Hey guys,

Usually I am able to find the answer to my question through researching on here saying every issue I have ever had with one of my 4runners has happened before but couldn't find any information regarding the rear door speakers not working as well as front.
The rear speakers are a lot quiter (still sound fine so I wouldnt think they are blown but I am no speaker expert). I can only hear them when I put the fade to the back of the vehicle, but when it is balanced at 0, you cannot hear them even when your ear is next to it. This just happened, they were working great a week ago.

Anyone got any ideas of what it could be? I have pulled the HU out before so I was thinking that maybe the wires came loose??? Like I said, I am no expert on speakers/wiring so do not know what to look for when it comes to them.

Its a 2003 v8 Limited
Thanks for you help!

Party on

If you have the JBL synthesis setup then all the speaker signals run from the head unit to the amp from the amp to the speakers. I've heard of people having trouble with the factory amp causing sections of speakers to go out such as all the rear or all the front.

If you want to switch things up and go with a new head unit you can by-pass the factory amp buy cutting and splicing all the corresponding speaker signal wires running in and out of the amp through the electrical connector. Just add a 250watt amp to run the existing JBL sub or replace the sub as well with a similar 8" sub. your door speakers should be fine as the factory radio simply doesn't push them hard enough to cause damage.

Yeah its the JBL system. Love it, everything sounds great through them. Especially compared to my last 1990 4runner.

So do you believe it is the head unit causing this or the amp? The reason I ask is because the guy I bought it from replaced the head unit but never replaced the amp, when I bought it from him I talked him down a bunch and we agreed to have the original HU put back in and I had troubles with the front door speakers but was able to pull everything apart and just mess with the wires where they plugged in and they started working again the next time I drove it. So is it possible that the HU he had in it messed up the system?

This is a known issue with the JBL. The only way I was able to improve it was to put a set of 3 way speakers back there, they sounded a lot better IMO

It sounds like that may be the case here kev. I'm no electronic expert and actually I hate more than anything when I have problems with my stereo. I really really really really enjoy my tunes and without them I can get grumpy. I also hate when a stereo sucks as far as sound goes. My 04 has the stock system not jbl. I have the 1990's ghetto setup of a tape with a chord to hook up my ipod. It is horrible and it sounds like all the sound comes out of the left side speakers. I have made some cd's but I have a lot of different tunes so I dont want to make 100 cd's. It's as simple as just getting a different HU and some speakers..Yet every time I make the decision to get them something comes up financially and I have to wait. I have no idea why I just made that rant about my own vehicle when all I wanted to really say was it sounds like you should take it to a pro and let them figure it out by replacing whatever is causing the problem.

It could be faulty wiring without being 100% certain of whats been done with everything.

Typically when you replace the headunit in the JBL setup you have to by pass the amp as the aftermarket HU is designed to push all the speakers on it's own. The factory HU requires the help of a 5 channel amp to push all the speakers in the truck. If the factory amp has been by-passed and your running the factory HU then your lacking the wattage to push all the speakers

If the factory amp is still installed and wired correctly It could be a bad amp causing the troubles

I suppose to properly determine the issue, ensure all wiring at the head unit is correct and secure. Then pull the passenger side rear cargo panel and check for A.) the factory amp (that it's still there) B.) that the wiring is still proper. If all that checks out it's likely the amp has or is failing.

If your amp is going out and you'd like to keep the factory setup I would troll the forum's for anyone that has upgraded there factory JBL sub and amp and see if they're willing to sell there old factory amp to you. there crazy expensive from toyota. hope this helps

and I can say my amp an sub started going bad about 4 months ago I just recently replaced the HU with a kenwood and went with a JL audio sub and amp setup. I disconnected the center speaker, by-passed the original amp and IMO best sound system I've ever owned running factory JBL speakers.

97BlackAckCL - what did you go with?

zonian - yeah it sucks ha, I was hoping to not have to put to much into it because it doesnt affect me really other than I hate when something in my car isnt working perfect. I cant notice it myself but passengers do. I also wont even be driving it that much because I get a new truck for work in a month (unfortunately its a ford) but with free gas and I get to use it for whatever I want, might as well drive it instead of my 4runner unless I need to haul a bunch of people

Thanks for the information AHA.. Seems like your all over this site haha
I like the set up you got going! If I decide to hold onto this thing for awhile, might have to steal some ideas from you.