Craziest Stereo Problem Yet

[Ross]

Well, last week I took my car in to the dealer, and they got the subwoofer working which had apparently been disconnected by another dealer as their way of "fixing" the rattle in the subwoofer. Stereo sounded acceptable, and I've been driving it since. Now this morning, I drive out of town about 100 miles away, stereo still fine. I go to a meeting for about an hour, come out and start the car, and I get nothing but bass! No music sounds, no voices on commercials, nothing but muffled bass sound. Couldn't make any adjustments with the controls. I tried the CD to see if it was any different, and it was the same way. I stopped to get gas, turned off the engine for a few minutes, and when I started up again, the problem was gone. What the %&$# is going on here? I don't want to take it to the dealer if I can't duplicate the problem for them. Anyone heard of anything like this?

[martyo]

WHAT'D YOU SAY? I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER ALL THAT BASS!

[Fourth Horseman]

Only a couple of things come to mind. Either a wiring problem such as the speaker connections to the back of the head unit are loose, or maybe some odd kind of DSP bug? Odd. If it doesn't happen again I wouldn't sweat it.

[TripleTransAm]

While listening to the radio, press and hold down the (I believe) radio preset buttons #3 and #6. After a short time, the radio will enter a 'test mode' where it will cycle through all the speakers including the subwoofer.

While it is doing this cycle (it cycles through the speakers only once, then it gets back out of test mode), press any of the preset buttons to put it in diagnostic mode.

At this point, hitting the presets will initiate an individual test. Number 1 is a self-diagnostic, number 2 is something else, etc. etc... one of the buttons forces the radio to dump any trouble codes it has stored. Don't worry, they won't clear unless you hit some other combination of buttons. Write this number down and let us know...

I'd give you the exact number for this test, but the manuals are in the trunk of my car in the garage, with a second layer of #$%#$ Zaino curing on it.

[TripleTransAm]

Forgot to mention... the only way out of test mode is to turn the radio off.

[FLA RAUD FAN]

I had this exact same problem. The radio was working fine, I went into a restaurant for dinner and when I came out I had just faint bass sounds through the radio. I turned it off and on a few times and it was still not corrected. I pulled off the road about ten minutes later and turned off the car. When I restarted the engine and turned the radio back on the radio was normal. This happened only once. When I replaced the speakers there were no loose wires.
I think it was a glitch in the radio or the vehicle computer etc....
GO FISH

JP

[RCSignals]

You may have driven through the Twilight Zone.

Interesting this occurence is reported in Texas and Florida

[Marauderman]

Here's another situation---When my MM was repaired in the body shop--supposely no repairs were necessary to the radio features---the 3--6--Test sequence did work before--had several board members witness this including TAF back in Jan---my problem now is --It, the "test 3-6" does not work--

-Knowing the stupid dealer-he won't know what the hell I'm talking about since it isn't in the manual or knowledgeable to them about this test feature---How do I get this feature back??

[WolfeBros]

Originally posted by RCSignals
You may have driven through the Twilight Zone.

Interesting this occurence is reported in Texas and Florida

When the sunspot activity is high I find that by driving at high rates of speed while pressing the 4 & 7 buttons on the radio simultaneously and pressing the right rear window down button.........I can hear RF in Cape Cod mumbling to himself about superior beings ?!?!?

:lol:

oops sorry no hijack intended.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by marauderman
my problem now is --It, the "test 3-6" does not work--


Just a wild a$$ guess, but you are aware that this 'test 3-6' only works during radio operation, right? ie. it won't work during CD (and I assume Cassette) operation.

[Ross]

Well, I did like TripleTransAm suggested. Hit the 3 and 6 buttons together to go into the speaker test mode, then hit the preset 1 button. A readout came up that said "Self Test." After a few seconds, a readout came up that said "Pass Test." I then hit the other presets one by one, and they each gave me more info, most of which I didn't understand. I wonder if there is anyplace to find out what all of this stuff means that comes up on the readout? BTW, since the first time this weird problem happened, it hasn't happened again.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by Ross
I then hit the other presets one by one, and they each gave me more info, most of which I didn't understand.


One of the functions (2 or 3) will dump out any DTC (diagnostic trouble code). This is the number we'd be interested in. If there are none stored, it will indicate as such. This info is found in the service manuals.

edit: let me know what numbers popped out (like, looks like "1040" or something similar) and I'll look them up when I get home and pop the manuals out of the trunk (I have my WS6 with me at work today so you'll have to wait until I get home).

[RCSignals]

1040 wouldn't be a good number here in the US

[martyo]

Originally posted by marauderman
Here's another situation---When my MM was repaired in the body shop--supposely no repairs were necessary to the radio features---the 3--6--Test sequence did work before--had several board members witness this including TAF back in Jan---my problem now is --It, the "test 3-6" does not work--

-Knowing the stupid dealer-he won't know what the hell I'm talking about since it isn't in the manual or knowledgeable to them about this test feature---How do I get this feature back??

I believe that this feature works only in the radio modes and not the CD modes. Make sure you are in a radio mode, try the test again, and report back to us.

[TripleTransAm]

Originally posted by RCSignals
1040 wouldn't be a good number here in the US


I'm missing the reference on that, sorry. :confused:

[RF Overlord]

Steve:

Form 1040 is the U.S. Federal Income Tax form, much reviled and feared by generations of Americans...

:lol:

[WolfeBros]

:uzi:
:uzi: Form 1040 :flamer:
:uzi:

[TripleTransAm]

ROFLMAO!!! Thanks, RF for the explanation. Thanks WolfeBros for having me doubled over laughing over that great combination of smilies.

You're right, what a wicked poor choice of numbers to use as an example! LOL!

[gatlandc]

Hi, I am a new MM owner and I am sure you'll be able to help me. I am in New Zealand , in fact I'm probably the only MM owner in NZ. The problem is in NZ we space our radio stations at different freqencies than the US. So I want to configure the radio to tune on even frequencies (rather than odd) eg 98.6. I found how to get into the test mode and preset 6 brings up "radio config". I feel I am tantilizingly close but I don't know what to do next!?! If you have a manual for this radio can you tell me the next step?

[rayjay]

You found the function that most people don't know about. I believe you have found what you need, if it will do it. If not, ask John Kuhn our resident audio expert in his forum.

-and-

BTW, Welcome aboard!

:welcome1:

[larryo340]

Here is attachment from the factory manual, although I don't see any mention of what you need to do.

Welcome aboard :cheer:
:party:

[gatlandc]

Thanks mate, how strange that it covers presets 1-5 but nothing about preset 6. I'll have to have a play and let you know how I get on.

[Aren Jay]

There is also the Audio mute button, the one with the phone on it, check that.