C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 06:25 PM
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I just finished rebuilding the engine and transmission of my 1990 Corvette. I also had the car chipped. I have driven my car about 10 miles and have not found any problems except with my radio. I have power to my radio, power to my antenna, and power to my speakers, however, I have no music coming from the speakers, I only have a humming noise. I have the factory Bose gold system in the car. Does anyone know what could be causing this?
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 07:25 PM
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I'd think it could indicate the amplifier{s} could be. Toast
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 07:26 PM
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Would it be likely for all 4 of them to go out all at once? The radio was working great before I parked it for a year, and now I am trying to get everything back to working condition.
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 09:14 PM
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I have a 90 with the Bose Gold system. Each speaker has its own amplifier board. Over time (and not usage) the capacitors on the board leak and cause the speakers to not work. Usually, they go out one at a time but it's not unheard of for all to just about go out at the same time. The head unit that you turn the radio on and off with, select stations etc. is just a controller. If your antenna goes up and down and you can select stations and your time is correct it's probably working ok There's actually a good chance the CDM (Control Data Module) box has gone bad. That unit which is located behind the passenger side dash also has capacitors which over time leak on the circuit board and cause the system not to work. I sent my components to Factory Car Stereo in Florida, (and got my system working again). They do good work and have several good how-to videos on YouTube.
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 09:23 PM
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I have an extra CDM so I will change that out and see what happens. Is there a ground somewhere in the engine bay that could cause this? Was wondering since I took it all apart, could I have forgotten to put on a ground and this happen as a result?
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 09:38 PM
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So I switched to the other CDM, and there is not much of a difference, the noise is much louder, and that's about it. I have a few spare amps so that is what I will try next.
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 10:12 PM
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I just tried both of my spare amps, and no change. What I did notice is that when I try to change the volume of the radio, the humming stays at the same level, the volume **** does nothing. Could it be the head unit even though it only acts as a controller?
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 10:14 PM
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There’s no grounds in the engine bay. Only below left and right side of instrument panel on kick panel.
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 10:42 PM
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Try playing a cassette or CD. If you get sound it might be the head unit. If still same humming sound I’m still leaning toward a bad CDM box. Could be a bad amplifier relay too.
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 10:51 PM
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I just played a cassette in it, and there is some music playing through at least one of the speakers, however it is in the background of the humming noise.
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Old Dec 29, 2021 | 11:00 PM
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Sounds like the amplifier relay is good. I would start with speaker amps, then move to CDM. Head unit may be ok.
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Old Dec 30, 2021 | 12:36 PM
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I have 2 extra speaker amps that I tested a little over a year ago and they were both good, I plugged both of them in and no change. I have 2 extra CDMs so I tried both of them and no change. I have an extra head unit, so I tried it and no change. Is there anything else I could check before I try some more amps?
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Old Dec 30, 2021 | 12:55 PM
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Make sure the antenna is connected at the CDM and at the antenna itself. Also make sure the grounds are tight inside the kick panels. Other than that I can’t think of anything else causing the humming.
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