I've searched here and found similar occurrences and want to get this sorted out.
Radio is starting to just go silent(amp?) while driving down the road. I can tell the radio is still on and working but no sound. "Sometimes" turning the radio off and back on will bring it back to life. "Sometimes" shutting off the car and restarting has better results but hard to do on the interstate.
Could it be the amp shorting out or going bad? Are these easily replaceable and can they be found in a salvage yard?
Can I replace with an aftermarket and bypass the amp with a premade harness?
Looking for a quick, cost-effective fix as this is my daily driver and I need my tunes.
A couple of questions I would ask, do you lose sound when the car isn't in motion? Like when it's Parked or idling? If not it sounds like a loose connector/connection or a bad ground.
Second, i'm not sure of the trim on your car, is it the upgraded Kicker package with the amp? I ask because if it's just the regular system it should be powered off of the radio, so it's as simple as replacing it with an updated radio.
There are several cheap Double-Din Nav options that are available, I bought a Chinese Android based Nav for my trailblazer and for $169 it works great.
If it is indeed the Kicker amplified package you would probably just need a replacement amp if it's not a bad ground/connection. If you can find out which system it is I'll look around and see if I can find any in salvage yards. The Part number is - 77KICK18AB
If it's the 7 Speaker system I believe that's the Boston Acoustic system, I can't seem to find a P/N for an Amp so that leads me to believe it's the Radio's Internal amp as well. Not sure though.
My '08 R/T had the REQ model (Changer, SAT, U-Connect capable but was not on my build sheet) with 7 speaker until last week.
I had the exact same issue for years and never really gave it a lot of thought because it always came back after a few minutes... Usually changing the source would fix it.
Then recently my SAT started cutting out, saying 'No Signal'...
I just installed a decent Kenwood unit from Crutchfield.
I like their harness options and the install kit isn't terrible.
(I had to modify it a bit, and might purchase another adapter to do it differently...)
They have plenty of decent options and prices, their site is good for research if nothing else.
The new radio seems a bit quirky compared to the factory controls, but this is also my first touchscreen car stereo.
I just need to get used to the new interface.
Cool, sounds good. Yeah if it's doing it in Idle/Park probably the amp is on it's way out. What model Kenwood did you get?
I need to take mine to the dealer as well, any bump and the sound cuts out. Probably a short from the last time they replaced the radio. Really annoying.
* UPDATE *
After soldering, heat shrinking and ziptying everything neatly I learned that Dodge also put out a 6 speaker system with no amp and that is what I had. So clip everything and wire it up the normal way.
#1 - that took the amp out of the equation #2 - I had uninterrupted sound all the way to work today
I will consider this a success.
Thank you for all the suggestions and input.
Bandana
With the Kenwood being a good aftermarket unit I'm sure it cleaned the sound up a good bit too.
I really wanted to buy a Kenwood as I had 2 Kenwood excelon nav units in my Jeep WK before I sold it but decided to give the cheap Chinese "pumpkin" brand nav unit a shot and for $170 or so dollars it was well worth it for my Trailblazer. Definitely improved the stock sound too!
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