C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

1989 Corvette Speakers

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Old Jul 14, 2012 | 03:25 PM
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Default 1989 Corvette Speakers

My speakers turn on and when they do they pop and have a weird high pitched noise and my antenna is broke off so I could never tell if my speakers and amps were good. So I went out and bought a cassette tape today and went to test and all I could hear was the pop and high pitched sound even with the cassette in, no music at all was coming out.

Could this be, because my antenna is broke or what? Also if I were to replace all speakers and the head unit in the car would that fix it guaranteed or would it still do that?

Would like to get that fixed before I replace everything so it does not ruin the new equipment I just bought.

Thanks, Stephen
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Old Jul 14, 2012 | 03:33 PM
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Sounds like the amps are bad. I have replaced all of mine. (all four) New/rebuilt ones may cost $50 - 100 a piece. Replacing the ones in the door speakers are a PITA. If the car does not need to be all original, you may want to investigate replacing the whole system or go without music.
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Old Jul 14, 2012 | 03:42 PM
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Originally Posted by tazdpc
Sounds like the amps are bad. I have replaced all of mine. (all four) New/rebuilt ones may cost $50 - 100 a piece. Replacing the ones in the door speakers are a PITA. If the car does not need to be all original, you may want to investigate replacing the whole system or go without music.
Do you know if the speakers will work at all without an antenna, if I am using a cassette tape? Or would no antenna make it not work at all.
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Old Jul 14, 2012 | 04:37 PM
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Music for cassette is not dependent on the antenna. Even the radio is only dependent [on the antenna] for reception.
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Old Jul 14, 2012 | 04:43 PM
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Originally Posted by GREGGPENN
Music for cassette is not dependent on the antenna. Even the radio is only dependent [on the antenna] for reception.
So the cassette should work anyway? If so then do you happen to know what is wrong with it to why it will not work and is only making a high pitch sound and popping noise.
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Old Jul 15, 2012 | 01:16 AM
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One of the speakers (or amps) is grounded to the frame (frayed wire). Could also be blown amps as already suggested.

Since speaker wire goes thru the door(s), that's a good spot for failure.

Lots and lots of these Blose amps blow.
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Old Jul 15, 2012 | 04:21 PM
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This is a very common problem on early C4's with the Bose systems. The capacitors in the built in Bose amps are all fried. Your amps which can be found in the 4 individual speaker enclosures need to be rebuilt.

Check out these links;

http://carstereohelp.net/troubleshoo...rvetteBose.htm

http://carstereohelp.net/troubleshoo...vetteBose1.htm

http://www.carstereohelp.com/strcorvette.htm

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...more-time.html

https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...D=58&TopicID=2


You can try to do this yourself or send the amps out to have it done w/a lifetime guarantee for $80~$85 per amp.

Last edited by mako41; Jul 15, 2012 at 04:28 PM.
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Old Jul 19, 2012 | 10:23 AM
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Decided I will just rip out all the bose and put in a whole new head unit and speakers.

By doing this will it for sure fix my problem.
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