I have a 2009 cobalt LT with the pioneer premium stereo. The head unit appears to be working but sometimes the speakers work and sometimes none of the speakers work. I assume it has something to do with the amp either not always working or maybe the signal that tells the amp to turn is is not working, I have checked the fuse which looked fine, and even tried replacing it but it doesn't make a difference. Is there any basic trouble shooting steps that I can try to identify if the head unit is the problem, wires or perhaps the amp itself? I'd rather not randomly try replacing parts if there is a way to identify what part is the problem. I also know that my car has a recall on the ignition switch so I'm wondering if that could some how come into play with all of this.

 

The door speakers are known to have corrode from the amount of environmental damage they take, assuming you're left these stock. The rear deck speakers I would check as well if you haul a lot of stuff in the trunk for general damage. Sounds like there may be a wire break somewhere.

 

Something is definately flaky. Yes, everything is currently stock. Sometimes all the of speakers work, sometimes none of the speakers work. Since the speakers eventually start to work again my thought is either the radio is not telling the amp to power on or the amp sometimes responds to the signal to power on and sometimes not. I thought about buying an OEM amp off of ebay but I read on a different thread that everything is VIN coded and I'd rather not deal with going to a dealership. In a couple of weeks I'm having the ignition switch replaced due to a recall and see if that some how ties into things. If not, I'm thinking of replacing the radio with an after market head unit along with getting an adapter bracket and wiring kit. If I still don't get any music, then I'll hard wire the speakers directly from the radio and that should definately resolve any possible "bad wire" situation.

 

probably too late but if you wire the speakers to the radio directly you are probably gonna blow the stock head unit. so at that point might as well go all out and get a new stereo to begin with. also i wouldnt anticipate the sub working if the amp is removed from the equation