Smart Fortwo Audio System Dead: Complete Sound Loss

Having dealt with a similar audio connectivity issue on my 2007 Smart ForFour, I understand your frustration with the sound system failure. In my case, the main bass speaker had failed, causing a complete audio system shutdown. At first, I thought it was a head unit problem since there was no sound from any source. After taking it to a workshop specializing in car audio systems, they diagnosed a short circuit in the bass speaker that was affecting the entire sound system. The repair involved: Testing all car speakers individually, Replacing the defective bass speaker, Recalibrating the audio system, Testing USB audio and Bluetooth functionality Total cost came to 280€ including parts and labor. The sound quality returned to normal after the fix, and all audio sources worked perfectly again. To better assist you, could you provide: Any warning signs before the complete failure? Does the head unit display still work? Have you had any recent electrical work done? Did you notice any distortion or crackling before the failure? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something different.

Last service at 190630KM with full electrical inspection completed. It turned out to be a blown fuse and damaged wiring harness behind the radio unit. Before the complete failure, I noticed intermittent volume control issues and occasional static through the auxiliary input. The head unit display works fine, but all car speakers remain silent. The mechanic found rodent damage to the wiring, which caused a short circuit and blew the audio system fuse. Total repair cost was 180€: New wiring harness, Fuse replacement, Labor for installation All audio sources now work perfectly, including USB audio and Bluetooth connectivity. If your symptoms match, checking the fuse box and wiring should be your first step.

This matches my experience exactly, glad you found the issue. When I discovered the bass speaker problem in my Smart ForFour, I also noticed the wiring was compromised. Rodent damage is surprisingly common in these models due to the wiring layout. The intermittent volume control and static through the auxiliary input are classic signs of wiring issues. Your repair cost of 180€ seems reasonable, I ended up paying more (280€) because the damaged wiring had already burnt out my speaker. For anyone else reading with similar audio system issues, its worth checking: 1. Fuses first, cheapest and easiest fix 2. Wiring harness condition, especially behind the head unit 3. Individual car speakers if the first two check out ok 4. USB audio and Bluetooth connectivity separately My audio connectivity works flawlessly now after the repair, but I installed protective covering on the new wiring harness to prevent future rodent damage. The auxiliary input and all other sound sources have remained stable since.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the wiring repair. After dealing with the radio silence issue in my Smart, I learned a lot about preventing similar problems. My total repair cost of 180€ was definitely reasonable compared to your 280€ speaker replacement. The mechanic mentioned I caught the problem early enough to prevent damage to the car speakers themselves. The repaired wiring harness completely resolved the sound distortion and static through the auxiliary input. I followed your advice about the protective covering, installed a rodent-deterrent wire wrap around the new harness. Great suggestion that will hopefully prevent future issues. The audio connectivity is now perfect across all sources. For others searching the forum: always investigate any intermittent audio issues early. What starts as minor static or volume control problems can quickly escalate to complete sound system failure if left unchecked. Regular inspection of visible wiring during maintenance can help catch rodent damage before it affects the entire audio system. Now I can fully enjoy my sound system again without any issues. Thanks for the helpful troubleshooting tips that pointed me in the right direction.