Weird Stereo Problem

[Hankhill]

Here's a new one on me. I hope some of you guys might have some insight.

I have a 1996 ES300 that came with AM/FM, cassette and 6CD changer. About 6 months ago I replaced the factory installed CD changer with a Pioneer model that was compatible. Everything has been just fine for the past 6 months...and I don't believe the CD changer is part of the problem, but I want you to have all the information.

2 days ago, the sound on my stereo started cutting on and off. The stereo, otherwise, remains on. I began noticing that the sound would turn off when I put my foot on the gas and accelerated. If I put my foot on the brake, the sound would turn back on. If I am coasting, the sound will generally stay on....although the sound appears to be a little weaker than when I have my foot on the brake. If I have the car on Cruise Control, the sound will generally stay on. If I come to a complete stop, the sound will turn off...but after a few seconds sometimes it will turn back on.

There has been no unusual trauma to the stereo or its components. I don't blast my stereo. I did take it in to car stereo shop yesterday and watched him test the connections and make sure there were no shorts in the system. Beyond that, they had no clue what going on (and then, in true audio shop fashion, they attemtped to sell me a new stereo).

Any clue as to what is going on? Has this happened to anyone else? Suggestions?

[steviej]

first thing that comes to mind is that your ground is starting to fail. Check your battery ground and see if it is starting to corrode. It may just need to be cleaned up. The story sounds as if when a drain is placed on the car, then the result is poor sound quality. Also check your fuses, not blown but maybe just needs to be reseated or cleaned up too.

Do lights dim a little at the same time when the sound goes funny? You may have an alternator that is starting to tire.

Have that tested.

steviej

[SKperformance]

i agree might be related to an alternator

[Hankhill]

Thank you, guys. I will check the battery ground in the a.m. and will take the car in and have the alternator checked tomorrow. I hadn't thought of those 2 things.

I'll post back and let you know the results.

I have not noticed a dimming of the lights in relation to fluctuations in the stereo's performance. No dimming at all, for that matter.

[bbsal]

like sk said it might be the alternator starting to go bad!have that checked for sure. ;)

[Hankhill]

Update: Battery is clean, fuses were replaced and the alternator was checked and found to be fine. Problem still exists. I did notice, however, that when I turn on the headlights, the sound turns on....doesn't necessarily stay on...but it turns on. When I turn the lights off, the sound turns off.

Is it possible the ground within the stereo itself could be messed up? That's the only other thing I can think of.

[SKperformance]

basically you need a schematic wiring guide to find where all the cuircits that have a problem connect together and repair the wiring

basically the wire for the changer is damged and when you apply the brake or lights it steals power from the other cuicits to complete is own

i would be tracing the rear harness for the headlights and brakes

you may have pulled a wre loose

[jragosta]

Here's a new one on me. I hope some of you guys might have some insight.

I have a 1996 ES300 that came with AM/FM, cassette and 6CD changer. About 6 months ago I replaced the factory installed CD changer with a Pioneer model that was compatible. Everything has been just fine for the past 6 months...and I don't believe the CD changer is part of the problem, but I want you to have all the information.

2 days ago, the sound on my stereo started cutting on and off. The stereo, otherwise, remains on. I began noticing that the sound would turn off when I put my foot on the gas and accelerated. If I put my foot on the brake, the sound would turn back on. If I am coasting, the sound will generally stay on....although the sound appears to be a little weaker than when I have my foot on the brake. If I have the car on Cruise Control, the sound will generally stay on. If I come to a complete stop, the sound will turn off...but after a few seconds sometimes it will turn back on.

There has been no unusual trauma to the stereo or its components. I don't blast my stereo. I did take it in to car stereo shop yesterday and watched him test the connections and make sure there were no shorts in the system. Beyond that, they had no clue what going on (and then, in true audio shop fashion, they attemtped to sell me a new stereo).

Any clue as to what is going on? Has this happened to anyone else? Suggestions?

Just an uneducated layman's guess: perhaps one of the stereo wires has worked loose. Check all the connections.

[jbrooksbreeden]

Try holding and shaking each wires to see if you can create the intermittent connection. Wires ofetn break connection at the plug, inside the shell where you can't see it. (RCA plugs in home systems can fail with ground connections inside the plug shell---last thing you'd think to check.)

[Hankhill]

And the culprit turned out to be...(drum roll)...loose wires connecting to the CD changer. I took the car to 2 stereo shops and asked them, expressly, to check the wires and various connections to make sure everything was tight. Paid one of these chuckleheads $25. Both came back and said...'no loose wires and no shorts.' Both told me the same thing...there's something wrong either in the stereo head or the amp. Then they both tried to sell me a new stereo; their reasoning being, it would eliminate any problem in the stereo and we would bypass the amp, thus eliminating that possibility.

I was not convinced, however, there was a problem in the stereo itself...or in the amp for that matter. Today, I noticed something I hadn't experienced before. When I hit a bump the sound 'waivered' a bit. Aha!! So...when I got home I left the stereo on, popped the trunk and started to fiddle with the wires around the CD changer. Lo and behold when I wiggled the wires in one direction, the stereo came on....wiggled them in a different direction and the stereo turned off. I tightened up what I could and from that point on, the stereo has stayed on.

Thanks you to everyone who offered advice. It was a tremendous help. I have read through a lot of the other posts on this board and have to come to realize what a fantastic resource it is.

[bbsal]

no problem thats what the forums here for!glad to see all it was,was a wire loose!you got lucky! :D

[jbrooksbreeden]

Back in my old "Hi Fi Nut" days, I can't tell you how many times I traced a problem to a cold solder joint or a short or a break in a connector cable. It is maddening because you can't SEE anything wrong and it is usually intermittant. That's the key: If it comes and goes, it is usually something "shaking and breaking."