stock subwoofer shorted out?

WildBlueWRX · 11-16-2006, 12:21 PM

i just realized i have a stock subwoofer in my car. the reason i didnt know it was there was cuz it doesnt work. i checked all my wiring, all my fuses and all my connections, and nothing is out of the ordinary. i finally ripped it apart to see if there was nething going on inside the sub box. what did i find out? the circuitboard is most likely fried. theres some sort of hard white material all over the transistors. ive never seen nething like it. im going to try to find another speaker and hook it up to see if its the board or the speaker, but most likely its the board. my question is...is there a way to order JUST the board? can i order the oem subwoofer from the dealer and would it be covered under my warranty? if not, how much does it cost? thanx guys.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

breathinez · 11-16-2006, 12:50 PM

My factory subwoofer stopped working also. I took it apart and looked at the speaker and the wires going to the cone came apart. So the amplifier works but no sound will go to the cone . I tried to solder them but they(the wires) are so small it pretty much just melts them. You could probably get a deal on a used one in the classifieds.

snorekl · 11-16-2006, 12:53 PM

If you car is under warranty, I'd start at the dealer and ask HIM the same questions. If not under warranty, look on Ebay or in the classifieds of NASIOC for someone selling the whole unit.

For as "good" as the stock sub is, I wouldn't screw with it too much or pay too much. You could buy an aftermarket sub for similar price perhaps. Find out your warranty options first.

WildBlueWRX · 11-16-2006, 01:25 PM

breathinez, apparently, thats the problem with mine. i just found the wire that ure talking about, and lo and behold...it came apart. i guess its a frequent problem with these speakers. but i will not let this defeat me. if i have to find a spare speaker somewhere, i will.

WebMasterP · 11-16-2006, 02:14 PM

I didn't know I had one for a long time because (a) I could barely hear it (b) I was told by everyone in the world they're mounted under the passanger seat, so that's where I checked, finally I checked under the drivers seat and... magic, it was there.

WildBlueWRX · 11-17-2006, 01:44 PM

y do u think it was under the driver seat?

limpstick · 11-18-2006, 01:57 AM

Man, how often do you detail your car?

Seems there's a lot of prob's with the stock sub. Mine was toast also. I remember a post where a guy said to push the cone in and out with your fingers and if it catches and feels rough and the sound kinda comes in when you push on it that it's shot. Well, that was mine to a tee.

WildBlueWRX · 11-18-2006, 11:16 AM

well, im still working on it. i tried what breathinez did and solder the wires to the cone. but stupid me didnt make the wire long enough, and when the cone vibrated, it ripped the wire off the solder. but atleast i know it works, so i should prolly just find a speaker somewhere.

c4sper · 07-19-2007, 01:18 PM

i also had this same problem with my oem sub breaking. the wire that goes to the cone broke. it basically cut itself in half. i heard that it's hard to solder but i found the key!!! and guess what i did this last night and it worked and i had BOOM BOOM back! and not to mention the fact that i didn't know it had volume adjustments on the side

lol. anyyyways i'm going to post up some pictures of what i did! the key to soldering this wire is to use what they call solder wick. it looks like it's braided much like the speaker wire (that goes to the cone). using this causes the stock wire to heat up faster joining the to wires quickly. also try not to solder the same thing twice because you can cause tiny cracks in the solder that will cause it to crack and break under the vibrations of the sub. annnnnyyyways i hope that helps! i'll post up some pictures if they came out later today. gluck

matt socal

speedin · 07-14-2009, 03:06 PM

Old thread yes, but here is some info I gathered because I had the same issue.

I had the pleasure of the wire breaking right at the cone, soldering works but its not permanent. I added some weatherstrip adhesive so i'll see how that works, but I doubt it will last long. 1st solder job held up, but I turned on some Ludacris and less than a second later the solder broke. LOL! So see how it goes this time....

But some info to add......

The speaker is 120w max, 6in and 2.5in deep.

Using that I found these

http://www.allaudioexpo.com/c/6_inch...ers_178_1.html

So want a permanent fix? How does $15 sound? LOL. The companies arnt great, but then again this isnt a very high end subsystem. I couldn't find any subs from decent companies in the right size/watt/depth. Unless you wanted to try a component speaker in there.

BeBop86 · 06-30-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedin

Old thread yes, but here is some info I gathered because I had the same issue.

I had the pleasure of the wire breaking right at the cone, soldering works but its not permanent. I added some weatherstrip adhesive so i'll see how that works, but I doubt it will last long. 1st solder job held up, but I turned on some Ludacris and less than a second later the solder broke. LOL! So see how it goes this time....

But some info to add......

The speaker is 120w max, 6in and 2.5in deep.

Using that I found these

http://www.allaudioexpo.com/c/6_inch...ers_178_1.html

So want a permanent fix? How does $15 sound? LOL. The companies arnt great, but then again this isnt a very high end subsystem. I couldn't find any subs from decent companies in the right size/watt/depth. Unless you wanted to try a component speaker in there.

Did you replace the speaker?

How does it sound now in comparison?

geckoboy86 · 07-18-2011, 05:25 PM

Anyone know where to just get a new woofer to just put in this box? I know the mounting depth is next to nothing.

Cardiff Giant · 07-18-2011, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoboy86

Anyone know where to just get a new woofer to just put in this box? I know the mounting depth is next to nothing.

You likely wouldn't be able to power a "real" subwoofer off the tiny built in amp. If yours is damaged, you're better off getting a new unit or just putting an aftermarket option in there (Sound Ordinance B-8PT or KSC-SW10 for example or build a box for a dedicated sub/amp combo).

11-16-2006, 12:21 PM	#1
WildBlueWRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 111164 Join Date: Mar 2006 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: york, pa Vehicle: 2008 Legacy 2.5GT Obsidian Black Pearl	stock subwoofer shorted out? i just realized i have a stock subwoofer in my car. the reason i didnt know it was there was cuz it doesnt work. i checked all my wiring, all my fuses and all my connections, and nothing is out of the ordinary. i finally ripped it apart to see if there was nething going on inside the sub box. what did i find out? the circuitboard is most likely fried. theres some sort of hard white material all over the transistors. ive never seen nething like it. im going to try to find another speaker and hook it up to see if its the board or the speaker, but most likely its the board. my question is...is there a way to order JUST the board? can i order the oem subwoofer from the dealer and would it be covered under my warranty? if not, how much does it cost? thanx guys. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Subwoofer blowing out headlight bulbs?	RuWRXcrazy2	Electrical & Lighting	7	07-11-2005 07:10 PM
My subwoofer konked out	Choku Dori	Car Audio, Video & Security	4	10-05-2002 08:34 PM
How does the stock subwoofer connect to the stock WRX radio?	ImprezedRS	Car Audio, Video & Security	2	05-29-2001 01:52 AM
TWO stock subwoofers?	Longitude	Car Audio, Video & Security	4	05-22-2001 10:03 PM
Stock Subwoofer wanted!!	adamsrs	Car Audio, Video & Security	1	02-21-2001 05:06 PM

11-16-2006, 12:50 PM	#2
breathinez Scooby Specialist Member#: 79859 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Greensboro, N.C. Vehicle: 2002 384 whp 332.5 lbs	My factory subwoofer stopped working also. I took it apart and looked at the speaker and the wires going to the cone came apart. So the amplifier works but no sound will go to the cone . I tried to solder them but they(the wires) are so small it pretty much just melts them. You could probably get a deal on a used one in the classifieds.

11-16-2006, 12:53 PM	#3
snorekl Scooby Specialist Member#: 78139 Join Date: Dec 2004 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Northern Suburb of Detroit Vehicle: 2005 Saab 9-2X Red	If you car is under warranty, I'd start at the dealer and ask HIM the same questions. If not under warranty, look on Ebay or in the classifieds of NASIOC for someone selling the whole unit. For as "good" as the stock sub is, I wouldn't screw with it too much or pay too much. You could buy an aftermarket sub for similar price perhaps. Find out your warranty options first.

11-16-2006, 01:25 PM	#4
WildBlueWRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 111164 Join Date: Mar 2006 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: york, pa Vehicle: 2008 Legacy 2.5GT Obsidian Black Pearl	breathinez, apparently, thats the problem with mine. i just found the wire that ure talking about, and lo and behold...it came apart. i guess its a frequent problem with these speakers. but i will not let this defeat me. if i have to find a spare speaker somewhere, i will.

11-16-2006, 02:14 PM	#5
WebMasterP Scooby Specialist Member#: 121062 Join Date: Jul 2006 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Seattle, WA Vehicle: 2006 STi [STU Trim] World Rally Blue	I didn't know I had one for a long time because (a) I could barely hear it (b) I was told by everyone in the world they're mounted under the passanger seat, so that's where I checked, finally I checked under the drivers seat and... magic, it was there.

11-17-2006, 01:44 PM	#6
WildBlueWRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 111164 Join Date: Mar 2006 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: york, pa Vehicle: 2008 Legacy 2.5GT Obsidian Black Pearl	y do u think it was under the driver seat?

11-18-2006, 01:57 AM	#7
limpstick Scooby Newbie Member#: 104418 Join Date: Jan 2006 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Mission Vehicle: 2002 braless WRX In a blue skirt	Man, how often do you detail your car? Seems there's a lot of prob's with the stock sub. Mine was toast also. I remember a post where a guy said to push the cone in and out with your fingers and if it catches and feels rough and the sound kinda comes in when you push on it that it's shot. Well, that was mine to a tee.

11-18-2006, 11:16 AM	#8
WildBlueWRX Scooby Newbie Member#: 111164 Join Date: Mar 2006 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: york, pa Vehicle: 2008 Legacy 2.5GT Obsidian Black Pearl	well, im still working on it. i tried what breathinez did and solder the wires to the cone. but stupid me didnt make the wire long enough, and when the cone vibrated, it ripped the wire off the solder. but atleast i know it works, so i should prolly just find a speaker somewhere.

07-19-2007, 01:18 PM	#9
c4sper Scooby Newbie Member#: 152776 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: SOCAL Vehicle: 2003 2.5 hybrid WRX Sedona Red Pearl	i also had this same problem with my oem sub breaking. the wire that goes to the cone broke. it basically cut itself in half. i heard that it's hard to solder but i found the key!!! and guess what i did this last night and it worked and i had BOOM BOOM back! and not to mention the fact that i didn't know it had volume adjustments on the side lol. anyyyways i'm going to post up some pictures of what i did! the key to soldering this wire is to use what they call solder wick. it looks like it's braided much like the speaker wire (that goes to the cone). using this causes the stock wire to heat up faster joining the to wires quickly. also try not to solder the same thing twice because you can cause tiny cracks in the solder that will cause it to crack and break under the vibrations of the sub. annnnnyyyways i hope that helps! i'll post up some pictures if they came out later today. gluck matt socal

07-14-2009, 03:06 PM	#10
speedin Scooby Newbie Member#: 79858 Join Date: Jan 2005 Chapter/Region: South East Location: Charlotte, NC Vehicle: 2002 WRX Black	Old thread yes, but here is some info I gathered because I had the same issue. I had the pleasure of the wire breaking right at the cone, soldering works but its not permanent. I added some weatherstrip adhesive so i'll see how that works, but I doubt it will last long. 1st solder job held up, but I turned on some Ludacris and less than a second later the solder broke. LOL! So see how it goes this time.... But some info to add...... The speaker is 120w max, 6in and 2.5in deep. Using that I found these http://www.allaudioexpo.com/c/6_inch...ers_178_1.html So want a permanent fix? How does $15 sound? LOL. The companies arnt great, but then again this isnt a very high end subsystem. I couldn't find any subs from decent companies in the right size/watt/depth. Unless you wanted to try a component speaker in there.

07-18-2011, 05:25 PM	#12
geckoboy86 Scooby Newbie Member#: 237706 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: C-burg, PA Vehicle: 2006 Outback 3.0R OBP	Anyone know where to just get a new woofer to just put in this box? I know the mounting depth is next to nothing.