Radio randomly shuts off at higher volumes

[disillusions]

So as the title suggests, my radio shuts off at medium-high volumes. The headunit is an older Sony that came with the car when I picked it up, and lucky me the model number is mostly rubbed off. Now this phenomenon will usually happen after a little while on a higher volume; then it shuts off, restarts, and if I'm unable to turn it down in time it shuts off yet again in a continuous cycle. I've heard that this is caused by the internal amplifier trying to protect itself, though I'm not 100% certain. I want to replace that unit anyway, but I'm wondering if it is the headunit or something else..I'd really like to not fry the next one.

Also, would an external amp pushing the speakers be a viable solution to circumvent using the internal amp of the headunit?

 

[razrman8]

Do you have subwoofers or anything? Has it always done this?

The head unit/amp might sense too much power is going out and shut down so that you don't blow anything. Kind of like a breaker switch of sorts. Being an older Sony, it may not be built to handle a lot of power.

Can you post pictures of it?

 

[Usatuff]

I bet it's you power wire going to the headunit. Aftermarket headunits draw a lot of power for the internal amplifier. It the gauge of the wire is too small it will shut itself off. You may have to run an independent 12v to the radio, something of a thicker gauge. Becareful because if it is too small it can also heat up the wire

 

[genegoesfast]

Sounds like thermal protection is kicking in. Yes, an external amp should fix your problem.

 

[white92talontsi]

Sound's like to me that it could be a couple of thing's but the most common reason for it doing this is simple.
Incorrect OHM load on the Head unit. Chances are that the door speakers could be at too low of an OHM load causing the head unit to go into protection.

Also sometimes there can be a bare speaker wire touching somewhere in the system and this can also cause the same effect.

Pull the Head unit out and check all the wiring behind the dash first. If everything is kosher there then take a DMM and check the resistance of each speaker. You can do this right at the plug that goes into the back of the head unit. Most head unit's operate in the 4-8 ohm range. So if you see anything lower than that you either need to change to a different head unit or different speakers.

Also sometime there are idiots out there that will basically "bridge" the rear speaker's thinking that the head unit is like an amplifier and will double the power, That is not the case. So check for the speaker to be bridged off the head unit anywhere.

 

[disillusions]

Do you have subwoofers or anything? Has it always done this?

The head unit/amp might sense too much power is going out and shut down so that you don't blow anything. Kind of like a breaker switch of sorts. Being an older Sony, it may not be built to handle a lot of power.

Can you post pictures of it?

I do have subwoofers, which are running off of a Power Acoustik amp. Originally I thought they might have been the problem, but it still turns off even with the bass at -10. I've been running this setup for a long time now, and only within the last few months has this been happening, so idk =/

I'll try to get some pictures of it later today, or just try to find a similar model on the net to link you to.

I bet it's you power wire going to the headunit. Aftermarket headunits draw a lot of power for the internal amplifier. It the gauge of the wire is too small it will shut itself off. You may have to run an independent 12v to the radio, something of a thicker gauge. Becareful because if it is too small it can also heat up the wire

Sounds like something to look in to. I'll have to have my shop look at it since I honestly don't have the means for a DIY project in this weather.

Thank you both though

Damnit, I didn't see these -_-

Sounds like thermal protection is kicking in. Yes, an external amp should fix your problem.

Okay, glad my thinking wasn't blatantly wrong.

Sound's like to me that it could be a couple of thing's but the most common reason for it doing this is simple.
Incorrect OHM load on the Head unit. Chances are that the door speakers could be at too low of an OHM load causing the head unit to go into protection.

Also sometimes there can be a bare speaker wire touching somewhere in the system and this can also cause the same effect.

Pull the Head unit out and check all the wiring behind the dash first. If everything is kosher there then take a DMM and check the resistance of each speaker. You can do this right at the plug that goes into the back of the head unit. Most head unit's operate in the 4-8 ohm range. So if you see anything lower than that you either need to change to a different head unit or different speakers.

Also sometime there are idiots out there that will basically "bridge" the rear speaker's thinking that the head unit is like an amplifier and will double the power, That is not the case. So check for the speaker to be bridged off the head unit anywhere.

Now since I want to go to an external amp anyway, wouldn't using the RCA connections then spidering it out from there, circumvent any type of fouled wiring left over from the previous owner?

Also like I mentioned in the post before, this has only been a recent thing..so would the Ohm difference be a slow building thing, or something immediate? Oh and the dealer I got it from had said it was a full Sony system, sans the subs since the guy before me cut the power AND RCA cables (that jackass >_<)

 

[Usatuff]

White$92talon made a good point too. The bare wire can cause it to ground out. You said is cut a lot of stuff and hacked it up. He coulda scraped a wire or its in too tight of a space and it rubbed. Check all your wires for everything. Take the inline fuse for the amp out and see if you can listen to your radio. If taking the fuse out works then you know its something with your subs.

 

[ChiTownHussla]

my boy had the same problem, it was a bad ground....

 

[overboosted1g]

My 1g does the same thing but not at all times so I'm gonna run thicker power wire and a better ground and check all speaker wires

Sent from my HERO200 using Tapatalk

 

[disillusions]

White$92talon made a good point too. The bare wire can cause it to ground out. You said is cut a lot of stuff and hacked it up. He coulda scraped a wire or its in too tight of a space and it rubbed. Check all your wires for everything. Take the inline fuse for the amp out and see if you can listen to your radio. If taking the fuse out works then you know its something with your subs.

I'm not sure if I would consider the ends of the power,ground, RCAs as a hack job...a bonehead move with the RCAs, but nothing Frankenstein-ish. As I said though, if I'm going to take everything apart and trace all the wires, I might as well just go ahead and install the amp I wanted for those speakers. That way I know for sure what is going where and the quality of the work.

my boy had the same problem, it was a bad ground....

Hm, I'll check that one out after work

My 1g does the same thing but not at all times so I'm gonna run thicker power wire and a better ground and check all speaker wires

Sent from my HERO200 using Tapatalk

Let me know what you find out

 

[racerx4g64s]

My sony xplode sis the same thing. If it get to hot it will shut down. I once was listening to a CD and it shut off. I took out the CD and is was super hot.

 

[thomcasey]

Most definitely thermal. Also, since there are Dash and door speakers, most people wire them to the front outputs. This places a 2ohm load on the front channel. Eventually, the internal amp will balk at that as they are designed for sustained 4ohm loads.

 

[disillusions]

My sony xplode sis the same thing. If it get to hot it will shut down. I once was listening to a CD and it shut off. I took out the CD and is was super hot.

Hm, sounds like it might be time to just trash it and start anew then. Damn Sony -_-

Most definitely thermal. Also, since there are Dash and door speakers, most people wire them to the front outputs. This places a 2ohm load on the front channel. Eventually, the internal amp will balk at that as they are designed for sustained 4ohm loads.

To the best of my knowledge, I don't hear anything coming out of the dash speakers...so idk.

 

[Slavic1991]

try checking ground. i remember my 3g did that.

 

[Cassanova122407]

i have had the same problem with my newer alpine i upgraded my fuses and still yhe same problem...
eventually i just ran a new hotlead and ground wire.no more problem try this it did fix my problem.

 

[jed344]

anytime iv had a car do that its been ground or power wire.

 

[disillusions]

Not to bump an old thread, but the problem is fixed. Not sure how or why, but after doing the red interior LED swap, i was fiddling with the HU and I can't be sure if it was moving the grounding location or unplugging the radio, but now it works like a charm.

Thanks for all the help though guys

 

[Usatuff]

so then it was probably just a bad or loose connection