Radio failure! - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Boxster_luver · 03-17-2009, 06:17 PM

HAs any one had there radio suddenly go out. The radio will be playing fine and then all of a sudden it goes out and then starts back up and so on. I refuse to believe it's a short lol. Im not even able to turn the vol. down because once it goes out and starts back up the vol comes back up. It doesn't go out over hard bumps or it will, it's completely random. I end up having to take out the (the radio head unit?) to keep it turned off.

Lil bastard · 03-17-2009, 07:53 PM

Pull the faceplate and clean the contacts on both the radio and the faceplate w/ alcohol and a Q-tip. Then carefully reattach the faceplate so the contacts align. This should cure it.

Boxster_luver · 03-18-2009, 06:33 AM

One of the contacts is ever so slightly bent, so small I didn't think that would be the problem. I'll give it a shot tonight when I get home. Has this ever happend to you? I meen one day it was working completely fine and then it goes.

Lil bastard · 03-18-2009, 07:11 AM

All of the controls for the unit and the CD player live in the faceplate. This makes having properly aligned and clean contact terminals between the faceplate and the HU critical.

It doesn't fix all the issues which have come up with these radios, but it cures the majority of them. It's the 1st thing anyone should do if they are having trouble with the unit(s).

70Sixter · 03-18-2009, 12:26 PM

The ignition switch has been blamed for a lot of weird problems. If all else fails...

Boxster_luver · 03-18-2009, 06:30 PM

Well I cleaned the units today with alcohol, qtips, and gauze. I sat there for about 10 min. and my radio was doing great. I even took it around the block and it was all good. THEN when I get into it later the damn thing starts happening again!!! It's not like it's playing and juts cuts off, it will play and then fade out really fast. Like when you leave the radio on and take the keys out of the ignition. What are othjer signs of this being the ignition switch

j.fro · 03-19-2009, 01:39 AM

The ignition is responsible for a number of electrical gremlins, but I don't think it's causing your radio problems. In general, the stock Porsche radios aren't that great. The CD player in mine is junk...it will play for a song or two, but then it overheats and starts skipping all over the place, even on a perfectly new CD. When you eject the CD, it's so hot you can barely hold on to it.

Boxster_luver · 03-19-2009, 07:53 PM

So your saying it's just the radio? is there anyway to fix it or do I just have to buy a new rado?
Is there an aftermarket screen that I can replace the ac panel with and still be able to use the ac/heater?

Lil bastard · 03-19-2009, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxster_luver

So your saying it's just the radio? is there anyway to fix it or do I just have to buy a new rado?
Is there an aftermarket screen that I can replace the ac panel with and still be able to use the ac/heater?

Why do you want an aftermarket screen? Is there an issue with yours?

Boxster_luver · 03-19-2009, 09:09 PM

Well mine doesn't have a screen so I want to put one there.

Lil bastard · 03-19-2009, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxster_luver

Well mine doesn't have a screen so I want to put one there.

You don't have climate control? Is the car an ROW model? I understood that all US market cars had climate control as standard.

Or is it that the screen isn't functioning? If so, contact:

Circuit Solutions (Modules Master)
2006 S Main St, Moscow, ID 83843-8913
Contact Phone: (208) 892-0764
http://www.modulemaster.com/en/services/climate_controls.php

Contact's Name: Gavin Curtis
Contact's Title: Owner

Boxster_luver · 03-20-2009, 09:44 AM

I have climate control but what I want is to replace all of that with one lg. screen. Like a dvd/navigation system that can also do the climate control.

Lil bastard · 03-20-2009, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxster_luver

I have climate control but what I want is to replace all of that with one lg. screen. Like a dvd/navigation system that can also do the climate control.

Never heard of that. Many have added aftermarket NAV systems w/ screen, but I don't think it supplanted the CC screen already there.

JusWannaGroove · 05-12-2009, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boxster_luver

HAs any one had there radio suddenly go out. The radio will be playing fine and then all of a sudden it goes out and then starts back up and so on. I refuse to believe it's a short lol. Im not even able to turn the vol. down because once it goes out and starts back up the vol comes back up. It doesn't go out over hard bumps or it will, it's completely random. I end up having to take out the (the radio head unit?) to keep it turned off.

Boxster_Lover, I have the exact same problem. My 01's radio worked perfectly for the first year that I had it. Then it would randomly cur off and on. Over time it slowly got repeatly worst (more cutting off and staying off). As of a few months ago the radio will not come on at all while the car is running (very few random exceptions when it will pop on for 30 seconds and turn back off).

Things I would like to point out.
- If the ignition key is turned to the on poition the radio works flawlessly. As soon as the engine is turned on the radio turns off.
- I cleaned the contacts inside of the face plate, which did not help.
- Not having any tunes is a pain in the AZZ!

I am going to simply replace the radio in a few days. Hopefully this will solve the problem.

-Groove