Stereo question

[mistairs875]

Ok, so my battery died enough that I couldn't start my bike. Got it running again but since that happened, my stereo sucks. If I turn on the cb and turn down the squelch it comes through loud so I know the speakers are working. I can hear the radio when bike is off but it's incredibly faint. Any ideas what to check?

[cranky]

Look at the technical forum, first topic, on how to set the radio volume, it is
NOT like I thought it would be! Taught me a LOT!!! Go read.... FWIW Cranky

"This is how to set up the Volume on the Radio.." is the topic....

[ekap1200]

Make sure to check the mute buttons, you may have depressed them accidentally . And sometimes they will stick in the mute position. And if you put this battery on charge, do as the service manual suggests, and remove the 3 amp radio fuse from the fuse box. I know most will say it does no damage , but the spike can weaken the transistors and cause a failure down the road at some time. It states it in the service manual for a reason... There are a total of four fuses for the sound system, one three amp in the fuse box, two at the back of the radios tuner, and one at the rear of the amp.
Keep us posted
Gene Kap.

[krasmu]

Make sure to check the mute button on the rear passenger controls as well. Kicking the controls when swinging your leg over the bike is not uncommon. Ask me how I know. A well placed unknown kick could push the mute button back there.

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

I too have been a victim of the rear passenger mute button!
Most of the time it happens when the trunk is opened up fully, the remote controls in the pouch may get pressed against the seat unknowingly.
It seems simple enough but it happens more often than you'd think.

[steven9246]

Another stereo sound loss fault that is VERY difficult to find is failure IN the Mute button circuit itself. A shorted, broken wire, corroded connector anywhere along the mute circuit can fault to a constant mute condition. The first place to look is in the wire harness at the bottom of the passenger Audio control module. This area of wire harness receives active repeated flexing every time the trunk lid is opened or closed. The connector plugs have pins that are crimped to the individual wires. Sometimes these wires have an extra twist in them from factory installation (a condition worthy of correction when found). This causes additional tension or pull upon the individual wires that, over time, can cause contact failure between the wires and connector pins . 12 VDC Power off continuity testing with a quality volt/ohm meter can isolate and identify the problem wires. So if you have CB volume and almost no AM/FM sound, AND your mute buttons are still healthy, start your wire fault search at the passenger control unit and harness. That area takes the most wear, sun, weather...you name it.

Yes the plug pins can be removed one at a time for inspection and testing, but this is a delicate procedure and very easy to do with the proper pin service tools (Radio shack or on-line electronics supply). They are also very easy to ruin with the wrong tools. First timers doing pin service are advised to practice on like plugs, harvested from mid 80's Japanese built cars at a local junk yard. Make your mistakes on the junk, then when you can identify components of the plugs/pins and work them safely, move on to the scooter.