Hi all

I just would like to know where the speakers in the front of a '99 Stratus are located, as I have lost audio on the left hand side of the car. I know there one in each door, but is there also one in each side of the dash? If so, are the dash speakers difficult to replace? How about replacing a door speaker, is it difficult?

Thanks!
Don

 

Did you check the Balance/Fader controls on the Radio ???

 

Are you referring to the Balance/Fader control on the stock radio? I have replaced the stock radio with aSony model and have tried the Balance/Fader control. I know for sure that the speaker in the left door is broken, just wondering if there is a speaker in the front left dash?

Thanks

 

It is my understanding that not all of the stratuses have the 6 speaker system in them. My '00 ES _does_ have the speakers on the dashboard. If you have simultaneously lost sound to all of the speakers on one side of the car, it is most likely do to a faulty head unit. Another possiblilty is a short due to the faulty door speaker.

Has the left side worked AFTER installing the sony radio? Check wires and connections to the new radio?
More information on your car (se/es?) im sure would greatly help.

 

I have had the Sony radio since I bought the car in '03. Not sure if this is related but I have noticed that I get a "Failure" message on the display of the radio sometimes when the right door is opened and the car is running. The sound drops really low and I have to switch the radio from radio to CD and then back to restore the sound. The audio missing from the left side of the car has been intermittent for about two months now.

The audio on the left hand side is definetly missing from the door speaker, as when I change the balance from left to right, I can hear the audio from the right door speaker and rear right speaker, but when I go to change it to left, there is no audio from the left door speaker but there is audio from the left rear speaker.

I have a standard? model of a '99 Stratus four door sedan, 2.4L 16valve.

How do I can access to the rear of the radio to check connectors?

thanks again

 

Ok,
Definately sounds like a wiring issue. Still can't rule out the radio yet though. You'll need a screwdriver (or small socket). It's rather easy to get to the radio. At the top of the plastic surrounding the radio/ac controls, pull out gently. It is held in only by small metal clips. A good solid POP is not a bad sound in this case. The plastic off, you'll see the screws that hold the radio mount. remove those screws and pull the radio out gently. This will expose the wiring harness and all the wires there. Depending on who/where the installation took place, is if they used a direct attachment (plug into factory, directly to radio) or most likely there is tape connections. I recommend removing the tape from each wire, and re-taping it tightly with good quality pvc electrical tape (3m is best IMHO). Also check the plug into the back of the radio to make sure it hasen't loosened up over the years. If all connections seem solid there, if you still have the stock radio, you can use this to see if the problem carries over, which could indicate a short between the radio and the speakers themselves. If that works (or if you don't have the factory radio anymore), this is a great time to head to your favorite audio store and get a new radio.

Good luck, keep me posted.
If you're around NE-PA, private message me, and I'll see what I can do for ya.

 

Hi Ratsttam,

I removed the radio from the mount and it has wire connections. I checked the install guide and it all seems fine. Thru some de-snagging work I found that the left door speaker is u/s. I basically swapped the left/right door speakers and the right one works fine connected to the left door wiring, so it is the speaker.

Does the '99 Stratus have a dash speakers? If so, both seem to be working fine.

Also, I had to bend back the metal speaker mesh to access the left/right door speakers. Is there a way to remove door handle, so I don't have to bend the mesh again, as I am sure this will weaken it to the point of breaking.

Thanks!

 

The metal mesh should actually come out. there is 4 tabs (2 top, 2 bottom). A gentle pull should pop it off without too much bending.