Hi all. Been a while since I last posted but thought I would see if you all can help me out with a problem I am having with the radio presets in y 2003 Coupe.

Symptoms: All radio functions work fine except my radio presets are gone each time I go to Key On and start the car. Security light does flash and the radio is not in LOC mode. I also have installed an IPod2Car setup that I have had for about 2 years now. Never had an issue up to this point.

History: Did some tuning at VA Speed about a month ago trying to trouble shoot some slow speed idle issues. PCM was flashed at least a dozen or more times. Radio was off during this time. Each flash required a key on/key off/key on cycle followed by start. All systems in the car seemed to re-set each time we flashed the computer. At one point, the radio spit out my CD from the deck which I tought was strange. I gave it no mind. I have been having radio preset issues since that tuning session.

In my attempt to fix the issue today, I completely disconnected both terminals of the battery for about 20 min, cleaned the terminals and reconnected. I expected the radio to be in LOC mode and I would have to input my security code to unlock hoping to reset the radio. Strange thing is the radio did not go into LOC mode after the battery was disconnected. The clock has to be re-set but the radio would come on as if nothing happened.

I did a search in the Tech section and came up with nothing. I also checked codes and have no radio codes. Any ideas on a solution are appreciated.

John

 

I would suggest that you have your battery load tested first. It sounds sort of like the power is dropping below the minimums to keep things normal for you.

 

Sounds like the beginnings of a battery problem.

 

I put an Exide Orbital in the car about a year ago and keep the car on a Ctek battery charger whenever it is stored. I know this does not mean the battery is good. I will get it tested. Another symptom of the radio problem is that I cannot activate or de activate the Theft Loc system on the radio by pressing 1 and 4 together. Theft light blinks but no matter what I do I cannot get the radio into or out of security mode. I pulled the fuse to cut power to the radio and this had no effect. All radio functions work except presets and security mode. All other functions on car are working normal. I am beginning to wonder if the radio got fried somehow during the repeated PCM flashing process during my tune.

 

No Codes at all other than a U1065 which I think is fairly normal pre-start communication code. No PCM codes, No BCM codes, No Radio Codes. No codes in other systems other than the above mentioned code. I am still puzzled. Wonder if their is a security setting in the VATS that might affect the radio and this was somehow touched when my tune was being adjusted. Have a call into my tuner for ideas. Again, I cannot seem to activate or de-activate the Security Loc on the radio by starting the procedure with pressing 1 and 4 simultaneously. Everything on the radio works other than presets and security function.

Plan to pull the radio this weekend and hook up normally without the Ipod2Car adaptor harness and see if this has any impact.

 

It sounds like you radio is simply locked by a code entered from the previous owner. Use the search function here in the forum as there is a procedure which involves calling an 800number and so on, to unlock the radio and wipe out whatever security code was put in.

 

Thanks. The radio is not locked. As I said, it functions. Only the pre-sets will not work. I have even tried disconnecting the battery to try and lock the radio so I could use my code to re-set it in hopes that would solve the issue. Radio will not go into LOC mode as it has always done in the past and I cannot engage the security loc feature using the 1 and 4 buttons.

 

When you reset all your preset buttons they work until you turn off key?

 

Correct. I can turn off the key and turn it right back on and the presets are there but after about 5 minutes or so with the key off they are lost. Presets will stay as long as I have power to the radio. It is like whatever is powering the memory when I shut the car down is gone. Also cannot access the security feature at all.

 

I'm just guessing here - was thinking one button might be stuck in. When you have it working do all the buttons function? You know press each one and see if it is doing its function.

 

Sounds like the constant 12v that holds the memory is disconnected from the radio. Maybe in your Ipod connection, that was disconnected? You have two 12v connections, one on/off with the ignition and one constant to hold the memory. I don't have the color codes right now, but it's usually red for one and orange for the other, don't know about the vette.

 

Seems to make sense. I will check that when i pull the radio this weekend. Thanks

 

Quick update to close this thread out. Pulled the radio and had a constant 12V to the back of the radio. Decided to send the radio to Southern Electronics in Richmond VA for testing and repair. They in turn sent the radio to a firm in NY where they confirmed the internal memory had failed in the radio. Sent me a like new re-man unit and I installed it this past week. Everything works perfectly including presets and security LOC. Re-man was $225 but that is far less than I have seen elsewhere. Very happy to have this issue fixed. Just have to chalk this one up to failed electronics. Not the first time I have had electrical issues. Just have to live with the fact this goes with owning a Vette.

 

I am resurrecting this post due to having had the same problem. After an engine tuning session my internal radio memory was shot. My radio would keep the time between power cycles but the radio would always be off when you powered up the car. When you turned it on it always defaulted to the same FM radio station (not to whatever you were listening to when you turned it off) and all of the presets were gone. Yet the time was correct. A used radio of the same model fixed my problem.

Have others had this problem after tuning?

Kurt