Driver side speakers - intermittent???
 

The driver side speakers in my 2007 HHR work one day and don't the next. Sometimes the tweeter is the only one to work and sometimes they all work. It's driving me crazy! Has anyone else ran across this problem? I'm figuring the head unit is bad. Any comments or solutions would be appreciated.

Check out ebay for a new head unit and prices just in case.

Yes, I have the same problem with my '06. I bought it last summer and didn't notice a problem at first, then the left side became intermittent but, as with yours, the tweeter works. It is no longer intermittent... it just never works.

I do not suspect the head unit because it also affects the chimes. The signal light click works but I think it plays through the tweeter. The driver's seat belt, key in, and lights on chimes are barely audible through the tweeter. The passenger's seat belt chime plays through the passenger side speakers, and it works fine.

I suspected that an aftermarket stereo had been installed at one time, then the wiring not put back correctly when the OEM radio was reinstalled, but I pulled it out last weekend and the original radio does not appear to have ever been out. The wiring looks original, with no signs of splicing.

I suspect that there's a module under the dash somewhere that interfaces the stereo to the various chimes. If this actually goes through the head unit, then maybe that is the problem. If they come from somewhere else and do not pass through the head unit, then the problem is downstream. I do not think that they go through the head unit, though, because I know you can put an aftermarket stereo in with the appropriate adapter and everything still works.

I'm having the same problem with my 06 hHR. Someone on the forum told me that his did the same thing and when he replaced the speakers it was fine. I still want to blame the head unit. Although the tweeter on the dash works fine and I'm assuming it's tied in to the front channel. Like yours, one day they would work and the next day they wouldn't. Didn't take long for it to stop completely. The tweeter still works fine but the front and back right side are gone. I think these stereos should have been recalled.

Just from past posts and what I have seen I would bet its the speaker its self. ;)

I had the same problem,my left side speakers would work intermittently and my right side didn't work at all. I purchased another radio only to find the same problem existed. I tested the speaker wires coming out of the radio and found they were working. I took off one of the door panels ,removed the wires from the speaker and connected another speaker which worked fine. I have since replaced all the speakers with new Sony speakers and everything is working fine. The original speakers are junk!!

I have an '06 and my driver's side speaker sounded distorted. I thought it had blown. I replaced both front door speakers with some Boston Accoustic and they sound great.

I was suprised because the speaker wasn't blown. The door, however, had water inside the panel. The speaker sounded this way for about a year or so. I don't know how long the water had been in there, but I do know that I'll never have paper cones again. Of course now I want to add a SW but I don't want to spend a lot for an amp.

I usually listen to my Roady, CDs, or music from my phone or tablet. The new front speakers made a huge difference. I don't need a lot of power. I just want quality in the sound that I do have. This is why I don't use the FM mod for media. THE WIRES ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY, THOUGH.

Same issue with my wife 05 Cobalt on the drivers door, but it wasn't from water damage-speaker just went bad...Always test the speaker output at the actual speaker. Throw a meter (set to 12V DC) on in the wires with the speaker disconnected with the radio on-DC Voltage should fluctuate with the music. If you have a known good extra speaker rig with alligator clips and wire to see if the known good speaker works. Always work from the last output item on your stereo and the work your way in-could save you time & frustration by not having to remove your dash & radio.

I too have this problem. I am only getting a faint sound out of passenger side piller speaker. I replaced the old radio with a new replacement radio and still didnot fix the problem.

Mine turned out to be bad speakers. Replaced with kicker components- Problem solved.