Car Stereos: 03 maxima, L Channel cuts out, factory cd, bose system

Question
Left channel was intermittent, then finally stopped working altogether. I don't have a Bose system, just the factory cd/tape/AM FM radio. I have heard that it's a loose connector in the radio. What do you know about this problem? I know how to get the radio out of the car.

Answer
Alan,

The loose wire could be anywhere between the radio and the speaker.  If the whole left side (front and back) is gone, then the short is definitely inside the radio, and it will have to be removed and repaired.  If you remove the radio yourself, the repair should be less than $80.  If the non-working speaker is just the front or rear speaker, just short may likely be in the wiring from the radio to the speaker.  The first thing I would do, is accessing the speaker and making sure the connection is good.  Second, I would track the wire back from the speaker toward the radio and look for rub points where the wire could have been rubbing and the wire is bare.  It is much easier for a repair or install shop to locate shorted wires, but you can do it as well.  It will just take awhile probably.  A repair shop will probably charge $150 - $200 to find a short and repair it.  Hope this helps, Scott