When car is started, volume on radio is very low. As the car warms up, the radio volume increases. What do I check or fix?

Thank you

 

Does the display look normal, or is that dim? Cracked solder joints are a rather common issue with older car stereos, so if the volume is your only concern, opening the deck and reflowing questionable solder joints is a good plan. If the display is also having an issue, then replacing the electrolytic capacitors in the power supply and display board is a good idea.

-Rod

 

Display is perfect. When I turn the volume up, the little lines (-------) go up and go down when turned down. When vehicle is cold, I get no volume but I leave it turned up and it slowly becomes louder as the car warms up. I am in Phoenix Az, so does not get too cold here.
Thank you for your help..

 

Do you know if your Explorer has the high end stereo with the remotely located amplifier?

 

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I am not sure. Here is a pic of the radio. I think it has JBL speaker

 

Does it have a CD changer in the center console? Sorry for the string of questions. This should be the last one.

-Rod

 

My 1995 Explorer has the same radio, it also has rear seat controls in the back of the console! maybe check them also.

 

Rod, yes I have a changer in the console.

Thank you 49f68canadian, I will check that. But nobody is in the car except me.

 

It does appear that your 1996 with the changer and subwoofer has a remote amplifier for the door speakers and another amplifier for the subwoofer.

To 49f68canadian's point, maybe your volume concerns are due to only the front speakers working at first, then the rear kick in later. If that's the case, it should be an easy theory to test and should also quickly narrow down your search. Similarly, could it be that the subwoofer isn't working at first and then kicks in later?

If all speakers are working and it's definitely a volume issue, and the subwoofer volume tracks with the speaker volume correctly, then the issue almost has to be in the head unit. If the subwoofer volume does not track with the speaker volume, then my first suspicion would be the remote amplifier for the door speakers. You might be able to narrow down whether or not the subwoofer volume tracks by just turning the bass all the way down while troubleshooting.

-Rod

 

Radio
Ok, I think I understand. I will test, probably on Tues. Thank you for your help.

 

It appears that I have bass all the way around but when I go to the Right speakers whether it is the front or the back, they are very very weak (in volume).

 

Since it's both right speakers, it's probably not an issue with the wiring to the doors. Seems suspicious that it is either an issue with the amplifier or within the head unit. Short of getting in there with an oscilloscope and probing signals, it's going to be a bit tricky to confidently troubleshoot.

-Rod

 

Well, I am finally getting back to this problem. I totalled my Windstar when the ABS brakes failed so I am back to driving the Explorer. Are oscilloscopes easy to use. I found this on Amazon, Oscilloscope Multimeter, LIUMY Professional Handheld LED Scopemeter Oscilloscope Multimeter with 200ksps A/D Automatic Waveform Capture Function, DC/AC Voltage /Current, Resistance Test with Backlight. Will I be able to self diagnose the problem with this multimeter? Mind you, I already have a different multimeter and all I know how to do with it is test batteries.

Thank you for all help..

Andrea

 

Well, if the oscilloscope has an "Autoset" button they can be pretty easy to use. Since you have some speakers that are getting decent signal, you could autoset when connected to those while playing music, then move over to the suspect speakers to see if they have a signal of the same amplitude. Both of these steps would require removing door panels though and getting to the speaker wiring. I suppose the more cost effective approach would be to swap speakers from left to right and see if the issue follows the speaker or the door. The challenge then might be if it stays with the door, the oscilloscope would be very useful for tracing backwards toward the deck to determine where the signal gets attenuated.

-Rod