Radio\Sound Issue

[BigGoat]

I was wondering if anyone else has been experiencing the same radio\sound issue with their car as I am.

Here is what happens. I am driving my 07 Redline and all of th sudden all sound coming out of the radio fades to one speaker for about 10 seconds and then all sound cuts out totally. Now sometimes turning the radio off and back on a handfull of times will fix it but that is rare. Now if you just leave it alone the sound will come back after about 20 -30mins all by itselfs.

Now when the sound goes out the radio still functions. You can change the stations, or load a cd or do whatever, but you just can't hear anything. And to go along with that all sounds from the rest of the car go out also. The click, click, click, click, click sound from the turn signals no longer work but the turner signals work fine and the OnStar sound no longer works either.


I have had it in the shop a couple times, first they replaced the radio and they said it was fixed. I drove off the lot and 10mins later the problem was back. The second time I had it in the shop they said it might be a control module so they said they reset something and it is working fine. So I drive off again and the next day it does it again.

Now I am taking it back a third time for the same issue and they don't seem to have a clue. I hope someone else does.

[MidniteBlues]

Are you 100% sure they did replace the head unit? and just said that they did when they did not? Have you tried to increase the volume when it happens? perhaps somehow something is stuck (switch) lowering the volume, (outside chance). Most that have had radio problems issues are resolved with the replacement of the main head unit.. your particular issue is new sounds like..

[BigGoat]

I have tried adjusting sound, changing from FM to AM or Cd and nothing works.

And for them actually replacing it I would say they did. The new one had a new clear shield on the front of it and they didn't pop the trim all the way back in which I had to do.

[Bogie]

Originally Posted by MidniteBlues

Are you 100% sure they did replace the head unit? and just said that they did when they did not?

Yes, double check this. Most problems like this are at the amplifier stage in the head unit. If it's not the amplifier stage, then it is most likely something downstream of the amplifier. Well, with the new computer control crap in cars these day, I guess it could be some software fluke..dont' know. It could also be a grounding issue at the head unit...but the fact everything else works makes me think that's not likely. On the other hand..depending on how the speakers are grounded, there could be something to this as well.

Ask the tech how the system responds to a short condition downstream of the amplifier. Our units may have an overload protection internal to the amplifier stage which basically shuts down the amplifier if it exceeds max load. If it does have this protection, and the head unit was truely replaced, then I would have the tech start looking downstream of the amplifier for a short condition, perhaps starting with checking the impedence of each speaker, not just across the speaker leads, but also to chassis ground.

Next I would put an isolation switch on each speaker and then develop an isolation strategy and let you drive normally. If it is indeed one of the speaker channels you will reach an isolation configuration where you never have the system go out on you. Whichever speaker is the culprit will be the one you have isolated at that point.

[WishfulThinking]

Is it a monsoon system? That would have an amp outside the headunit, wouldn't it?

[sassygirlzmom]

I keep having that problem, but only with the XM radio. I thought it was related to installation of the PAL (especially since my dealer had never installed it before) because I didn't have the problem until after installation. Service techs couldn't find a problem and it happened when I fired up the car to leave the lot. Sometimes turning off the radio and turning it back on helps, but the problem is annoying. It doesn't happen when I use my iPod.

Weird, huh?

[parrothall]

I just had th PAL installed yesterday and I am going back today to have it looked at. Getting noise distortion when I turn on the radio/cd/XM/iPod through the speakers when the volume is turned all the way down. Not sure if they grounded it properly. This was the dealers first install of a PAL as well. Plus on the way in this morning listening to XM it just started flipping to XM0 and then just started flipping though channels and then just kicked to FM. Not sure what that is all about.

Starting to think that this PAL is more trouble then its worth and might just have it removed completely. I do like the concept that I can control the iPod using my radio controls. I currently have a Peripheral interface in my '96 Saturn SL2 that I installed a year ago and love it. Might just have to wait to see if Peripheral will come out for one for the Sky.