Mike Shaw Subaru Car Care FAQs for Denver: Why did my Car Radio Stop Working?
Electrical issues are notoriously tough to track down in a vehicle, but that's little comfort when you've got no radio to entertain you on your commute. If your car stereo has stopped working, it could be for any one of a long list of reasons. Below, we'll provide some tips for helping you diagnose your problem. We'll help you determine if it's a problem with the head unit, the fuse box, the antenna or something else entirely.
Even if you can locate the problem, electrical issues in a car can be tricky for amateurs to deal with on their own. In a modern car, there can be a mile or more of wire running all over the place! Special tools are required to handle electrical components safely. If you find your audio problem is too tricky, your local Subaru dealership has factory-trained technicians who can get your stereo singing once again.
If your Car Stereo Won't Turn On at All:
If the head unit in your vehicle won't turn on at all, it's likely a power or ground issue.
You can consult your owner's manual, where you'll find a diagram of your vehicle's fuse box (or, most likely, fuse boxes). Find the fuses associated with your stereo, and locate them on your car. You can pull them out and check to see if they're blown. If the metal filament inside the fuse has melted, the blown fuse is likely your problem. Replace it with an identical fuse. If that fuse also blows, you've probably got a faulty audio component on your hands. A professional can help you identify the failed component and implement a long-term fix.
If your Stereo Turns On, but the Radio Won't Work:
If you can listen to CDs and the AUX input, but no radio stations, you've either got a bad antenna or a bad tuner. Unfortunately, the tuner is typically part of the head unit, which means the whole head unit will need to be replaced. On the other hand, a replacement antenna is easy to find and install! It's also a good idea to make sure your antenna isn't loose. Many vehicles have screw-in radio antennas that can be removed before driving through car washes, for example. If your antenna has come loose, it might just need to be tightened to start working again.
The Radio or Just One Speaker Cuts In and Out as your Drive:
If all or part of your audio system cuts in and out as you make your way down the road, you probably have a loose connection or crimped wire somewhere in the system. When your vehicle is at a stand-still, the wires all line up the way they should. As you travel over bumps and imperfections on the road, a loose connection can become interrupted.
It can be seriously tough to find a loose connection in your audio system - especially since speakers and wires are often hidden behind door panels and dashboard trim, which can be difficult to access. It's often best to leave this job to the trained dealership pros at your local Subaru dealer.
In Thornton and serving the greater Denver area, Mike Shaw Subaru is your source for Subaru car audio and infotainment repair.
Mike Shaw Subaru
1650 W 104th Avenue
Thornton, CO 80234
- Sales: 720-724-9280
- Service: 720-724-9280
- Parts: 720-724-9280
