Strange radio issue
 

This started a while back, but was very infrequent when it happened and I just ignored it. But it seems to be doing it more lately, couple of days ago it seems to do it a lot, then nothing after.

Ever so often, the right front speaker will get louder than the rest. It will stay that way for a while (sometimes days), and then go back to normal. I've verified with the balance control that it is louder than the left front. It has only done this with me in the car, so I hope it not my head.....:lol:

This is the factory head unit with the RDS (displays song titles) feature. Is this the early signs of the head unit going out, or means it needs a reflash? I'm happy with the head unit, but don't want to put it in the shop and waste the $$$ only to find out I need a new head unit, which I would go aftermarket.

Second question is, if I replace with an aftermarker, will my redundant controls still work? And is there a "adapter" to plug and aftermarket unit to the factory wiring? I'd prefer to not have to splice it in.

It might be the head unit starting to fail, but I'd also check the connector on the back of that particular speaker. If you do go aftermarket there are adapter harnesses that plug into the factory wiring so everything works like your warning chimes. One question, does this speaker act up only when listening to the radio or does it act up when you have a CD in also. You could take it in and have the codes pulled if there are any stored, the service manual doesn't really cover this issue, they are more concerned with a lack of audio output.

I rarely listen to CD's. I usually listen to the radio so I can hear traffic info in Atlanta. It seems to stay on the "right front louder" more than the normal. WHich I can live with, it's just annoying when it jumps back and forth. I can pull the door panel off and check the connector. But looking to see if anyone else has heard of this. I just passed my annual emmisions test and they check for codes, but not sure if this type of code would show up for what they look for.

I'd check the connectors on both front speakers because a loose connection on a speaker can make for some interesting audio problems. They could have seen a DTC from the radio, but being unrelated to the emissions inspection they might have just glossed over it. Does this unbalanced condition happen only on one particular station, and is it an AM station. There was a TSB on some of these head units a while back dealing with reception issues on the AM band. Basically the head unit would become overwhelmed by a strong station and start clipping the audio.

I can't remember the last time I had it on AM, if ever. But it does it on all FM stations. When it first did it, I thought maybe it was the station.

Well if you can eliminate the connections at the speakers, its probably the head unit starting to fail on you. Whether its that particular channel starting to fail or the balance function is kind of hard to tell without having it bench tested.

THese days, they are not worth the time to fix. I'll see if anyone else has some insite. But probably start looking for a new head unit.

I have problems with my '07 radio. There are times that if I have the radio on via the Aux Input(I only listen to Satellite Radio), I notice that my right speaker seems to go out. I've noticed that if I lightly push the audio control to the right, that the speaker kicks back in. So it might be one that your issue has something to do with the volume knob. Try pushing the knob to the right or left and hopefully it corrects itself that way.

My brand NEW 2010 LS does this too... sometimes it will fade to the back, one speaker get louder... its random. Even with a great radio signal and on CD. I need to get it checked out.