Weird radio problems, volume doesn't change, buzzing

SmoothTS · #1 (**permalink**) 02-12-08, 04:12 PM

I have been having some WEIRD issues with my stock Bose radio/cd in my 2000 STS. Several times I have started my car and tried to adjust the volume... the indicator shows the volume changing, but it doesn't actually sound any different! I can twist the volume knob all day long and it won't actually make any difference... until I turn the radio off and back on again to actually "lock in" the volume change! Another weird issue happened only once, I started my car and from the speakers came a weird high pitched, high frequency buzzing sound... sounded like an alarm in an alien spacecraft from some cheesy scifi movie! I turned the radio on and off and the car on and off several times before the buzzing finally stopped.

What in the heck is going on? And does this have anything to do with my slight reduction in FM reception quality over the past few months?

CadillacSTS2003 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-12-08, 04:27 PM

sounds like the hus going on

simo · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-09, 02:11 PM

Let me just say, I'm not sure what the problem is or how to fix it. I figured if I shared my experience, someone might have some insight based on it. I have a 2000 STS and have had the same issue with the volume control (probably happened on 3 occasions over 6 years). I know how absurd this is going to sound, but it only seems to happen when it's extremely cold. I can play with turning the player on an off all I want, but changing the volume doesn't do anything until, like you said, turning the unit off and then back on and the volume is set at the last place you changed it to. I noticed also that on one occasion, my radio was tuning in stations, RDS data coming in, etc., but no sound. Similarly, my CD changer was loading CDs, etc., but no sound. However, my in-dash CD worked - perfectly - as in display, sound, etc. Anyway, each time it's only happened for one car ride. When I got to my destination, I turned the car off, locked it, unlocked it, put the key back in and started it up and everything worked fine.

ryannel2003 · #4 (**permalink**) 01-12-09, 02:14 PM

My car did the exact same thing when cold, only on 5 or 6 occasions. One of my speakers blew and I replaced it with a new one, and it has never happened again. I don't know how the h/u ties into this, but it was doing it once a week and now it hasn't done it in 3 months.

interactii · #5 (**permalink**) 01-12-09, 03:32 PM

These sound to me like amplifer problems. The volume level is communicated to the amplifer from the head unit, so it may be missing the messages, and the funny sounds are also indicitive of an amplifier problem.

simo · #6 (**permalink**) 01-12-09, 03:57 PM

Ya, I'm not sure. Like I said, the regular in-dash CD Player was giving out sound, but not the radio and the cd-changer. I never experienced the strange sounds though.

ryannel2003 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-12-09, 04:49 PM

My first thought was the amplifier when it was doing this, but it hasn't done it for me in 3 months and the radio reception is fine to me. Ehh when it does fry I'll go on eBay and pick one up for $50 or $60. GMPartsDirect wants $900!

ocgltd · #8 (**permalink**) 01-12-09, 05:41 PM

Listen carefully above your rear seat, left side. Do you hear a relay click on-off every 3 seconds? Did you have a low battery condition recently?

Once after reconnecting the battery, some device on the bus (sys/data) didn't reset properly. It caused similar volume control problems, and also a clicking relay.

I would suggest removing battery connection for 15 minutes then reapply...any difference?