Radio problems

[knish71]

I recently purchased a '71 coupe with the original factory am-fm stereo radio. The problem is that I only get sound from the right speaker. I tried adjusting the balance to the left and get nothing. I tried to have a look at the speaker from under the dash but I cannot see it. How does one get at the left speaker on a C3 ? Any suggestions ?

Thanks

Robert

 

[76texvette]

Robert,
When I replaced both of my speakers in my '76, I had to start on the passenger side, removing the lower dash to be able to remove the upper dash. Of course, once you are in there you always find more things to fix.

 

[76okievette]

I am pretty sure you have to remove the dash to replace the speakers, I would slave in a speaker at the connection behind the radio to make sure that is the problem first. It may be a problem with the radio and the speaker is fine.

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Robert--if it turns out it is the speaker and you need to move the upper dash pad, BE CAREFUL--remember it's 35 years old and semi brittle from age and sun. A good tip is once you have the screws out, lay a electric blanket across the dash, use a hair dryer, or leave it out in the sun for awhile, to warm the dash up and gently lift up in the middle and that is usually enough room to clear the pillers on the side. If they are original speakers, you will probably find they are pretty crusty and dusty and 1970's technology--good luck

 

[knish71]

Holy crud, you must be kidding. I'd sooner go without sound from the left than have to go thru all that. With my luck, I'd ruin the whole thing. Thanks for the info, but I think I'll try 76okievettes suggestion and splice a speaker in to see what happens. What a pain. Great engineering eh? BTW, It's a '71 Lt-1 and I really prefer listening to the sound of the motor anyways. It's my wife that always want to listen to the radio. I'll havr to leave her at home more often. hahaha.

Robert

 

[Bob Chadwick]

If you are not intent on putting the speakers in their original position, you can probably pull off the tunnel covers and get to the speaker wires at the back of the radio. Splice into them and you should be off and running.

 

[Vette/Berlina-coupe]

A "note" of caution...

-as with any Stereo-radio/tape/cd exercise caution in not turning-up the volume for any length of time, as both channels of the amplifier need something to work-against or one-amplifier (in this case) will beat itself to death (is akin to holding your throttle to the floor while in "neutral", -you'll most likely blow the engine!). Your described problem is usually just a loose-wire if that one side is totally silent; -however, if you hear any noise at all, then problem could be in your volume-switch, balance-switch, speaker, or amplifier. Therefore, until you find out just what is wrong, be sure to adjust your stereo-balance to give sound on the operating-side, so that your balance-switch is thus functioning to prevent "over reving on the neutral side" you now understand (the bal.switch will thus impose the load on the amplifier's half that is not possibly being loaded as necessary). Note also, that the same caution must be exercised with a Mono-radio as well, --if a speaker-wire is loose, the single amplifier will destroy itself, --if you turn-up the volume for longer than a few seconds without its energy output doing actual work (ie: -moving the speaker-coil). ~Bob.vH :eyerole