If the head unit/amp is turning off the output power stage (even a loose connection can make this happen), there won't be any power at all: none on the contacts on the back and none at the speakers. You can, however, use the voltmeter to see if the wires are good -- if there's power at the speaker end of the wires but no sound, then your wires are good and the speakers are bad (assuming the speakers have enough pass-through to not trigger the head unit to turn off the output stage). I agree with addiction2bass: wires are hardly ever the problem... 1 in 10,000 or more.

Most home receivers expect the same impedance as auto units. Your home speakers should have their impedance marked on them (usually on the back), so use that to be absolutely sure. Just put one of your car speakers in place of one of the stereo's and keep the volume low (if the receiver is rated for higher power than your car's head unit) so that you don't blow it out.

Wish I lived in a place where gas prices meant my Civic had a $20 tank :-P

 

haha, i don't get filled up all the way with 20 bucks, but I get like 200-250 miles out of it. I haven't calculated the mpg yet. ($2.75/g as of today, dropped from $2.79 yesterday)

 

k so the speakers are out...they look pretty wavy but aren't cracked or anything. i can't find any wire to test them around the house, so i'm thinking i'm just gonna go buy some speakers right now. would i clearly be able to tell if the speaker was busted? All the foam around the edges of the paper cone are gone too.

maybe if anyone is on they can see this and post real quick.

lmfao...i just punched a giant hole in the middle of one....i'm off to buy some speakers now

 

ya if the foam surround is toast.. the speakers are bad.... nice and dry roted..

 

Nice! What did you end up buying?

 

some pioneers...they were 10 bucks less than the sony's i was planning on buying with 10 less watts, but they sounded sooo much better on the same deck...so i went with the cheaper ones