One Speaker not Working?

[VicS1950]

My 2001 Executive 6000 radio/head unit had one speaker not working. I checked the speaker connections and did a quick brush scratch test on the speakers with a 1 1/2 volt battery. The speakers were working. I explored replacing the unit with a car stereo that has the front face aux input and USB capability. Turns out that is a viable inexpensive option if you're willing to adapt a cover to fit the existing cabinet mounting hole for DIN mount.

Before calling the code I decided to try one more thing. I stuck the red snoot tube of a WD-40 can into the 1/8" front face speaker/earphone output jack. I gave a quick spritz and then took an earphone plug and inserted and removed it few times. The dead speaker came to life and is now working fine.

The main speakers are shut off when the earphone jack is used. Apparently over time the contacts in my jack got a bit dirty and one speaker stopped working. The WD-40 combined with the in/out plug action was enough to clean them.

Electronic contact cleaner is probably better than WD-40. For this application WD-40 is fine. Don't ever use it on a scratchy volume control though.

This might be worth trying before you replace your sound unit. The earphone jack is a common feature on many brands. FWIW. vic