Audio Non Fox Related...

Topic: Audio Non Fox Related... (Read 1374 times) previous topic - next topic

Audio Non Fox Related...

September 03, 2005, 11:12:22 PM

Well, i also tried to question this at the explorer forum but im tired of getting some responses to my questions:

"Your radio is toast"
"get a new radio"
"Your radio is blown"
etc etc etc
Those responses wont help nothing to me, since i wanted a correct diagnostic and do the correct solution. Well, this is my problem:

I had the Factory Radio cassette, With the 6 cd Changer. Well, the radio works perfect when i play a Cd and the Truck is OFF, only with the key at the ACC position. But the problem presents when i start the truck; i can only hear the sound from the left side. The right side has no sound. This is rare, if i switch to tape or radio works perfectly, but at cd only hears at one side. And if i turn Off the truck, the sound works perfect again......rare for me....

And yes, i also checked the balance and fad, Both controls at the middle. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.....

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #1 – September 03, 2005, 11:59:05 PM

You may have a short somewhere.

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #2 – September 04, 2005, 11:21:38 AM

My pioneer does somthing like that. It turns out that when I'm setting still I've got a good conection and as soon as I start the car there is enough vibration to shake the conection that sometimes I get sound only on one side like you. i just pulled the conector apart and bent all the tabs to provide more contact pressure all was well. I think even being a factory setup This is what kind of problem your haveing. All in all you might need to do as I did or get a new cable the connects the changer to the headunit. hope this helps

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #3 – September 04, 2005, 11:02:12 PM

Thanks guys, i have tried the cable issue but is still the problem there. But i guess that i have the solution. Check.

A guy told me about this, textually...

"Sounds like you may have a bad voltage regulator or a resistor out of tolerance in the line out section of the changer .... when your truck is running it'll see 13.8 volts but on battery it's only around 12 volts .... obviously the higher voltage is cauing a problem due to something being out of tolerance on one channel ....

Problem is, unless you can troubleshoot component level yourself, it's not considered cost effective to have it fixed even if it is only a 5 cent resistor cauing the problem, the labor cost finding it will kill you.."

Well, that maybe true. I had an spare Cd changer (laser wont work) and i was thinking if that changer were made "for sections". If it is, easy, open the old changer, put the electronic "section" at the current changer and everything fine. This is the hard way, because i am thinking in a easier way...

If i had the 13.8 Volts issue, well, i need to find the cable configurations of colors. Determine which of them are the positive and negative. Determine if the needed voltage for the changer is really 12 volts (i hope that). Find an aftermarket regulator that maintains the voltage at 12 and no more (i am thinking in an noise suppresor or those cheaps plug ins for Tv´s portables and delivers 12V) or even, build one, im not too bad building electronic parts. And after build or get one of those, attach between the Battery and the Cd changer. Sound hard but i understand very well this. And is cheaper and easier that get another changer...

The question is, it will work ? this would be the answer ? Maybe one of you guys skilled for eletronics can help me. Any help Would be appreciated. Thanks....

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #4 – September 05, 2005, 11:30:06 AM

I think that guy could be right but. I would start out by turning on the raido where the changer works on both right and left. Then trace the changer wireing from the readio to the changer. while you are traceing it throughout the car/truck wiggle and move the cable right where it conect to the radio and changer and all thogh the cable run. If you really want a regulator I knwo jaccob's electronics makes one you can set to spec voltage but they cost money and are big. All in all if the wiggle test shows nothig if both of the changers are the same model you shold be able to make a good one if it is the changer. good luck

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #5 – September 05, 2005, 12:06:32 PM

"Your radio is toast, get a new one!" LMMFAO, sorry I had to...

Sounds like a nasty short, does the system have a factory amplifier?

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #6 – September 06, 2005, 08:16:02 AM

It's very easy to test your voltage theory before replacing anything. Pop open the hood, connect a shop-grade battery charger (one capable of 30-40 amps) to the battery (but do not turn it on), and turn the key to ACC and get the stereo working. Now turn the battery charger on. The battery charger will bump up the system voltage to 14-15 volts, so if the internal regulator is bad your CD changer will stop working as if you had started the engine. If the stereo keeps right on working you know voltage isn't the issue.

I'm thinkin' a bad ground, for some reason. In acc mode the system (or the right side speakers) may be seeking its ground through a component that isn't active with the engine off (such as the fuel pump, fuel injectors, ignition coil, etc). When you start the engine that component no longer becomes a path to ground so the stereo stops working properly. Bad grounds can cause all sorts of crazy things. What year is the Exploder? I'll post wiring diagrams to help you out

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #7 – September 06, 2005, 12:56:15 PM

Ok, i have a battery charger capable of doing 50 amps (2/10/50). I dont know if this will work for the purposes.

May i dissasemble the door panels to check the speaker wiring, or even get out the Head Unit ?

(EDIT: when i change from Cd to Tape or Radio with the truck running, all the speakers works fine. This only presents when the cd is playing)

My Explorer is 4.0 4 door 96....

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #8 – September 07, 2005, 07:58:50 PM

I would say that if it only happens with the CD changer your speaker wires and grounds are fine. I'd look for problems in the harness between the radio head unit and the CD changer - perhaps the connector is loose, or a metal terminal inside the connector is loose. It could also be a "cold solder" joint inside either the CD changer or the head unit, likely where the connector is soldered to the circuit board. Here's the diagram I promised you

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #9 – September 07, 2005, 10:56:01 PM

Thanks Sir ! That diagram makes the things better for me. Ill check all the connections as soon i can. Thanks again!

(explorerforum) take this :flame:

only a j/k i respect that, too-

Re: Audio Non Fox Related...

Reply #10 – September 16, 2005, 09:51:52 PM

Well, the problem was the voltage change between 12 and 13.8. I Simply put a noise reductor between the Positive of the changer and the changer works well again with the truck running. ...

I want to thank you to all the people that helped me. Especially Thunder Chicken, without his diagram i cant did all the tests and connections. Thanks Sir........