chiph9

Driver's side isn't putting out any bass at all. Passenger side isn't sounding good either.

Since I don't know if the speaker is dead, or if the amp channel is dead, I'm going to order just one speaker at first and replace the driver's side. If it starts working I'll either repair the foam on the passenger side (most likely thing wrong with it) or order another speaker. If it doesn't start working, the replacement will go in the passenger door, and I'll consider if it's worth getting the Mark Levinson amp repaired.

Lexus of Atlanta has them for $163.

I used the Autosound 2000 disc 105 Track 24 to check this. Put that track on repeat, then use the balance/fader controls to target individual channels. Track 25 will test the mid-bass speaker found in the front doors, then Track 26 for the tweeter.

http://davidnavone.com/product/cd-10...test-software/

Chip H.

GXallday

Check the foam surround first. When I bought my GX last year the sound was terrible. Turned out the foam on both front 6x9's and the subwoofer were pretty much gone. I replaced foam on all three speakers myself, and it sounds great. Cost me under $50 total.

chiph9

I get no sound at all from the driver's door. Passenger door has distorted sound, which leads me to think it's the surround.

Chip H.

BradTank

If no sound is coming out, then I doubt it's a speaker problem, more likely a dead amp channel or wiring issue.

If the speaker is heavily distorted, it could be the foam surround.

A "redneck" repair I've had really good luck with is taking liquid electrical tape and simply painting the outside surrounding foam. It's basically the same stuff speaker repair places use.

I have an LS that also has the crappy Mark Levinson system and the foam has rotted, it's a widespread issue. you can clearly see the parts where the foam has separated from the center woofer.

I would say it fixes about 95% of the problem, if you really push the speaker you may hear some distortion, but you really have to listen for it. The other fixes are replacing the foam or simply replacing the entire speaker.

If Lexus charged a reasonable price for replacement speakers, I would just go with that, but it really adds up when you're replacing several.

I feel like there's very little to lose if the liquid tape option fails.

chiph9

Yeah, I just ordered the one speaker. If it fixes my driver's side problem, I'll leave it there and go the foam-repair route on the passenger side. If it doesn't fix the driver's side, I'll install it on the passenger side. And then start thinking about whether I want to repair the amp.

Chip H.

chiph9

Found out why the speaker wasn't working... The previous owner had cut the wire.


Cut speaker wire

After repairing the wire, I found the reason why they cut it - the speaker was blown. Why they didn't just disconnect the connector not 2" away I'll never understand...

So after replacing the speaker with the one I bought, I have mid-bass again in the driver's door.

Note to people buying replacements from Lexus - the speakers are shipped unprotected in the box. Be very careful how you cut the box open - if you go too deep with your knife you could damage your $200 purchase...


Replacement Mark Levinson 6x9" speaker.

Chip H.

ZCP

Wow so they spent the time to pull the door apart and instead of taking 30 seconds to disconnect the speaker they took 15 seconds to clip it.

chiph9

BONUS!

Repairing the driver's side 6x9 speaker resulted in the return of my spoken turn-by-turn directions from the nav unit.
So cool.

Chip H.