Expert: Cleggsan - 7/1/2010

Question
installed new radio and speakers on my 91'lebaron convert. I get hard snap sounds from my new speaker with only moderat volume. I don't know what infinity audio is, or if the original radio and speakers I replaced are. mo#5269176 is the radio. Can you tell me if it is an infinity radio. and why it might effect my new componants? I have the old speakers all original for the car. The crutchfield people distribute the alpine radio say that the old infinity wireing may be the problem or an amplifier?

Answer
If the car has an original Infinity system it will be so stated on the radio unit; their name is always on it if that is what you've got.   If so, read on.

The Infinity system that was originally installed in that car probably had the older low impedance speakers - they were sometimes only 1 or 2 ohms and the amplifier was specially designed to handle them. If the new head unit does not have low impedance drive it will go in and out of protection when driving those low impedance speakers.

Not knowing exactly what you have it is impossible to give you a definitive answer but the first thing that comes to me mind is the interface between the amp and speakers.  Then, if that seems okey you should look at the wiring especially checking the grounds for each speaker line.

Now, there were other non-Infinity systems installed in Chrysler cars during that period and they were totally different designs.  But, the wiring was probably the same. You can google for the wiring diagrams and check that out against the unit you have in the car.  If you have a vom you can measure the dc resistance of the speakers and determine if they are like 1 or 2 ohms OR more like 4 ohms which is the normal impedance of that era.

So, check it out and let me know if you have further questions.