Hey, I'm a noob at imports and my 1990 CRX's radio keeps cutting out.
I've tried 3 different radios/head-units (inluding the OEM) and the same thing happens for all of them. The speakers are stock replacement (no fancy wiring).
When the sound cuts out, it cuts out from all 4 speakers so it must be a main wire somewhere and not the speaker wires.
The unit does not lose power when this happens, since the LCD stays on.
It will cut in and out even when the engine is off and there is no vibration.

I figure I'm going to have to replace a wiring harness, but I don't know what the name is of the one I'm replacing or where to find it, and I'm not even sure where I should be looking. My suspicion is that a ground wire is weak/faulty but I'm not experienced enough to know where to look to find this. Anyone care to help a guy out?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chaz76vette &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> it cuts out from all 4 speakers so it must be a main wire somewhere and not the speaker wires.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

A short to ground on one speaker will cause all 4 to cut out...

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chaz76vette &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I figure I'm going to have to replace a wiring harness, </TD></TR></TABLE>

Not likely. You'll need to start by pulling each speaker and making sure everything is solid (no chaffed wires or missing insulation).

If all of the wires are good on all 4 speakers, let us know.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B18C_EJ8 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Not likely. You'll need to start by pulling each speaker and making sure everything is solid (no chaffed wires or missing insulation).

If all of the wires are good on all 4 speakers, let us know.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yea its probably a speaker wire grounding out.

 

Ok, I putlled out all 4 speakers and checked the connection on the speaker-end of each. On the rear 2 speakers the hot wire was a little loose and I fixed them, but the ground was tight on every speaker.

 

Unless you're dealing with speakers in an 80's model Ford, your speakers don't have grounds.

 

ok....the wires on all 4 speakers are fine.

 

I bet there's a short somewhere... Somewhere that's not immediately adjacent to the speaker(s), and not necessarily visible when you pull the speaker...

 

probably in the harness portion in the immediate dash area.

those portions of the harness usually get chaffed the easiest because of all the pulling on that part of the harness when goofing with the radio.

unless you've been pulling panels often...

 

thanks man. if i buy a replacement radio wiring harness that'll take care of that, right? i saw one for sale so i figure that's the way to go...

ps, your sig kicks ***, haha

 

Im having this same problem in my del sol, but it's not my speakers that cut out, it's my whole deck itself.

It only happens when i turn the volume up higher than a 'normal' person would. my max volume i can turn it to is not even loud enough for people outside of my car to hear.

what problems might there be?

 

double-check your wiring behind the dash and make sure that there is no exposed wire strands from ANY of the leads that could possibly ground out to a metal part of the dash behind the radio. if any strands are exposed...either tape them up or fix the connection properly.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stoich EG2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

It only happens when i turn the volume up higher than a 'normal' person would. my max volume i can turn it to is not even loud enough for people outside of my car to hear.

what problems might there be?</TD></TR></TABLE>

you're too worried about how much the people outside the car can hear than the one behind the steering wheel

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jz98ctr &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">double-check your wiring behind the dash and make sure that there is no exposed wire strands from ANY of the leads that could possibly ground out to a metal part of the dash behind the radio. if any strands are exposed...either tape them up or fix the connection properly.

you're too worried about how much the people outside the car can hear than the one behind the steering wheel </TD></TR></TABLE>

i fixed the problem last night. turns out my power source was too weak and i just ran another power line to the deck. have you ever been in a del sol with just the back window rolled down on the freeway? you cant hear **** if the radio is too low(even 'normal' volume). so no, i dont care if people outside can hear or not, it was just to give an example. thanks though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Stoich EG2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

have you ever been in a del sol with just the back window rolled down on the freeway? you cant hear **** if the radio is too low(even 'normal' volume).</TD></TR></TABLE>

yea my buddy OBRJosh has a Delly and yes indeed the wind/road noise sux. it might be time for an external amp and some new well placed/aimed speakers.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chaz76vette &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ok....the wires on all 4 speakers are fine.</TD></TR></TABLE> A common problem when installing aftermarket speakers into the doors of Honda/Acuras is the speaker terminals can touch the sheet metal of the door.

Make sure that that is not what is happening.

You can also narrow things down, if the problem occurs when you turn up the volume it is probably a short, it can be on just one speaker or speaker lead.
Start by fading all the way to the rear speakers, if the HU no longer cuts out the problem is in the front speakers or wiring, if it still cuts out fade all the way to the front and try again, if the problem localizes to the front or rear, use the balance control all the way left or right, the side that still cuts out the sound is the problem. 94