Aftermarket stereo problems?

[Qlicious]

I have a 94 Q45 with the Bose system. I recently installed an aftermarket stereo(Panasonic) along with the adapter to plug into the factory amps. I'm having problems with the radio cutting in and out. The power stays on, but the sound stops. I've checked and double checked all the connections and they're all fine. The radio is also fine. I've noticed when there is some sort of electrical load, that's when it happens. I did a test by turning the headlights on then off. When I turned them on, it didn't do it. When I turned them off, it would cut out for a second. It did this quite a few times with the same result.Then out of nowhere, it stopped doing. It would also do it when I was driving. If I kicked it down a gear or two, the sound would cut out. The problem is intermittent and it's driving me nuts. I think it has something to do with the factory amps. Anyone who has some insight please help.

[aaronl]

Power stays on. That means you still see the display, but sound stops, yes? You say the radio is fine. Does that mean this problem only happens when playing a CD? Or does the sound stop no matter what the source material?

I would suspect losing power first. When you turn off the ignition does the Panasonic display stay on for several seconds? Use some wire to tap a meter into the incoming power points on the connector to the new unit and see what happens to the voltage when you do whatever you do to stop the sound. I wouldn't suspect the amps because you didn't change any thing about how they are powered or wired, did you?

Do you have the FSM? The yellow wire from connector M78 on the back of the old head unit powers the amp power turn on relay. How does the new unit handle the turn on of this relay?

aaronl

[Qlicious]

The sound doesn't play no matter if it's cd or radio. It acts as if the sound was turned off by a loose wire of some sort. All the connections are solid. The problem is that I can't make it happen at anytime. I took the radio out to inspect it and the problem went away. No matter what I did, I coudn't make it come back. Then I put the radio back in and it came back. Sometimes I'll be driving and it'll do it for no reason. I think I've got some gremlins somewhere.

[Q451990]

The amp. relay is located behind the ECU... You might set up a low wattage light bulb on the coil feed and see if the light turns off when your sound goes away. At least you'd know if the power is dropping from the amps.

Heath