On my rescue roadster my audio system is OEM stock. The radio will play for a while (say 10 - 45 minutes or so) then the sound will cut out completely. Radio is still "on" and functioning but no sound. When I turn the system off for a while it will come back on and work for some time and then the sound will cut out completely again. I've installed two different OEM amplifiers thinking the problem was with the amplifier. I still have exactly the same problem. Any thoughts as to where I can look to solve this problem?

 

You don't have an alternate head unit to try ?
Is it a nav unit ?

 

Might want to swap the HU out with one of your other cars and test.. since you have replaced the main amp I think this would be the only thing left and they do have there own low wattage amp that could be heating up and cutting out.

 

Some electronic part inside gets too warm and shuts down is my guess.
I have a standard OEM radio up for sale here. Make an offer.

 

Yes, that OEM head unit is a NAV unit. I will swap out the head unit in the coming days and see if that solves the problem . . . I'll let you know.

 

So I guess my typical $5 offer isn't good enough since I didn't get a PM!

 

Sure send the five bucks, if the balance fails to arrive, I'll buy a scotch and toast your health.

 

My guess? Its an impedance mismatch on the radio audio output(s). A circuit is 'protecting' itself and cutting the output off to dissipate the heat generated and hopefully protecting the hardware. I would go ahead and try the head unit swap, be careful not to let it continue. It may be the radio, or the wiring after the radio outputs (including the amp and its associated wiring). If the radio swap results in the same thing, your wiring would be highly suspect. I would then look for crossed wiring (chaffed insulation) at both devices (radio/amp) or an open in one or more of the pairs of voice coils to the dual coil speakers. This type of 'protective' circuit is designed to save hardware, so be aware it should not be allowed to continue as each time it happens components may be weakened. Good luck!

 

Thanks for the responses . . . I've decided to go in the direction of installing an aftermarket stereo into the rescue roadster. Starting my research trying to settle on a unit that has the features I like and good looks . . .

 

Posting a follow up . . . I did swap out the Infinity head units . . . put the HU from my coupe into the rescue roadster and I still have the same problem with the sound cutting out after a while. Per advice from GraphiteGhost, I am going to check out all the wiring to / from the amplifier and also to the speakers. Another clue is that I noticed today that the right door speaker is crackling and has a bit of static. Hope I can spot something obvious because if not, I won't know what to do next.

I've decided to install a Sony radio with a 7" flip up screen and also a back up camera. I was luckily able to buy the same radio as seen in this recently sold SRT6 roadster.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-Chrysler-Crossfire-/221746529201?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=7Nc2oKV8DfPFcWHsZeeYrqVlK3M%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
I certainly don't want to go to all that effort and expense and still have the original problem with the sound cutting out. Any other thoughts??

 

Update 05/20 . . . So I disconnected both door speakers and played the stereo with only the sub woofers and the tweeters. The radio sound cut out after playing for about 15 minutes. From this test I presume we can eliminate the door speakers and their wiring as being the problem, right?

 

UPDATE: While having a professional install my Sony XAV-7W stereo w/ 7" flip up screen, we found the source of the problem I was having with the sound cutting out. The power wire going to the amp was corroded and the connection was also loose.

 

Hi
We're was the corroded/broken cable
I am having the exact same problem

 

It was the power wire for the amplifier. I had a new amplifier installed that did not use the OEM connectors. The installer just brought up old corroded red wire to show me. Sorry I don't have any other information. Look at your connectors that plug into the amplifier and specifically check out the heavy red wire . . . that is your main power wire. Clean up all the connections and apply some dielectric grease to the connectors. That should fix your issue.

 

Have checked the three power wires 2 are red/yellow and one is green/white
R/y are at 12v plus g/w is at 11.8v
Cleaned all the contacts ( but they were not corroded or dirty) and sprayed with contact cleaner
All to no avail the problem is still there, runs for about 40 mins initially then cuts off. If you leave it for 10 mins it will work again for about 10 mins then go off.
Anyone got any more ideas before I look for another stock amp

 

Something is causing the amp to 'overheat'. Is the fan that blows air into that area working? The fan (if I remember correctly) is located below the large box next to the battery towards the center that cools the ECM, RCM, and other modules in that box. It (I believed) also blows into or from that compartment where the amp is located below the passenger feet. Just a thought!


.

 

And all this time I thought that fan's purpose was to pull cooler air from inside the cabin to cool the RCM / PTCM / BCM, but what do I know ?

 

It does George, through the cavity where the amp is located. I seem to remember that from a little research I did many moons ago and it stuck. Now I'm going to have to find the section in the service manual to be sure. This could take a while!


.

 

Yep it pulls air from the amp compartment into the electronics box.. so still providing cooling for the amp with air flow. Been a while back so don't have a handy dandy "in writing" version.

 

Have just checked and can feel a flow of out of the pipe and here the fan running
It is a gentle flow not a blast
Is this sufficient to cool it?