The day the music died

[Tat2demon]

So far this year I have washed my bike at the car wash twice, and both times when I was rinsing off near the back left corner I have lost all radio output. The deck still works fine, scans stations ect. but no music is coming out. I even plugged my phone into it to make sure and nothing.

The first time it corrected itself about an hour later. This time Im at about 30 hours and nothing. All of the passenger connections are dry.

I suppose its possible that water got in the front and didnt effect anything until I got to the rear but since I was doing the same corner both times it happened it makes me think its something back there.

Any ideas?

[Tom(North Alabama)]

Sorry to hear about your car wash problems.. after having similar problems taking the hose to the bike, it came clear that car washes and hoses are probably not a logically sound way of cleaning the bike. Since then(over ten years of owning Voyager XII's) a damp rag and a can of bike cleaner, whether Kawasaki or other keeps things running and looking great.

Never had a similar problem riding in the rain, probably since high pressure water never hits the dash.

Anyway, if the sound does not come back, check the fuses, might have blown the amp fuse.

[Tat2demon]

Yeah after the first time it happened I said I would hand wash it. Ran out of time yesterday so I figured if I was careful and didn't spray the top half of the bike it would be fine. Seems I was wrong.

[JHD]

I wash my bikes and afterwards I use my leaf blower to dry them off. I am careful not to direct the water at the dash on my XII or my nacelle on my Royal Enfield. So far no problems.

[SgtSlag]

Back when I was an Electronic Technician, we used to dry circuit boards with compressed air (slow air drying would lead to corrosion formation, and warranty repairs...). Worked perfectly. However, with a bike, using compressed/high pressure air, can actually drive water into areas you do not want it to go. Just a precaution -- it works, no question, but it can have its downside. Your leaf-blower probably has less force per square inch, than compressed air would, but just a word of warning. It is quite safe on the wheels, and the seat, but for the engine, carbs, and the electronics, I would be very cautious.

Using a car wash to do a bike poses the same risks: the water is applied under high pressure, and it can go places you do not want it to. Hand washing is more labor intensive, but it is also much safer (no pressure). I would advise against using a power washer, under any circumstances, but that is just me. Your bike, your rules. Cheers!

[jre258 in SoDak]

Nate, I'd take a look at the connector for the passenger audio controls. The moisture might have created a short acting like the mute button being pushed. Either that or the moisture got into the control and is doing the same thing.
Jim

[Tat2demon]

Thanks guys.

Went out for a few minutes to look at it. Checked the passenger controls and everything was dry. I did notice that there is a quiet buzz with the radio on and if you try really hard you can hear the music in the background. I didnt get any water on the front of the deck so its either in the fairing or under the trunk.

After all the times I had to take the fairing off during the rebuild I really hope the problem is under the trunk. Ill have time to pull it off tomorrow.

[jre258 in SoDak]

Is there an "HS" on the radio display? If so you might have pushed the headset button on the radio. It is switchable between the headsets and the speakers.
Jim

[debron]

. . . also check the mute button on the passenger controls. . .

[Tat2demon]

Hs button want pushed. It stopped working as I was washing (left it running) but I just checked to make sure.

I unplugged all the passenger controls to take then it off the equation.

[JHD]

Thanks guys.

Went out for a few minutes to look at it. Checked the passenger controls and everything was dry. I did notice that there is a quiet buzz with the radio on and if you try really hard you can hear the music in the background. I didn't get any water on the front of the deck so its either in the fairing or under the trunk.

Sounds like your mute button is on. I do that all the time. Mute it when I pull up to the garage and pull it inside with it still muted and by the next time I ride it I don't notice that it's on mute till I'm around the corner trying to adjust the volume up.

Hopefully your problem is as simple as that.

Brad

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Brad, I beleive that Nate said he left the bike running with the radio playing while he was washing it. When he got the back end wet is when he lost volume. I highly doubt that he pushed the mute button while washing the bike.
I do agree that the mute buttons will cause a few "head scratchers" I've done it my self once or twice. Typically when I open the trunk fully and fail to realize that the rear mute got initiated/pressed. Then after running the volume to the max I think about it, reach back and press the front of the rear control bag and jump as the sound instantly is blaring at me! Also Nate mentioned that he disconnected the rear controls to eliminate that from the equation in his efforts to narrow down the cause.

Nate, don't give up hope! Hang in there buddy!

[JHD]

Brad, I beleive that Nate said he left the bike running with the radio playing while he was washing it. When he got the back end wet is when he lost volume. I highly doubt that he pushed the mute button while washing the bike.
I do agree that the mute buttons will cause a few "head scratchers" I've done it my self once or twice. Typically when I open the trunk fully and fail to realize that the rear mute got initiated/pressed. Then after running the volume to the max I think about it, reach back and press the front of the rear control bag and jump as the sound instantly is blaring at me! Also Nate mentioned that he disconnected the rear controls to eliminate that from the equation in his efforts to narrow down the cause.

Nate, don't give up hope! Hang in there buddy!

Didn't read in his posts where he left the radio playing while he washed it.

[Me Again]

Have you checked your helmet connectors?
A little moisture in those can shut you right down .

[Tat2demon]

Rode to work today and noticed that my trunk lights aren't working either. Looks like the problem is under there.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Rode to work today and noticed that my trunk lights aren't working either. Looks like the problem is under there.

The easiest connection is behind the rear seat (between it and the trunk), if that connection is good (clean all pins and apply dielectric grease) then you may end up removing/lifting the trunk and checking any under there.
As a preventative measure always clean and apply dielectric grease to any electrical connection (wiring or lights/bulbs) to prevent moisture from affecting the connections.

[Tat2demon]

Seems I was wrong about the trunk lights. Was just too bright. When I got off work the radio was working again.

[gearheadfla]

Sounds like it may be time to flush the Gremlin Bell, those little critters can cause havoc.

[Tat2demon]

Agreed.

When I get some time I think Im going to clean and grease every plug in the wiring harness.

[suzib6sw]

Its a known fault, and just co-incidental when it happened.

Sorry to say, its a send the radio to me job..
There are a couple of components inside the radio on the mute circuit that dries out over time and holds the radio in a deep mute state... It may intermittently come back but it needs to be changed out.

Other than that, if its only quiet with the Power amp and the headset volume is ok, then its either fuse (7.5amp red blade type ) on the power amp or the power amp has blown both power ICs (very rare)..

IF you want, I have docs with pics (also posted on here) on how to remove the fairing and radio.
Cheers,

Pete