We'd all rather listen to "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel than actual silence on our commute -- but an electrical problem in your car might prevent the stereo from working at all. They can range from fast, easy and inexpensive to fix to difficult-to-diagnose wiring issues that require special tools and expertise to investigate. Below, we'll describe four common electrical faults that could develop on your car that cause the stereo not to function properly. At Capitol Subaru, we've got a factory-trained team of technicians who have all the know-how needed to figure out what's wrong with your vehicle and fix it the right way.
4. Blown Fuse
Just about every electrical component on your car is wired through the fuse box. These fuses protect the components themselves from damage due to a sudden surge of excess current. If too much current gets pulled through the fuse -- say due to a wiring short or an incorrectly installed accessory such as a new subwoofer -- the fuse will blow, disconnecting the circuit and halting the flow of electricity. This way, your vehicle won't become damaged. However, it does mean you'll need a new fuse. That's a fast and easy job for the team in our service center! You may also want a technician to inspect your electrical system to find out what caused the fuse to blow in the first place.
3. Bad Or Broken Antenna
If the stereo head unit still appears to be working, but you can't get any sound from the speakers, perhaps it's a problem preventing you from receiving a radio signal. Try playing a different audio source, like a CD. If your car can play a CD, stream music from your phone or broadcast satellite radio, butif terrestrial stations don't come in, you might have a bad antenna.
On modern cars, the antenna for the AM/FM radio receiver is often integrated into a small fin on the roof of the car, or cleverly hidden in the rear windshield housing. On older vehicles, however, you might find an antenna that can be extended and retracted for better reception, or removed by unscrewing it for low clearances and car washes. If you find this antenna is missing, bent or broken, you may not be able to get a clear radio signal even in populated areas.
2. Blown Speakers
It's fun to crank up the volume on your favorite station when you're out for a drive or cruising around town with friends and family -- but pushing your speakers beyond their intended volume could cause them to become damaged. "Blown" speakers have been damaged due to excess sound pressure, and will sound muddy, flooded and quiet. If your audio system sounds like it's underwater, and lacks the power and clarity you expect, one or more of the speakers might be blown.
1. Wiring Short
When it comes to audio problems in your car, remember that there are hundreds of feet of tiny wire running all over your car performing a huge variety of functions. If two wires simply rub together in the wrong way, or a connection is jostled loose on a bumpy road, or a collision does damage to electrical accessories, you can experience all kinds of bizarre problems. That's why it pays to trust the pros at a dealership service center like ours at Capitol Subaru. With OEM components and advanced tools, our team can isolate the problems you might be experiencing on your car, and make a long-lasting repair.
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Capitol Subaru of Salem
920 Auto Group Ave NE
Salem, OR 97301
- Sales: 503-587-5500
- Service: 503-587-5500
- Parts: 503-587-5500
