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240 Radio Cutting Out

everyhumanvovo

everyhumanvovo

Member
Joined
May 4, 2009
Location
chill'n@Yuper Mickigan, prior Oregone, USA
Have an '87 240 and relatively new Alpine head unit with 2 small fronts + 2 Boston 6x9's which have all been cutting out entirely when bass or volume is turned up.

Sounds does not cut out or stays on longer at low volume or comes back after 10, 15 seconds of turning down to low volume. Head unit seems to reset after car turned off and back on, and speakers work at loud volume for 20 seconds or so. The head unit stays on when sounds goes out and appears to function fine.

Also, did have great deal of moisture in trunk and interior after mostly sitting covered in rainy environment, and this began little while after drying out. And, did have passenger side leak with windshield before recently replacing.

Was told it may be voltage issue at stereo store. Also, occasionally lately, there is a semi-loud click or pop over speakers when shutting down car. Any insights greatly appreciated! :oogle:
 
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Not enough power from radio/amp to drive the speakers? Doesn't sound like you have anything taxing speaker wise however... But that's my uneducated guess.
 
There are 2 battery wires connecting the aftermarket stereo. One wire for the memory, and one wire to power on the radio. If the radio isn't connected correctly the display will work, but the amp won't.
 
lummert said:
There are 2 battery wires connecting the aftermarket stereo. One wire for the memory, and one wire to power on the radio. If the radio isn't connected correctly the display will work, but the amp won't.
Click to expand...

Stopped by stereo store that installed the Alpine head unit and cut rear deck for 6x9's. Checked for exposed wiring to the 6x9 Boston's in back deck for grounding out. Faded to front and back, balance each way, attempting to isolate a blown speaker. Tech explained that unit is designed to cut out if there is a blown speaker to protect unit. Speakers all sound fine; but he said a speaker could still be blown and cause this. I used to crank it with lots of bass through the four speakers so maybe one is going. Thing is, not sure why if it was wired fine for years, there could suddenly be a wiring problem to head unit amp. Going to run some impedance tests Friday and probably pull the unit to diagnose.
 
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ugh.. i have a same problem. everytime is add more volume( or a bass drops) the radio just shuts off and then it turns on.. its SONY.
 
lummert said:
A speaker wire could be shorting to the body. Speaker wires use a floating ground.
Click to expand...

Thanks much, that very well may be what it is. Stereo tech and I today didn't see any wires exposed when looking in trunk, but I have stuffed plenty in there like bikes, etc. and I know some handle bars have tangled up in those speaker wires. Shorting out and causing head unit to shut down output to speakers makes more sense to me than a speaker being blown; but, tech told me speaker copper coil could still be worn and not sound noticably different, but causing head unit to shut down output.
 
lummert said:
A speaker wire could be shorting to the body. Speaker wires use a floating ground.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input, but turned out the 7 year old Alpine was shot, or at least the audio techs thought it was a capacitor inside that died. It started making the popping/clicking sound through speakers every two seconds when they were testing. I did crank that little amp in the unit, so I'd say I got some good use out of it. Still like to have it back, though, as the JVC KD-R670 pinkish red illumination just doesn't appeal. But, the Boston Acoustic 6x9's are pumping again!;-)
 
Radio cutting out

I have the same symptoms. Turn up radio and cuts out for a second. The difference is that after a few minutes, it cuts out even at low sound levels. Seems like Alternator, but it is only 2 years old and I don't notice any headlight dimming or other symptoms. Battery only 3.5 years old but I will go get it tested. I have tried:

-A different head unit
-Using fade and balance to test speakers one by one
-Disconnecting rears and then fronts
-Fuse connections look fine
 
I have 2 thoughts: check for a pinched speaker wire, as has already been said, or even one of the connections on the back of the speaker shorting to the door skin or something. The next thing I would check out is what kind of voltage is making it to the head unit. Measure with it plugged in and turned on (under load). How much loss compared to what you measure at the battery? You should also check and clean its ground.

87 240's are just a collection of electrical problems sitting on 4 wheels, especially a swampy one. How's your fuse box? Have you spun the fuses, wire brushed off the corrosion? How's your battery cables? Free of corrosion?
 
^^ Well answered. The symptoms are those of a high resistance in the power wiring to the amplifier in the radio. When the load is light, the capacitors in the radio allow the voltage to be adequate, but when you turn it up, the load requires more than the capacitors can sustain.

The most common cause of high resistance in a 240 is corrosion in the path.

Kenunot said:
87 240's are just a collection of electrical problems sitting on 4 wheels, especially a swampy one.
Click to expand...

So well said!
 
Thanks, I will have the battery checked and also check for corrosion. Mine is a '92 btw, the '87 is the OP's.
 
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