Last week I was driving listening to a CD when all of a sudden the entire stereo froze up and I couldn't change anything or even turn the power off. I pulled over and turned the truck off (hoping that would reset the problem) and restarted it but then the only thing that showed on the display was the clock. Well I drove for another twenty minutes then the radio came back on but all the preset stations were gone. I took it to the service department and they told me to check the none of the connections in the back of the stereo were loose. The reason they told me this is because they know that I added a LOC with amp and two 12" subs. So I brought the truck home and later that day I took the stereo out and double checked all the connections. I also looked at the connections from the LOC and noticed that some of the solder was not covered completely. I wrapped some electrical tape around it thinking that that would let me know if that was grounding out the stereo. Well it didn't help and now my stereo constantly will freeze up and then start working again whenever it feels like it. And everytime it freezes, I loose my preset stations. I also noticed that sometimes the clock will reset too. This morning I took the truck back to the service department and talked with the service advisor. He told me that since the LOC was soldered into the factory wires, that my warranty for the stereo would be voided and that I would have to pay for anything to be looked at or fixed. Then we told me that it would be $75 per hour for labor, and that they would have to diagnose it to see what was wrong first. Then even if the stereo was defective, I would have to pay for a new one because the warranty was voided. Can anyone make some helpful suggestions? I have already started looking into getting an aftermarket stereo but what if there is another problem (for example with the wiring) and the problem continues with a new stereo? Please help.

ShinerbokTitan

For some reason you're loosing power to the stock unit which is causing your presets and clock to be erased. What did you wire into the stock head unit and did you pick up power off of it as well?

The only thing that was wired in was the line out convertor from the rear left and right speakers. I was thinking the same thing and even checked to see if the battery terminals were loose. The freezing up is a random thing that does not seems to be affected by bumps in the road. Any other suggestions would be great. Also since it seems to be a power probelm, could it be just the stereo itself and not in the wiring? If I were to get an aftermarket stereo, what are the odds that this will continue? Thanks again for the help.

ShinerbokTitan

I would try removing all aftermarket equipment and see if it still does it. If it does without the aftermarket stuff, then I would take it to the dealership.

It might be that the equip. you added is simply drawing to much power at certain moments and because of the wire size and the impedance of the electrical system feeding it, that need for sudden power cannot be met. My suggestion would be to install a high value capacitor. That way when your equipment needs that inrush power the cap. will be there to provided it. Just my 0.02

Here are my thoughts on this, so please tell me if I am totally wrong. The line out convertor is soldered into the rear left and right speaker wire which is an output. The stereo is having some type of input or power problem. Can the line out convertor still be considered as causing the problem? I posted the same thing on TitanTalk and someone else said that they had the same problem without any mods. They stated that their stereo was replaced and they have not had any problems since. I was thinking about disconnecting the line out convertor and taking it to the dealer, but the rear speaker wires will still have the solder marks. Therefore the dealer will still try to avoid replacing the stereo, so my best option is to try to show that the line out convertor could not cause the input problem because it is connected to the output of the stereo.

Thanks again for everyone's advice.

ShinerbokTitan

See, I don't do stereos much, so my advice is from somebody that has a general knowledge on electronics. My experience is that when you have a "noisy" or insufficient power supply, electronic equipment tends to shut down randomly or simply doesn't work as it should without apparent reason. So, you may want to make sure that you have a power supply that meets the needs of your equipment. I guess you'll have to disconnect your aftermarket equipment to see if everything goes back to normal. Make sure that everything is grounded properly also.

does the stereo freeze when you have it cranked up? if so then i would get a cap. 1 ferhit or something, because when you add after market items to stock items it can mess things up. because when you are cranking it up the subs draw power from the head unit because of your line converters, so it could be drawing to much which in return is shutting down your deck. i would get a aftermarket head unit one with some preouts for sub. because they are built to have you add on subs. the stock unit dosent. it is rockford but it is there lowest model not the kind they sell to the public. just my 0.02 hope you get-r-done.

Mine will freeze up if I listen to it in ACC mode then turn the truck directly on. I can restart the truck and it is fine. I know I have a ground problem, because when I installed my amp I ran out of the end connectors with the screw holes, so I kind of rig it for now. It works fine as long as I do not run it in ACC and then try to start it. I would check your ground. Worse case take all After Market out wrap the solder points with electrical tape, and take it to a different dealer, and have them diagnose the radio. Do you have the service manual, as I think there is a radio troubleshooting in it.

Also something I would have them show you whould be were the warranty says it will be void. The same act that applies to the exhaust and CAI would apply here, they have to prove what you added broke it, to get out of fixing it. Look for the thread about the Moss something act and it has links to help you get it covered.

From the service manual:
MALFUNCTION WITH RADIO AND CD (BASE SYSTEM)
MALFUNCTION WITH RADIO AND CD (MIDLINE OR PREMIUM SYSTEM)
Symptom Possible cause

Inoperative:

Audio unit power circuit check. Refer to AV-47, "Power Supply Circuit
Inspection" .
If above check is OK, remove audio unit for repair.

Audio unit presets are lost when ignition switch is turned OFF

Audio unit B+ power circuit check. Refer to AV-47, "Power Supply Circuit Inspection" .
If above check is OK, remove audio unit for repair.

All speakers do not sound

Audio unit

One or several speakers do not sound

Front door speaker check. Refer to AV-51, "Sound Is Not Heard From Front Door Speaker or Front Tweeter (Base or Midline System)" .

Rear door speaker check. Refer to AV-53, "Sound Is Not Heard From Rear Door Speaker or Rear Door Tweeter (Base or Midline System)" .

Poor sound

Audio unit

Speaker

Noisy

Audio unit

Electrical equipment (generator, bonding wire, etc.)