So, I was at a barbecue, and volunteered to sacrifice my car's sound system to be the music provider using my Ipod connected to the PA-11 Vette XM interface. After 3 hours of continuous playing, and after having to press the Accessory button 3-4 times since it kept on shutting off every 30-45 minutes or so, I felt that its about time to re-charge my battery but my fear came true since at this point, the battery is too weak to start the car. So my first attempt ever to jump start my car with a jumper cable through the engine bay, instinct told me to connect the ground cable to the frame, and the positive to the battery cable covered by the engine bay fuse box. But after a few tries, the car still will not turn over, seemingly not getting enough battery power. I finally realize that the ground connector of the jumper should be connected to the engine block. Once I repositioned the cable, the car started right up.

The ensuing problem is the XM buttons are now missing. Can anybody know or guess what happened to my XM interface? Did my XM module die because it was running under low battery voltage for a while? Or maybe because the jumper cable ground being connected to the frame (instead of the block like I should have done) may have negative effect on it?

I just thought of something, and I will go and diagnose it in a few minutes, but I'm thinking that the PA-11 Vette XM Ipod interface might have died, not my XM receiver module.

Any input or ideas will be appreciated. Thanks.

 

It could be as simple as loose connection between the PA-11 and the XM module (located above the wheel well on the drivers side.) It is possible that it may have overheated for all of the playback with the car sitting idle while cranking out the music. Any changes to the PA-11 or the XM module that cause it to be "disconnected" will result in the button missing.

 

Well after bypassing the PA-11 Vette module, my XM button came back, so I'm now positive that the PA-11 died not the XM module. I'm not sure what caused this. I've played the Ipod for longer period before, and it was not a hot day today, so I don't think the prolonged playing did it. The radio was on while I tried to start the car when the battery was too weak, which I'm sure caused a voltage fluctuation. So my gut feeling tells me that it didn't like the large momentary voltage fluctuations.

 

Good point. Glad you found it but sorry for the failure. I have my eye on the PA-11 if the Genuine Corvette Accessory PAL doesn't materialize.