What Causes a Car Radio to Stop Working?
It is a serious problem for us when a car radio suddenly stops working. The car radio sometimes works and sometimes does not work, which becomes a great fuss. Some things can cause a radio to stop working suddenly, but sometimes it becomes difficult to say what the main problem is.
A mechanic usually fixes the radio, but after some days, it stops working again. So, instead of focusing on repairing it, you must focus on the main cause of the problem. Only then will you be able to fix your radio.
When our car radio stops working suddenly, we always assume that the radio needs to be replaced, but sometimes there is only a minor issue with it.
We can solve such issues by ourselves instead of replacing the radio. The investigation of causes of the car radio to stop working depend upon how it is fading to work.
Some problems also result in intermittent failure of the car radio, but these problems can be solved by using some simple tools and techniques by ourselves. Common causes that can cause a Car Radio to stop working are:
- Damaged Tuner or Antenna
- Ground Connection Problem
- Malfunctioning of Amplifier
- Issues of Signals
- Errors in the Head Unit
- Faceplate Not Attached Properly
So, you do not need a mechanic anymore when our car radio stops working suddenly. When you get in your car, play the radio, but it does not work, you become frustrated. It might become difficult for you to investigate the main cause behind it. You may spend a lot of time fixing it, but still, it won’t work. This is because sometimes you don’t comprehend the main cause of this problem.
What Causes a Car Radio to Stop Working?
Car Radio is a must for a long journey. I love to drive to my office while listening to my favorite tracks on a car stereo. In this article, our editors have added common issues with car stereo that can stop its proper functioning. Along with this, we have added the best methods to fix a car radio.
The following are some problems that can cause a car radio to stop working. Moreover, the solutions to such problems are also given, so that you won’t need a mechanic anymore!
Damaged Tuner or Antenna
If you like to catch up on the weather, traffic, and news by listening to the radio broadcasts, you should use Bluetooth audio or a CD player. When you observe that your CD player is working properly, but the radio isn’t working, the problem is with either the tuner or the antenna.
When the antenna gets damaged, it means that the radio is not getting proper signals from the stations. And when the tuner gets damaged, it means that the head unit needs to be replaced.
There are different ways through which the antenna of the car radio can get damaged. The most common way is a bent mast- even a minor tweak in the tubes of the antenna can become a big problem.
Besides this, nylon bits are also an issue that occurs when the rope breaks along the length of the radio. Sometimes, the antenna also gets dirty and is not able to catch proper signals, which is not a big issue, and you can solve it easily!
Solution
To fix the faulty antenna, you have to follow some simple steps. If the antenna is rear-fender-mounted, you have to remove the trunk trim panels by using wrenches and screwdrivers.
Loosen the bolts and then disconnect the motor control wires, antenna signal wire, and the ground strap. Remove the gear cover and housing carefully and remove the broken pieces of the nylon rope, if any. If there is any dirt, clear it out.
If the telescoping mast of the antenna is damaged, remove it with pliers and clean everything. Find out the breaks in the antenna and rejoin the broken parts with the help of a continuous thin sheet of aluminum foil.
Wrap duct tape around this sheet, place the trunk trim panels again, and then check the quality of signals. Your car radio will be fixed as if it were new!
Ground Connection Problem
The majority of the audio problems in a car radio occur due to poorly selected ground points. Poor grounding in-car radio can result in the amplifier being clipped. Ground connection problems can also cause your car amplifier to cut in and out.
Usually, when a car radio is turned on, the amplifier pulls the current to turn the system on. When the radio system has a ground connection problem, the amplifier is not able to pull the required current. In this situation, the amplifier turns towards clipping, and the radio stops working suddenly.
But, how to know what the problem is with the ground connection? When your car radio starts producing crappy sounds like alternator whine and then stops working suddenly, you should comprehend that there is something wrong with the ground connection.
Always remember that if you insert a large radio system in your car, it will need a larger ground connection.
Solution
Tracking a ground or loose-power wire is very tricky, but here’s a simple procedure to fix your ground wire. You have to look for the wires in the head unit that are loosely attached to the radio. First of all, remove the car radio system and check the wires at the rear portion of the radio.
If you see that any of the wires are corroded, frayed, or Loose, you have to cut, strip and then solder or crimp them back in the proper place. Next, follow the ground wire from the rear portion of the radio to the place where it fastens to the car.
If you observe that the ground wire is loose, fix it, and if it is corroded, clean it. Lastly, place the ground wire back to its position. Always remember that you should keep the ground connector of your car radio clean and ensure that it is tightly fixed. Check the ground connection of the car radio immediately when you hear any crappy sounds from the radio.
Malfunctioning of Amplifier
In some car radios, a separate amplifier is inserted to drive the speakers, especially in the high-performance radio systems. The amplifier of a radio system needs a continuous voltage for the proper working of the speakers.
This means that any problem in the alternator or battery of the car can result in the malfunctioning of the amplifier, or it can overheat. When the amplifier does not receive a good-quality electrical connection or when it gets too hot, it shifts towards protection mode.
Protection mode is also achieved due to some wiring problems and internal faults. Such mode keeps the amplifier safe from any permanent damage, but it stops working for some time.
This can result in the sound being cut randomly, or it may avert the amplifier from working completely. Moreover, when the remote turn-on wire of the radio does not have any power, the amplifier will stop working.
Solution
You have to follow these simple steps to fix your car radio amplifier. First of all, examine the amplifier hook up. If you see that that amplifier is secured to a non-metal or unclean surface, unscrew the amplifier, and then secure it to a clean metal base.
Next, cool the system and insert a new fuse in your amplifier if it is blown due to overheating. Don’t forget to check the speaker wires. If they are worn, replace them and make sure that the previous wires are inserted well so that they do not come in contact with the metal base of the amplifier. Next, use a multi-meter to test the output transistor.
Replace the output transistors on those terminals showing a reading more than zero. Don’t forget to check the remote turn-on wire of your car radio, and make sure that it receives the required power, and your amplifier will be fixed!
Issues of Signals
When your car radio does not catch proper signals, it can stop working suddenly. Due to the issues of signals, sometimes the radio also produces disturbing sounds in the form of alternator whine, radio static, and buzzing speakers, before shutting off completely.
The issues of signals are produced in a car radio due to different causes. It may be due to improper grounding in the radio system. The ground wire may not be properly attached to the ground of the car.
There may be a problem with the antenna lead that may result in the issues of signals. Besides, come wires on the radio may be damaged that results in the radio are not catching proper signals.
Due to improper signals, the radio starts producing disturbing noise or may stop working at all. Improper capture of signals is a common problem of car radios and it becomes difficult to fix it as it is hard to find where the problem is.
Solution
Although it is very difficult to find the source, which results in the issue of signals, but mostly the problem lies in the antenna. First of all, you must ensure that the antenna of your car radio is extended and is not retracted. If you observe that the antenna is damaged, try replacing it, but ensure that it must be of the same type that was installed previously on the car.
Next, check the wires connected to the antenna, whether they are damaged or not. If you see any of the wire damaged, fix it and try twisting your antenna while heeding to a channel. If these efforts do not work, switch your car radio to a mono mode.
In this mode, better signals will be caught by the amplifier if it is not faulty. The things like the alternator and the engine may also interfere with the signals, so test them too.
Errors in the Head Unit
Errors in the head unit of a car radio can also cause it to stop working at once. Sometimes, the head unit of a car radio may not receive the required power, which results in the malfunctioning of the radio. When the built-in security feature of a head unit turns on by mistake, the car radio fails to work.
In this case, it demands a code from the user to make it work again. The head unit may also turn towards an anti-theft mode, which may cause the radio system to stop operating. The built-in fuses of the head unit may also be blown which results in the poor operation of the head unit.
Besides, the wiring problems in the head unit may also destroy it. The poor grounding of the head unit may also result in its faulty working. The tuner in the head unit may also be damaged because of being old and cause the radio to stop working.
Solution
The errors in the head unit of the car radio can be resolved easily. First of all, check that the head unit is not in the protection mode. If you can’t observe it by yourself, you may consult its manufacturer. Next, check the built-in fuses in the head unit whether any of the fuses are blown and if so, replace them. Also, check the pigtail connector of the radio and ensure that it is connected appropriately to the head unit.
If you observe any damage in the pigtail connector, replace it with a suitable pigtail. Sometimes, the head unit gets fixed merely by unplugging the adaptor and head unit for a while (about twenty minutes) and then reconnecting it. If this doesn’t work, check the power wires of the head unit.
The faceplate of Car Radio Not Attached Properly
Sometimes, the faceplate of the car radio could be slack or not joined properly due to which the radio system may stop working. In this case, the metal pins that are linked with the connectors on the rear portion of the radio will start making faulty connections.
This will lead to no powering in the car radio, and the lights of the buttons and screens will also stop working. When the faceplate is loose, the CD player may also not work properly. A loose faceplate is not very difficult to fix as you only have to tighten it back to its place.
Solution
The faceplate of a car radio must always be connected to its front. To fix a loose faceplate, first of all, power off the radio and remove the faceplate from it. Clean the connectors with the help of tissue paper.
On the rear side of the faceplate, place the pieces of Blutack on every corner. Then, put the faceplate back to its place and push it several times to ensure that it is fixed properly. This is a very cheap method to attach a loose faceplate properly to the radio system.
Team – Howstereo.com
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