Cold weather pooching radio?

[Seaking]

I just read this post and went to go order a pair. They are out of stock now.

Any one know if these can be bought in a store here in Canada? My fairing is off now so would like to do it ASAP. Thanks

 

Greg

 

I wonder if Radio Crap would have them in stock or any other auto audio shop.. Did you check with the Crutchfield Canada site? Both sizes?

 

Addendum:

 

Aww crappo.. beautiful but COLD day today and nothing but radio probs.. Its the cold affecting mine but it didn't bother my buddy's radio.. Mine kept switching off, changing channels etc.. and eventually shut off and lost all saved channels.. then just to add insult to injury it came back on with a volume setting of 36.. WOW, now THAT's ear splitting.. Nothing I could could make it work..

 

However, a jiggle and jangle on the cord coming out of the control unit sorted things out for a bit long enough for me to turn the volume down.. We was doing 70 mph at the time and I didn't want to pull over in 36'F weather just yet lol.. But soon as the radio worked it went back to the usual BS..

 

Got the bike back into the garage, it warmed up and I cannot duplicate the symptoms.. pulled the bike outside in the 28'F weather and there it is.. screwed up radio.. Though the light comes on the LCD panel on the controller, no LCD symbols show up.. and can't make any inputs or setting changes.. SO strange.. a jingle jangle on the cable, and it works ok for a sec..

 

It's the cold that's affecting but where how and why.. and how do I fix it?!?!?

 

I honestly do not think it's the controller cable as it's a 2009 controller installed last summer when I was in PA with the fuel problem.. the shop broke mine and graciously replaced it from the 2009 show floor bike..

 

I'll be checking the grounding cable as suggested and greasing up the connectors but man.. stumped or what eh?

 

BTW, it was a SUPERB ride today none the less.. Installed leveling links on my buddy's bike and he loves it.. wow.

 

Tomorrow I'll be pulling the fairing off and having a look at the cable to see if there are any

Edited March 13, 2010 by Seaking

[Seaking]

Well FINALLY got the radio sorted out today..

 

When ever it's cold out, the radio would play stupid and not function properly, no idea why.. I'd lose the LCD display, radio would cut in and out.. switch channels on it's own (usually to some crappy C&W station).. GAH.. frustrating.. couldn't figure out what they heck!!

 

I could not duplicate it in the warm garage, so tonight I tossed the bike outside in the cold and started troubleshooting it.. and ahh there it is.. the blue dot connector.. HUH

 

oddly enough, if you disconnect this, your radio still plays.. basically on the last setting you had.. Which sort of explains what might have been happening to my radios in the cold on the highway. Last summer whilst having my bike repaired in State College PA, the tech accidentally broke my controller but replaced it with the 2009 show bike's controller.. so hey tres cool eh?

 

But I think there might have been a slight sizing issue or something because when it gets cold under the fairing, things start to act up. So I used a little buck-shee fixing to secure the plug better and now there is no popping or cutting out when banging on the radio or onto the wire bundle..

 

It might be a little hard to see but basically all I did was wrap a zip tie around each connector end and then loop another pair of zip ties between them and when you tighten the last two, it pulls the connectors together, and prevents the connector from rocking side to side, which was causing the radio issues.

 

of course, the proof is in the pudding so I'll have to be riding in the cold cold again to really make sure this IS the fix.. failing that, then I have to pull the controller apart and make sure the cable did not get yanked and pulled a wire loose or something in there..

 

Fun

[LilBeaver]

I wonder if, when the tech was replacing your radio control pod, the tech yanked the cable out without pushing the release (on the two connectors' end) bending the connector enough that on cold days, when things contracted (the little that they would) it was enough to cause an intermittent connection? Seems a little unlikely, BUT as others have mentioned and many have experienced - there is no reason that these units should act up in the cold (other than maybe something goofy with the display it self).

 

 

Hopefully what you've done will have fixed the problem. If not, and I were you, I might be pressuring a local dealer (or in your case, whatever dealer you could get to that would honor your warranty) to get you a new main radio unit (since they run 1400 bucks, new).

[Dave3]

I just started having this issue the other week. I've ridden in cold weather many times since I bought my bike, no issues. I plan to split the cowl and grease the connections and while I'm at it add the baffles to the speakers.

[LilBeaver]

I just started having this issue the other week. I've ridden in cold weather many times since I bought my bike, no issues. I plan to split the cowl and grease the connections and while I'm at it add the baffles to the speakers.

 

Make sure that you give the connectors a good cleaning before you apply the dielectric grease. Connecting and disconnecting them several times (5-10) with a few shots of contact cleaner and repeating should be plenty sufficient. With respect to the dielectric grease, remember you want just enough to lightly coat the pins and seal up the connector (to help limit the corrosion, which is the point of the grease) and no more than necessary. In this case, more is NOT better.

[Midrsv]

Cold weather riding with a Tall Wide Clearview, Buddy's knee wind deflectors and extra clothing makes for a fun ride.. near 32'F and 0'C today, high winds meh.. gotta get out when the going is good..

 

All works well but my radio decided to play silly bugger.. Here's what I experienced, and I am hoping it's really only because of the cold..

 

Riding down the road, the LCD panel would go out and come back on.. flicker.. stay on for a while and go off.. not bump related, not turn related.. just does it at odd times.. then it changed channels on it's own.. and of course its on that type of channel ya just hate to listen to but the controller won't let you change channels.. it's locked in on that one.. argh.. now what? Silence is golden after that.

 

However, I get the bike back into the heated garage and I cannot duplicate the problem.. argh.. Touch and yank and jiggle everything I can reach, bang on this pull on that and nothing.. it works all perfect.. Can't duplicate it in the garage..

 

I had the same problem on my '04 RSV and then again on my '07 and I also found it more of a problem in sub 40 degree weather. Both times the controller unit was replaced under warranty.

 

Dennis