Radio - Bad capacitors or something else?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 164
Likes: 32
From: East Tennessee
Radio - Bad capacitors or something else?
Hello, I have a 1995 car with the Bose gold system and I'm having some clarity issues.
Yes, I am very aware of the common capacitor issues within the amplifiers, but I believe my issue may be some other component.
Sometimes I get AWFUL sound quality, getting worse as the volume is lowered. This effects all four speakers.
Other times (usually with warmer weather) all four speakers are crystal clear.
In summary, all speakers are either sounding good or bad, no in between.
There is never a quality difference between any of the speakers themselves
.
The poor sound quality is distortion, no squealing, popping, or buzzing.
Do you think this is still a capacitor issue or something in the head unit or tuner/receiver?
Could it be as simple as a poor ground?
Thanks
Yes, I am very aware of the common capacitor issues within the amplifiers, but I believe my issue may be some other component.
Sometimes I get AWFUL sound quality, getting worse as the volume is lowered. This effects all four speakers.
Other times (usually with warmer weather) all four speakers are crystal clear.
In summary, all speakers are either sounding good or bad, no in between.
There is never a quality difference between any of the speakers themselves
.
The poor sound quality is distortion, no squealing, popping, or buzzing.
Do you think this is still a capacitor issue or something in the head unit or tuner/receiver?
Could it be as simple as a poor ground?
Thanks
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,214
Likes: 1,173
From: Southlake, TX
I would lift the CDM out of the styrofoam it sits in and inspect for any signs of previous water damage. Jiggle and clean the terminals. I like De-Oxit for cleaning. While you have the connectors off, gently tug and push on each wire while observing the metal part of the terminal. You're looking for signs of a broken terminal inside the plastic shell. It happens, and can drive you nuts chasing it down.
Oh, remove the passenger seat when removie the CDM as your back with thank you
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 164
Likes: 32
From: East Tennessee
Kinda took a break from this issue. It seems to be very slowing going away. I am really at a loss as to what it is.
Every time I run the car, the radio gets clearer.
I took the CDM out and inspected it (fortunately I have a 1995 and its takes minutes to remove). I can't tell anything wrong with it. All the capacitors look intact and like they are not leaking. The whole box looks absolutely perfect. I also cleaned the G402 ground which grounds the box. It is located underneath the carpet behind the passenger seat and about half way up the little wall there. It looked perfect anyway. I measured 0.1 ohms of resistance to battery ground from the box's ground. I also measured full battery voltage to the box. Oh well, guess I need to keep driving the car to get it to go away
Every time I run the car, the radio gets clearer.
I took the CDM out and inspected it (fortunately I have a 1995 and its takes minutes to remove). I can't tell anything wrong with it. All the capacitors look intact and like they are not leaking. The whole box looks absolutely perfect. I also cleaned the G402 ground which grounds the box. It is located underneath the carpet behind the passenger seat and about half way up the little wall there. It looked perfect anyway. I measured 0.1 ohms of resistance to battery ground from the box's ground. I also measured full battery voltage to the box. Oh well, guess I need to keep driving the car to get it to go away
