Beach Bum Posted June 21, 2015 #1 Posted June 21, 2015 So I spent the day tearing apart my Venture. It was a freaking yard sale. I installed the Street Glide exhaust and had to run out to the Harley store to get clamps then I fabricated mounting brackets. Sounds way better than the stock pipes. Here's where things went south. I went ahead and took the front fairing off to lower the front end. Everything went according to plan until I put it all back together and the stereo wouldn't work. At first I had nothing so I took the front of the fairing off again to check connections etc. When I unplugged the yellow audio cable the stereo came on but I only had left speakers. WTF??? Shouldn't all the audio/comms cables be connected? Did I do something untoward to my new bike? Is there something I forgot or didn't see during disassembly? I know I buggered up the right front speaker trying to yank the connector off so I need a new front speaker now. I'm totally lost and confused by this situation as I was certain that I got everything back together correctly. Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated.
djh3 Posted June 21, 2015 #2 Posted June 21, 2015 Well you might as well,get some dielectric grease, and some contact cleaner. Spray them round connectors and apply some grease and put them back togeter and see what ya got. Somewhere is a list of speakers that will fit. Me personaly I wouldnt go hi buck on speakers. Anything above about 45 or so they dont sound very good anyways from the road noise. I use earbuds on longer rides and have built a connector so my ear buds plug into the OEM system.
Beach Bum Posted June 21, 2015 Author #3 Posted June 21, 2015 All the connectors looked super clean. A bad connection doesn't explain why the radio doesn't work when everything's connected but does work with the yellow coded disconnected. I don't have headsets so I don't know if the CB or intercoms work.
Beach Bum Posted June 21, 2015 Author #5 Posted June 21, 2015 Pinched wire somewhere?Maybe. If there's a short to ground it might explain why removing a circuit makes it work again. I'm resigned to the fact that it all has to come apart again but it's the why that I'm after. I'm well versed in automotive electronics but these multi module audio and communications systems are beyond my pay grade.
ragtop69gs Posted June 21, 2015 #6 Posted June 21, 2015 It's really the only explanation for the symptoms. Most likely is either at the fairing mount bracket or steering stop. Did you add any screws that may have pierced a wire?
Beach Bum Posted June 21, 2015 Author #7 Posted June 21, 2015 Ha no additional screws and no leftover hardware. Who knows...
CATPower Posted June 21, 2015 #8 Posted June 21, 2015 (edited) Did you take all audio connectors apart ? If yes did you mark them ? I assume you had the tank and seat off... Edited June 22, 2015 by CATPower
Beach Bum Posted June 22, 2015 Author #9 Posted June 22, 2015 Front fairing and seat. All the connectors are either color coded or can only go one way. Again, what's the freakin yellow banded connector for???
CATPower Posted June 22, 2015 #10 Posted June 22, 2015 with the one speaker after unplugging yellow plug do you full control overt it ( sound , volume, balance, bass and station control ect....)
Beach Bum Posted June 22, 2015 Author #11 Posted June 22, 2015 Okay, I found out what the yellow banded connector is for and it's the CB. Now the question is why would having the CB connected cancel out the radio operation? These all go into the same module and it I'm doubtful that they could be pinched anywhere. At this point I don't need the CB but I also don't want to be in and out of the front fairing to diagnose this issue. I just want everything to work as it's supposed to.
djh3 Posted June 22, 2015 #12 Posted June 22, 2015 The tranmitt button on the left handle bar. If I'm not mistaken when you are using the CB and want to transmit it "knocks" out the radio. I personally dont know as I have never used the CB. But it stands to reason. SO maybe the button is stuck in XMIT.
Beach Bum Posted June 22, 2015 Author #13 Posted June 22, 2015 The tranmitt button on the left handle bar. If I'm not mistaken when you are using the CB and want to transmit it "knocks" out the radio. I personally dont know as I have never used the CB. But it stands to reason. SO maybe the button is stuck in XMIT.Ah. That may be the culprit then. I did move the handle bars around a fair bit so maybe that wire is pulled out and shorted somewhere. The button itself is moving like it should. I just wish I had the headsets to function test the entire system. That'll be a purchase down the road as my next "upgrade" will be a new vented windshield. Mine is scratched and I can't stand looking through scratches.
RedRider Posted June 22, 2015 #14 Posted June 22, 2015 Look at the radio control head. There is a button for the CB. If it is turned on, the output from the CB takes precedence over the radio. You may have accidentally turned on the CB, thus muting the radio. Turn it off and all should be good with the radio. You're not the first to have this happen. RR
djh3 Posted June 23, 2015 #15 Posted June 23, 2015 Yea I think there is a small red light in the CB button that will be on.
videoarizona Posted June 23, 2015 #16 Posted June 23, 2015 Note: The CB takes precedence only when the CB signal overcomes the squelch. When CB is squelched, the radio still can be heard.
Beach Bum Posted June 25, 2015 Author #17 Posted June 25, 2015 Seems that I did something to make it right, just not sure what. Took it all apart again, pushed the CB button on the controller, plugged in the yellow connector and it worked. The right speaker is indeed baffed so I'll probably just get some aftermarket speakers and be done with it as the right rear is also out (haven't tested it yet).
Beach Bum Posted June 28, 2015 Author #18 Posted June 28, 2015 Final update to this irritating conundrum.... Last night I installed two new speakers up front and transferred my one remaining good factory speaker to the right rear that was dead. Success. I now have 4 fully functional if not tinny and weak speakers on the bike. I'm a bit perturbed by the use of 3M tape to hold down the rear arm rest covers and I have to install some baffles on the speakers. My windshield bracket mounts were already broken when I got the bike so I'll have to fab some up as well as the trim tabs on the chrome trim. Still looking at headset options to use the intercom and CB.
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