in the automobile speaker malfunctioning on one side. Transistors work the same way. The automobile speaker may stop working properly if they aren't functioning properly.

Assess the transistors and audio output jack to determine if they are the cause of the matter if you're having this issue. Using a multimeter, you can test them to determine this.

To fix this problem, just swap out the damaged output jack for a new one. Nevertheless, changing transistors might be a major hassle for inexperienced users, therefore we advise against trying it unless you are familiar with electrical circuits.

Faulty speaker

Poor speaker quality can lead to issues. You can take several actions to investigate and resolve the problem. Each of these actions should be followed to diagnose this issue as soon as possible.

First, examine the problematic speaker. It's conceivable that your speaker has to be changed since it was harmed by the weather or other conditions.

Disconnect the speaker from the radio then use an interim connection straight from the amplifier to hear if any sound is coming from it to determine if it is working or not.

To ensure the speaker is receiving enough power, you should also test the power in the speaker cable. When you attach a multimeter to the speaker cords, it ought to display 12 volts.

Switching the speakers is yet another method of verification. You can simply switch the speakers to determine if the problem is with the speaker or anything else.

After being switched, if the broken speaker begins to make a sound, it is not a faulty speaker. To fix the problem, you should look for any additional problems with your car entertainment system.

It's time to replace the speaker if it doesn't function properly in its new location.