No sound coming from radio

[Patrick S.]

Looking for some assistance. One day turned radio on in 1986 vette after it having worked regularly and got no sound, everything works (antenna goes up, display works on radio) - absolutely no sound, no static, no anything. Can anyone suggest something else I can check into? Thank you in advance for any information you may be able to provide.

[Mike M.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

WOW, Pat, you really know how to ask a question.
Oh well, I'll bump you to the top.
Loose speaker wire? Just hope it isn't computer related.
HaND

[Jim T.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

Do you have the optional Bose stereo radio system?

[Patrick S.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

no just the std.Bose system

[Patrick S.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

Sorry It has the std. bose system

[Jim T.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

Partick my 85's Bose system is now not working. I have static on both front and rear speakers, antenna goes up and down, and have no illumination on the radio and no clock information. Have checked the fuses and they are good. I am going to reread my 85's service manual and see what else I can check.

When I had previous radio problems back in 1992 I replaced a relay that is located at the back drivers side of the radio, did not make a difference then. Found this relay by removing the panel under the steering column and doing one of the on your back with a flashlight laying on the drivers side floorboard. Since I still have the removed part I might try replacing the relay.
My problem back then was the Bose amps, replaced those. I do know from that experience the front in the door speaker/amp plastic containers are not just real easy to remove/replace.

[Tom L.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

The amplifiers are at each speaker in that system. The amps are notorious for failure. If memory serves, you'll have 4 wires at each amp, 12VDC, gnd, and a low voltage positive and negative signal input from the radio (music). The amp turns on when it sees signal input. Put a meter on the signal input, which is AC voltage, and make sure your meter is jumping around with the radio on. If so, the radio is good and you need an amp repair. Static likely means a broken soldier joint in the amp. No output likely means the amp isn't turning on.

[Patrick S.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

So Each speaker has an amplifier, so if one is not working all the speakers
are dead.

[Jim T.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

Patrick with the Bose radio option in my 85 and your 86 each Bose speaker has an amplifier located in the speaker container.
If one speaker/amp is not working it should not affect the others. The relay I mentioned in my previous post will.
For information on repairing/replacing your Bose speakers and Bose amplififers you can contact Bose and send them yours.
The last time I contacted them the cost was reasonable.

US customers, for personal assistance with your product service questions please email support@bose.com

[Tom L.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

If there is a short in the low voltage signal lines in one amp, the short may interfere with the radio output such that none of the amps will receive adequate AC input to trigger the amps to turn on. For example, take the wires off of a home speaker and touch them together and see what happens to the sound coming out of the other speaker. The amp will clip. Likewise, a significant irregularity in input signal to your amps will prevent the amps from turning on.

To troubleshoot this problem, the radio output should be tested first with the low volt signal output wires to the amps unplugged. You should be able to hear very low volume output directly from the radio with a small speaker. Conversely, inputing a known signal into the amps should turn them on and produce an amplified signal. If you have good signal from the radio with all of the amps plugged in, take that signal and apply it to the amps one at a time until you find the one with the problem. If you use another source to test the amps, just make sure your input signal is very low and verify that the amp input is disconnected first so you don't back feed into the radio.

Before popping the radio out, it would be wise to quickly verify that you have power and a reasonable ground at your amplifiers.

[Tom L.]

Re: No sound coming from radio

Sorry, should have proof read before posting.

I wrote:

"If you have good signal from the radio with all of the amps plugged in, take that signal and apply it to the amps one at a time until you find the one with the problem."

I meant to write:

"If you have good signal from the radio with all of the amps unplugged, take that signal and apply it to the amps one at a time until you find the one with the problem."