Question for you audiophiles - stereo sound cutting in and out

[swathdiver]

A few months ago the battery went bad in the 2009 GMC Yukon XL and it was probably improperly jump started. I was sixty miles away at the time and not on scene.

Ever since, the volume on the stereo has been cutting out and by that I mean it gets real low and then comes back to normal for a few seconds every 20-30 seconds it seems. This is quite regular, might be a rhythmic pattern but have not timed it.

This happens while listening to Sirius XM and playing CDs. It also happens while listening to FM but far less frequently. I tried to assess AM but it was an exercise in frustration so I don't know.

What could it be? Did a surge in electricity damage the amplifier, the radio head (navigation radio) or digital radio receiver behind the glove box?

How would one go about testing/diagnosing the system? I really don't see anything in the shop manual after two hours of looking. Might not be using the proper terms.

 

[homesick]

Shooting blind here, and likely wrong...

Is it an after market system? With a separate power wire to the battery?

I'm wondering about the power wire's physical connection, ince you say someone was messing with the battery.

joe

 

[swathdiver]

Shooting blind here, and likely wrong...

Is it an after market system? With a separate power wire to the battery?

I'm wondering about the power wire's physical connection, ince you say someone was messing with the battery.

joe

Everything is bone stock. It all worked perfect until the battery went dead and the kids tried to jump start the truck. Wound up towing it and the recovery vehicle home! Expensive night!

 

[homesick]

Everything is bone stock. It all worked perfect until the battery went dead and the kids tried to jump start the truck. Wound up towing it and the recovery vehicle home! Expensive night!

Man, sorry. We've 'bout tapped my genius already.

It seems like the symptoms you described ought to point to a specific problem.

joe

 

[swathdiver]

Man, sorry. We've 'bout tapped my genius already.

It seems like the symptoms you described ought to point to a specific problem.

joe

Appreciate the help Joe. I know motors but not radios! Hoping someone will yell out, "Yep! That's the amp!" or something like that and I can change out the amp and drive along happily ever after!

 

[Doubeleive]

Appreciate the help Joe. I know motors but not radios! Hoping someone will yell out, "Yep! That's the amp!" or something like that and I can change out the amp and drive along happily ever after!

it sounds like the amp, but you can do "some" test's with the tech2 such as tone testing a channel, if it happens in the tone test i think that rules out the radio.
the tech2 will also tell you the model number of the amp so you can get a direct match if need be.

 

[swathdiver]

it sounds like the amp, but you can do "some" test's with the tech2 such as tone testing a channel, if it happens in the tone test i think that rules out the radio.
the tech2 will also tell you the model number of the amp so you can get a direct match if need be.

I didn't know that, thanks Wes!

 

[mikez71]

Putting my money on the headunit...
Only because you mentioned FM cuts out less than CD or XM.

Is there a headphone jack on the headunit? That might eliminate the amp if it cuts out there...

 

[Doubeleive]

Putting my money on the headunit...
Only because you mentioned FM cuts out less than CD or XM.

Is there a headphone jack on the headunit? That might eliminate the amp if it cuts out there...

only aux input 3.5mm, fm might not be as noticeable due to the nature of the signal it's always going in & out unless your close to the antenna

 

[Doubeleive]

@swathdiver look for any codes for the radio/amp while your in there, those like hvac errors will never show up on the cluster

 

[chip]

A few months ago the battery went bad in the 2009 GMC Yukon XL and it was probably improperly jump started. I was sixty miles away at the time and not on scene.

Ever since, the volume on the stereo has been cutting out and by that I mean it gets real low and then comes back to normal for a few seconds every 20-30 seconds it seems. This is quite regular, might be a rhythmic pattern but have not timed it.

This happens while listening to Sirius XM and playing CDs. It also happens while listening to FM but far less frequently. I tried to assess AM but it was an exercise in frustration so I don't know.

What could it be? Did a surge in electricity damage the amplifier, the radio head (navigation radio) or digital radio receiver behind the glove box?

How would one go about testing/diagnosing the system? I really don't see anything in the shop manual after two hours of looking. Might not be using the proper terms.

You can use the fade & balance to check channels individually. That will help you isolate channels to check if it's the whole system, or certain channel(s). I know that on my gen 3 the steering wheel volume controls the amp and not the head unit - and the battery has to be disconnected to reset that. My fist impression is that you might've had a power surge somewhere. However, it's also possible that there is a bad connection somewhere (power, ground, speaker).