Car Speaker not Working on One Side – Causes & How To Fix

One of the most common issues you will face with your car speaker is when it stops working on one side. This can be a real headache, especially if this happens while you are driving. There are different reasons why a car speaker would stop working correctly on one side, and there are steps you can take to address the problem or get a new set of speakers.

car speaker not working on one side

Your Speaker May Be Damaged

Check the speaker for any cracks or tears, and use your finger to test a small portion of it. If you notice any damage, you’ll need to buy a new one and install it yourself if you can’t find someone to do it for you right away.

It Could Be Loose

Sometimes, speakers are simply not tight enough on their posts, which causes them not to work properly. When this happens, the first thing you should do is check the tightness of each screw on both sides of the speaker’s post so that they’re tightened down evenly before attempting anything else (like replacing parts).

Faulty Wires

If you’re experiencing issues with your speaker system, the wiring may be wrong. This can be due to a loose connection or a faulty power supply. The first thing you should do is check all of the wires to make sure they are securely fastened in place. If they are tight and secure, try turning off your radio and checking for blown fuses. If none of this helps resolve your issue, one of the speakers most likely needs to be replaced or repaired.

Insecure Connections

If your car speaker isn’t working on one side, the connections may be loose, broken, or corroded. To troubleshoot this problem:

  • Check all of the wiring connections for corrosion, damage, or looseness. 

If there is any sign of corrosion or damage in the wire itself (such as a broken outer sheath), replace it with a new section of wire.

  • Check all connections at each cable end (such as at your stereo head unit) to ensure they are secure and not loose.

 If you notice any signs of corrosion here, disconnect these cables from their respective plugs, and clean them with fine sandpaper before reattaching them to their separate plugs. 

Bad Radio Setting

If you have a good radio, but it’s not working, the first thing to do is check the radio settings. Older cars can do this by pressing the volume button until you hear a beep, then pressing another button. You will hear a tone or see a display if your radio is set correctly for your model.

With newer cars, this process is done through programming software or an interface cable connected to your computer.

Check with your local dealership for more information on programming your car’s stereo system if this sounds like something you’d like to try.

The Balance Control Setting is Set Incorrectly

Each audio component in your car has its balance control, and one side of your system may be set incorrectly. First, check the settings on your radio (if it has a balance control) and then move on to other components like CD players, cassette players, and CD changers.

Check the head unit settings. Most radios have features that allow you to adjust how much volume each speaker produces independently of one another. If you don’t see anything labeled “balance,” check for an Equalizer setting; this may be labeled differently depending on the brand of stereo you have installed. 

While most radios allow for multiple presets for these tone controls, there might only be room for two different configurations: one with more bass and treble on one side than the other; another with less bass and treble on one side than another. 

Audio Output Jack or Transistors are Bad

If the speaker is wired correctly, but the problem persists, check to see if your car’s electrical system is working properly. Check the battery cables, fuses, and other connections that can cause a power shortage. If you’re unsure how to do this, contact a mechanic or look at your owner’s manual for instructions on testing the car’s electrical system.

If those tests show no problems with wiring or power supply units (PSUs), it could be a broken audio output jack or transistors inside the speaker. You may need a professional to identify which components failed before replacing them.

You should also check whether any equalizer/crossover issues might be affecting only one side of your stereo system rather than both speakers at once. This would make it seem like only one side was working when both were dead.

Read: Car Radio Won’t Turn Off

How to Fix The Issue of a Car Speaker Not Working on One Side

1. Inspect The Car Radio

If the radio is on and there is no CD in it, check to ensure that your car is playing the correct frequency. Some cars have an FM/AM function, which means they can play AM and FM stations. If your vehicle has this capability, check that you have selected the correct mode (AM or FM) before listening to a station.

If the radio is producing sound from one side only, then it’s possible that your car stereo isn’t set up properly. First, try turning off all of your speakers by pressing their ‘off’ button for about ten seconds. This will reset them back to factory settings. If this doesn’t fix the problem, consult a professional technician who knows how to fix car stereos.

2. Examine The Speaker

Before taking any other steps, ensure that the speaker is not damaged in any way. Check for loose connections or broken wires. If there are no obvious physical problems with the speaker, try disconnecting it from its wiring and reconnecting it to see if that fixes the problem.

If this doesn’t solve the issue and your car speakers are still only working on one side, it may be time to replace them entirely. This can be expensive, so make sure to find out which speakers are compatible with your vehicle before purchasing replacements.

3. Check the Power Supply

Check the power supply cable. This cable runs between the battery and other parts of your vehicle’s electrical system; if it gets damaged or disconnected anywhere along its path, it can prevent adequate power from reaching your speakers.

Fuses are safety mechanisms that shut down electrical circuits in the event of a short-circuit or excessive load on an electrical device, such as your car speakers.

The most common type of fuse found in cars is called “blade” or “spade” fuse; these look like small pieces of metal with two wires sticking out (one red and one black). You can find them either near your car’s battery, underneath its hood, or behind its dashboard. This depends on how old your car is and where it was manufactured.

4. Swap the Speakers

To test whether the speaker is faulty, remove it from the car and take it to a local electronics store. Using an audio cable, you can test the speaker on an amplifier or sound system. If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the speaker with a new one.

5. Balance the Settings

To balance the settings, you will need to access the speaker’s menu to balance the settings. This can be done by pressing and holding the speaker’s power button for five seconds or until it powers off. Then, hold down your phone’s home button for three seconds and release it so you can see all of your apps on the screen.

Select “Settings” from this list of apps and open it up by tapping its title bar again. Scroll down until you see “Sound” or “Audio Output Settings” if you are using an Android device; if using iOS, select “Speaker Settings.”

Read: How to Mirror Android to Car Screen

6. Scan The Wiring of Your Car

Check all the wires in your car to ensure they’re connected securely. If one of the wires is loose, you can either reattach it or replace it with a new one. Next, check for any damage on the wiring itself: corrosion or fraying are both signs of wear and tear that indicate there’s something wrong with your car’s system.

Next, make sure there aren’t any breaks in any wires (you may have to use a magnifying glass). Finally, look for loose connections or short circuits. If you spot either of these issues, contact an expert immediately.

7. Examine the Audio System

If your sound comes from only one side of the car, you may need to check the audio system. First, try disconnecting and reconnecting all of your speaker connections. It could be a bad grounding issue. You can check out this post that addresses some of the most common symptoms of a bad ground car audio.

The second step is to turn off the car and unplug it for 10 seconds. After this, plug in and turn it on again before testing if your speaker works.

8. Check For Continuity

If you have a multimeter and know how to use it, check the speaker connections by placing the meter’s leads across either terminal of the speaker.

You should get a reading in the range of a few ohms (a very low reading). If you have a continuity tester, place its probes at each end of the wire.

If you don’t get a tone when touching them together, then there’s no current flowing through that particular connection. This means it needs to be looked at more closely (the most likely causes are loose or broken wiring).