So my alternator was on the fritz but I didn't have any idea until my radio/cd's started cutting out and sounding really staticky (like I was losing the station even when I was on CD). It seemed to come and go as it please. It would go out when braking and come back on acceleration.

So this problem was why I took it to a reputable auto electric shop. They told me the head unit was fried because the alternator was going bad. Apparently the surging current effed it up.

I got my alternator replaced and I still have the same issues with the head unit (as expected). My question is this: is the head unit repairable? It actually worked better now that the alt as been replaced but it still occasionally cuts out (not nearly as often).

Its an Alpine CVA-1004 with motorized LCD so its not a cheap deal to replace. The screen works flawlessly still and never cuts out. Its purely an audio issue. I'd just like to know if this can be fixed or if I should just sell it for parts. Thanks y'all!

 

call alpine. they may be able to tell you more, or fix it.

 

I think the problem was, [and is] the HU all along, as you did not mention any other problems like low or dead batt. or hard or no starting or any other related issues that happen when alt. "goes bad", and even if alt. output was dropping or voltage regulator had gone bad and output voltage increased past 15V, [or dropped below 11.4V] the Alpine HU would just cut out, I have yet to see one, [or any brand for that matter] damaged because alt. went bad.

I would pull HU and check wiring, pay close attention to speaker leads and any connections on them for shorting to ground or each other, if you have aftermarket speakers, pull them and inspect wiring to them also. 94

 

Alt was definitely bad. I didn't mention it because my question was solely about the HU. But my gauges were dying in sync with my blinker flashing, battery would drain slowly, as well as various other problems (all of which stopped with new alt install).

Thanks for the input though and I'll check out my wiring. The auto/electric place that told me this doesn't really do anything with audio so he may just have been guessing.