[!Tommy]

I feel like chiming in just for the heck of it.

So @TLS1022, one thing you didn't mention is what type of stereo system do you have/trim level? Did you have the Bose sound system/LTZ(standard) or 2LT(available)? If I'm not mistaken, the amp for the Bose system is literally right behind the right brake/taillight. My guess is that it could've been damaged in the collision if you indeed had the Bose system both times. While it is strange that it would happen both times and only affect the front speakers, I wouldn't rule it out of the realm of possibility. It must've been a very hard collision as I was rear-ended in my 'Bu at the end of 2016 but it didn't do much damage at all even though it sure felt like it.

Now if you have the non-Bose premium audio system, then I'm not sure because I think the amp for that is under the rear window plate between the rear speakers. At least I'm pretty sure that's what it is but please someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.

So here's what I would at least to start with. Remove your door panel and take the speaker out with a 7mm socket. Unplug the factory harness. While leaving the key in the ignition so it would ""chime"", use a multimeter and check for voltage in the harness. As long as the key is in the ignition, the driver's side would chime. Even if you don't hear it through the speaker, it should still send voltage through the harness and the multimeter would tell you whether or not you have power going to the speaker. If not, then obviously something else isn't working right.

 

[Trooper]

I'm new to this forum. I've had my 08 Malibu for about 8 months now. I've had this issue with the speakers that when I got the car (used private sale) the door speakers were not working. After the weather warmed up the driver's door speaker started working on occasion. At about the same time that the speaker started working, the auto door locks on the front passenger door stopped working to unlock (they still lock, and still move a bit on unlock just not enough to actually unlock the car). I have been planning on new speakers for the doors and am glad I saw this thread about it and feel that should fix that issue. Now to find out about door locks. In addition to this new button issue, the driver side read door lock does not work with the remote and the inside door lock buttons do not work.

Rob
Trooper - 08 Malibu

 

[DrivenDaily]

I'm new to this forum. I've had my 08 Malibu for about 8 months now. I've had this issue with the speakers that when I got the car (used private sale) the door speakers were not working. After the weather warmed up the driver's door speaker started working on occasion. At about the same time that the speaker started working, the auto door locks on the front passenger door stopped working to unlock (they still lock, and still move a bit on unlock just not enough to actually unlock the car). I have been planning on new speakers for the doors and am glad I saw this thread about it and feel that should fix that issue. Now to find out about door locks. In addition to this new button issue, the driver side read door lock does not work with the remote and the inside door lock buttons do not work.

Rob
Trooper - 08 Malibu

Look for the How-To thread about the "$8 fix" for the locks. The door latch and the lock actuator motor are one device. Following that thread, you can add aftermarket actuators to bypass the stock ones. Common issue up through '09 or '10.

 

[EppikPhayle]

I was driving down the road when out of nowhere I just lost all of my speakers - except for both of my door tweeters and my F-R door speaker. Everything in the rear (deck & subs) remains completely silent, and the quality of the sound coming from the working speakers is trash. I *think* I might've blown the factory amp, but I've been trying to research it for a few days now and I've come up with nothing :/

I have just the basic system - not the premium Bose setup in case that makes any difference.

Texas is way too damn hot, y'all.

 

[DrivenDaily]

I was driving down the road when out of nowhere I just lost all of my speakers - except for both of my door tweeters and my F-R door speaker. Everything in the rear (deck & subs) remains completely silent, and the quality of the sound coming from the working speakers is trash. I *think* I might've blown the factory amp, but I've been trying to research it for a few days now and I've come up with nothing :/

I have just the basic system - not the premium Bose setup in case that makes any difference.

Texas is way too damn hot, y'all.

This is a well-known symptom of an epic failure of the speakers. If you have a known good speaker, try swapping out one that has failed and see if the sound improves.

 

[repairman54]

Stock speakers are junk. Change out the door and rear deck speakers, you'll be surprised how good the system sounds with good speakers. My base LS system now has enough bass to vibrate the rearview when cranked up.

 

[chevanimal]

Was the speaker the issue? I have the same problem, thought that it might be loose wiring

 

[teejaym]

Neither of the front door speakers in my wife's 2011 LT work. They used to.....
I recently had it to the dealer for a maintenance transmission service. I asked them to check why there was no sound from the speakers and they told me the speakers were shot. I'm in the process of replacing them (the dealer wanted over $300). This Malibu is an excellent car. It's a shame Chevy cheaped out on the sound system.

 

[cmj2012]

so i have been having this problem w/ my 2009 malibu, both of my front door speakers went out on the same day simultaneously and will randomly come back on. I am thinking it is an electrical issue but am unsure of where to look for problems. does anyone know of any trouble spots with the malibu door wiring?
I will look into it myself and if i can find the issue i will post it.

 

[repairman54]

Speakers are the #1 problem. In fact the speakers in my old '09 LS 'bu doors are the same ones in my '11 Tahoe doors and that has the Bose system in it. And yes I had to change a rear door speaker in the Tahoe also. Malibu had a dead speaker, the Tahoe had a rattling one.

 

[Darwin]

Delphi Man,

Do you plan to resolve these concerns on your own? If you decide to have your dealership look into this, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Erica Tiffany
Chevrolet Customer Care

heres the problem with that, my local GM dealer is a pain, this is a problem that is caused by the car not having proper wiring of some sort this isn’t something any of us have done so the GM dealership refuses to stand behind their product, I have a 2010 Malibu LS and the brake light issue everyone else has well I have the same, the door speaker issue everyone else has, yep you guessed it mines the same way....so my question is if there’s numerous people having the same issues shouldn’t that be a recall of some sort?

 

[DrivenDaily]

heres the problem with that, my local GM dealer is a pain, this is a problem that is caused by the car not having proper wiring of some sort this isn’t something any of us have done so the GM dealership refuses to stand behind their product, I have a 2010 Malibu LS and the brake light issue everyone else has well I have the same, the door speaker issue everyone else has, yep you guessed it mines the same way....so my question is if there’s numerous people having the same issues shouldn’t that be a recall of some sort?

Please understand a couple of things about CMF.

1. It isn't run or owned by GM.
2. We're all just owners like yourself. We come here to get help or guidance, or to share the same for the benefit of other owners.
3. The post you quoted is from a Chevy Cust Svc team member. They haven't posted here in years, and even when they did, the posts were just empty words without any substance.

Your car is 10 model years old. The coverage limits on it were up a long time ago. If you feel that GM should cover any items at this point, call them. My car is a 2011 and I don't look to GM for any coverage whatsoever. When my engine suffered a major issue at 94,ooo miles in early 2016, I called my Extended Warranty issuer, and they referred me to GM, where I just barely made it under the wire for the Power Train Warranty. Otherwise, it would have been the aftermarket warranty that I would have called back and been seeking help from.

If you want to accept the fact that GM has washed their hands of the Gen7 models completely, then look for DIY or paid solutions.

 

[Paul Stidham]

I have an 09 Malibu. Both front speakers go out when the temperature drops. The sound returns when the outside temp is warmer. I suspect there is condensation forming shorting out the connections, but I have not had time to check it out.

Ditto I have exactly the same thing happening.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Ditto I have exactly the same thing happening.

That post was made 6 years ago when his car was a lot younger than yours.

What have you done or what are you going to do with yours that is much older and likely has a lot more miles?

 

[SliverShadow93]

Ever since a month after I got my Malibu, the front right door speaker turn on and off at random times. It is very easy to see and feel a diference because the car starts shaking from all the bass extremely violently XD.

Anyways I've read this thread through and through, but I'd like to ask the most probable cause.for this speaker to do this. It does not like any specific conditions. It just comes on and off every week or so.

 

[DrivenDaily]

Ever since a month after I got my Malibu, the front right door speaker turn on and off at random times. It is very easy to see and feel a diference because the car starts shaking from all the bass extremely violently XD.

Anyways I've read this thread through and through, but I'd like to ask the most probable cause.for this speaker to do this. It does not like any specific conditions. It just comes on and off every week or so.

This is a well-known symptom of an epic failure of the speakers. If you have a known good speaker, try swapping out one that has failed and see if the sound improves.

 

[SliverShadow93]

I've swapped out the front right speaker with one from some random 2010 saturn car. The old speaker is junked so I'm going to buy new 300w speakers and try to fit them into the plastic frames for the stock speakers.

 

[SliverShadow93]

I've installed both of the 300w speakers into my car, and it's amazing. much more bass and volume on these guys than the stock ones. which is funny cuz they're smaller XD.

anyways it ain't all that hard to take the door off, modify the old speaker housing, and connect the wires.

 

[maddog]

I'm not a car or electronics expert but like to fix my own Malibu 2011 issues like change headlights and so on. I've had the same front door speaker issues where they failed in cold/humid weather and then suddenly worked again and now they appear permanently failed in the cold/moist winter. In my logic, speakers don't just die - it is a connector that has become corroded/covered in moisture. Does someone have a wiring diagram of possible points of failure of these speakers?

 

[DrivenDaily]

In my 2011, even with the Bose "up-level" system, the speakers had paper cones.

The operative word in that sentence is "had".