Bose Problem
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 786
Likes: 31
Cruise-In II Veteran
Bose Problem
Help! Because of severe health problems, after 30 years I have to sell my 1990 C4 Convertible and want as presentable car as possible. The Bose radio was working okay except the CD player had failed. I had a supposedly working replacement Head Unit and pulled the old Head Unit and put in the replacement. A simple plug in.
The replacement would only light up. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light.
I then put the old head unit back in and it now does the same thing. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light. Fuse is okay.
Does any body have any idea as to what is going on? Has the CDM gone bad or is it something else.
The replacement would only light up. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light.
I then put the old head unit back in and it now does the same thing. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light. Fuse is okay.
Does any body have any idea as to what is going on? Has the CDM gone bad or is it something else.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 168
Likes: 22
From: New York
Help! Because of severe health problems, after 30 years I have to sell my 1990 C4 Convertible and want as presentable car as possible. The Bose radio was working okay except the CD player had failed. I had a supposedly working replacement Head Unit and pulled the old Head Unit and put in the replacement. A simple plug in.
The replacement would only light up. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light.
I then put the old head unit back in and it now does the same thing. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light. Fuse is okay.
Does any body have any idea as to what is going on? Has the CDM gone bad or is it something else.
The replacement would only light up. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light.
I then put the old head unit back in and it now does the same thing. No clock-no radio-no on/off. Just the back light. Fuse is okay.
Does any body have any idea as to what is going on? Has the CDM gone bad or is it something else.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 786
Likes: 31
Cruise-In II Veteran
RandyJ75- Agreed, getting the CDM out looks like a real 'bitch"!
What model Alpine unit did you get from Crutchfield! I am assuming that you had to rewire and replace the speakers.
What model Alpine unit did you get from Crutchfield! I am assuming that you had to rewire and replace the speakers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 80
From: Fort Mill, SC
Many people, myself of course included do not care for aftermarket stereos. They never look right (to me). Just a thought since the OP is selling.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,466
Likes: 3,288
From: Hartford WI
I don't really have an opinion as to what looks right. As far as I am concerned, I really don't know if it looks right or not. The newer aftermarket ones are just plain better (more functions). That said, if he is selling, it might cause a buyer UNLIKE me to subtract points if they are purists so in this case, I would agree with you and try restore original if it is in a nice enough condition that a purist will buy it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,060
Likes: 80
From: Fort Mill, SC
I don't really have an opinion as to what looks right. As far as I am concerned, I really don't know if it looks right or not. The newer aftermarket ones are just plain better (more functions). That said, if he is selling, it might cause a buyer UNLIKE me to subtract points if they are purists so in this case, I would agree with you and try restore original if it is in a nice enough condition that a purist will buy it.
I hope you are well my friend.. you helped me make my buying decision and Im very happy with what I decided on.To the OP: First Im sorry you are not well.. I hope that changes. I dont think a broken stereo would be a big issue.. most people figure it might be an easy fix. If you were not a good person (like me) you could say you bought a new stereo and never got around to installing it and will include with sale for another $50... never leave anything on the table
You can always use it as a bargaining chip... good luck sir.
Last edited by barchetta1; Jun 27, 2021 at 09:42 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,757
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
You don't have to re-wire the Corvette to switch radios. I removed my Bose and installed a newer Radio with all the bells and whistles. I used the wires going to the original speakers for the sound and taped off the Power wires that went to the amplifiers at each speaker. It was very easy to do once you identify the wires. The newer radio went in very easily but putting new speakers in the rear required some creativity to modify the covers.
In this day a Lot of people want the functions that the newer radios offer so the newer radio might be a selling point over the original Bose. When I pulled the Bose System I bagged it and put it on a shelf for the next owner. The Bose system does sound nice but is very dated.
In this day a Lot of people want the functions that the newer radios offer so the newer radio might be a selling point over the original Bose. When I pulled the Bose System I bagged it and put it on a shelf for the next owner. The Bose system does sound nice but is very dated.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,466
Likes: 3,288
From: Hartford WI
You don't have to re-wire the Corvette to switch radios. I removed my Bose and installed a newer Radio with all the bells and whistles. I used the wires going to the original speakers for the sound and taped off the Power wires that went to the amplifiers at each speaker. It was very easy to do once you identify the wires. The newer radio went in very easily but putting new speakers in the rear required some creativity to modify the covers.
In this day a Lot of people want the functions that the newer radios offer so the newer radio might be a selling point over the original Bose. When I pulled the Bose System I bagged it and put it on a shelf for the next owner. The Bose system does sound nice but is very dated.
In this day a Lot of people want the functions that the newer radios offer so the newer radio might be a selling point over the original Bose. When I pulled the Bose System I bagged it and put it on a shelf for the next owner. The Bose system does sound nice but is very dated.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,757
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
I made a simple harness to connect my new system to the old wiring. It was not hard with a schematic and box full of connectors and a couple hours.
This works best if you are installing a "stock type" radio, anything using more power/wattage than the factory used will likely require new wires.
Might be a good time to get my factory Bose Radio/CD player rebuilt. They are great radios. But it didn't play my music or let you answer the phone all very easily. The real question is how many Watts do you need with a rear window like the Coupes have?
This works best if you are installing a "stock type" radio, anything using more power/wattage than the factory used will likely require new wires.
Might be a good time to get my factory Bose Radio/CD player rebuilt. They are great radios. But it didn't play my music or let you answer the phone all very easily. The real question is how many Watts do you need with a rear window like the Coupes have?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,466
Likes: 3,288
From: Hartford WI
I made a simple harness to connect my new system to the old wiring. It was not hard with a schematic and box full of connectors and a couple hours.
This works best if you are installing a "stock type" radio, anything using more power/wattage than the factory used will likely require new wires.
Might be a good time to get my factory Bose Radio/CD player rebuilt. They are great radios. But it didn't play my music or let you answer the phone all very easily. The real question is how many Watts do you need with a rear window like the Coupes have?
This works best if you are installing a "stock type" radio, anything using more power/wattage than the factory used will likely require new wires.
Might be a good time to get my factory Bose Radio/CD player rebuilt. They are great radios. But it didn't play my music or let you answer the phone all very easily. The real question is how many Watts do you need with a rear window like the Coupes have?
Before I destroyed it, AFAIK, it played 1 CD and cassettes. Who plays cassettes anymore? Even CDs are not going anywhere. Besides, fixing it chains me to an antiquated system that only a few people can fix right now. Later on, who knows. New systems are modular. If one front speaker or rear speaker breaks, I can get another pair. If I don't like the sound for whatever reason, another set. New head unit comes out with some new features that I got to have? Install it. Same with if it breaks. Why chain myself to a couple of people, literally, who can fix it when I can change it however I want and don't need to worry about these people? That said, if the possibility of a purist coming along with more money is in the cards, stock might become more necessary depending.
Last edited by aklim; Jun 27, 2021 at 06:20 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,566
Likes: 4
From: Mt Laurel NJ
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
As for people wanting you to keep the Bose, just save what you take out. Believe me, a new HU will sound MUCH better than the Bose.
