Hi all,

I have a 2002 Crew Cab with the high-end stock stereo head and a 6-disc remote CD Changer.

For about the last month or so, during my 1 hour commute to work, about halfway into the commute the right channel (front and rear) start cutting out intermittently. It is usually (OK, pretty much always) on higher volumes. If I turn down the volume to about half-volume or slightly less, it will stop cutting out.

The left side front and back always work fine. Prior to about a month ago I never had any problems at all with the system.

It cuts out for maybe 2-3 seconds, then comes back on, then lasts for anywhere from 20 seconds to 2-3 minutes before it happens again. Next time I get in the car (usually the next morning) it starts all over again, and works for a half hour or so and then starts cutting out again.

Any thoughts? Seems like maybe something is heating up and then tripping some kind of breaker to me. Maybe in the Amp? I dunno...heck, I dunno if my system has an amp, but likely it does I suppose.

No subwoofer though, so it might not be the TOP of the line system, it is, however the stock system with the tape deck, remote 6CD Changer, and the automatic temp control stuff. Aftermarket speakers, but I don't think they are the culprit, because they have been on the truck since just after I bought it.

Thanks for any thoughts and/or suggestions (other than the one my wife gives me, which is "don't play it so loud!!!").

 

Sounds like as the radio heats up, a solder point inside the radio is working its way lose causing your right side to cut out. Time for a new head unit!

 

Thanks for your response! Hmmmm...never considered the solder angle...it cuts in and out so "predictably" (well, predictably random *L*) that I assumed it was some kind of circuit breaker.

I have noticed that the head unit gets really hot on long trips, I was going to ask in a different thread before this started happening if it is "normal" for the head unit (and dash trim around it) to heat up that much. It gets pretty hot on the 4-hour trip to Las Vegas every few months. Not so much on the hour commute to work and back. Still, it's an interesting thought about the solder.

I suppose before I replace the head unit I should check the connection behind the head unit, just to make sure it's not something as simple as a loose connection.

It's consistently the right side though, and I lose both front and rear door speakers when it happens...not sure why I would lose both, since I would think they are separate circuits both on the circuit boards and in all the connections. What do I know though... *LOL*

Thanks again for your response and suggestion.

If anyone else has had similar experiences or any other ideas of how to narrow it down or verify I'd appreciate the help!

 

It's a saftey feature, telling you it's too loud and damaging your ears.

 

What? I can't hear you!

 

Im gonna say its probablly not the plug. Unless you've messed with it in the pass, they rarely, and i mean rarely, come unplugged on their own (unless its a damn scosche GM21SR, but tahts another story).

I am no expert on the internal circuitry of these units, but most likely what the problem is is that there is one solder point whose connection supplies the power to both of the right channels. the piece that it is attached to is what seperates it to front and rear. that first solder point is more then likely what is failing.

My radio gets pretty damn hot too here in the summer, but ive never had the dash around it get hot.