PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

Why not shoot an email to Pioneer? Rather than being 99% sure of this and that, and whacking the head unit, which is generally not how electronics are repaired, try the manufacturer. Maybe go to their website and and find the owners' manual, sometimes you're only given a basic one in the box and a much more comprehensive one is available online. Look at the troubleshooting section. GL.

 

Currently waiting for a callback from Crutchfield...

 

How did they wire it into the truck? Did they use crimp connectors?

 

Butt connectors? My neighbor popped them into place and then shrunk them using a heat gun; Installation detailed in my build thread...

 

Yeah, those. It sorta sounds like you may have more than one problem on your hands here - some related to phone/radio software, and possibly others related to wiring. Not that butt connectors are guaranteed to be the issue, but they can certainly give you intermittent faults like this.

 

Crutchfield won’t be able to solve your problem over the phone, unless it’s something dumb like you’ve pressed the mute button.

you’re going to have to man up and start deductively troubleshooting to narrow it down. Or take it to someone and pay them to figure it out if you’re not up to it.

 

Actually, the guy at Crutchfield gave me a lot of the same pointers you guys did, including hooking another speaker into the head unit. I'm gonna use one of the speakers from my old Panasonic shelf system. If the radio plays uninterrupted through the Panasonic speaker, then I'll know the problem lies with the amp or one of the speakers.

 

Butt connectors have never let me down!

 

As for the Bluetooth, I will replace the head unit if I can't get the Bluetooth to work!

 

I’ve worked in the car audio/mobile electronics field for nearly 15 years. This issue could be multiple things and could be very complicated. Without looking at it all I could do is offer a few pointers. Do you have a multimeter? This is greatly help figure some things out

First: the issue with the Bluetooth. Sounds like a software or internal hardware problem. As already stated update your BT device (phone) and see if pioneer has any software updates. If not and the phone is updated, then likely it’s something internal.

As for the music cutting out while play. You said the radio is staying on and the amp? Does it cut out when the volume is turned up? If so it could be a poor ground (amp) or perhaps the amplifier is going into protect. If it’s going into protection it still could be a grounding issue or you have an impedance problem with your speakers. Check where the amp is grounded. Make sure it’s secure, you can’t move the cable from the mounting point. Also it’s better if the contact area is bare metal. Where exactly is the ground and what is it mounted too. Proper grounding is one of the most important and overlooked issues.

what kind of amp is it? You said it’s powering the door speakers and a sub? Assuming it’s a multi channel amp 3,4,5 channel? Ohm out all the speakers and check their impedance. Most Coaxles (assuming thats what you have) are 4 ohms. They should all be metering close to that. Next you should meter the sub. You need to find out what the impedance of the voice coil(s) are. Then you need to make sure your amp can handle the final impedance per channel.

if all that checks out, put the DMM on the power lead at the amp and start the truck. Turn the radio on and put it at where you normally listen to it. Check the voltage and see what it’s all. If the amp is dipping below ~11 volts it will probably temp go into protect, cutting out the sound, but still be “on”. Most new amps have a protection light so if it’s in protection you can easily tell. If the voltage is low check your wiring and fuse. If using a AGU fuse (glass style) a lot of times the solder in the corners heats up and loses contact. The fuse isn’t “blown” but it’s not allowing the current the amp needs. To verify this simply meter the voltage before and after the fuse or just replace with a new one and see if that fixes the issue. I’d honestly recommend just replacing the entire fuse holder to a ANL style. Much better design


As for the radio randomly rebooting, that could be a few different issues as well. First thing to check or try would be a new or better ground. Also check the voltage on the yellow (constant) and the red (ignition). Should be 12-14v. It more than likely could just be the radio itself. Or something is causing a conflict and it’s just rebooting.

 

Rockford Fosgate amp powering the speakers, and the Kicker sub is “powered” so it has its own amp...

 

The amp is going into protection when it cuts out; I’ve confirmed this by looking at the amp and the blue light turns to red. The subwoofer switches between blue and red when the amp is “protection”.

 

Maybe not...

 

Long-dormant central A/C at a house in Colorado in The Last of Us; This one seems to still be hooked up unlike the ones in Pittsburgh...

 

1971-1972 Chevy C10 at the same house, probably easily restorable...

 

This mail truck, also in Colorado, is about twenty years late making its deliveries...

 

@ColoradoTJ

Are you much into video games?

 

How does your kid stay entertained? At least you have internet!