TheSamba.com :: View topic - Radio cuts out when turning on the vents?

Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:05 pm

Hmm...this is an odd one that a search didn't turn up an answer for. Went to turn on my vents today for the first time (usually just roll the windows down, thought I'd be different today) and the radio cut out. Non-stock radio, an aftermarket Jensen unit the PO installed, could it be the vents and CD combo are just too much for the battery causing the spike?? :?:

Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:58 pm

There two things that can be going on here. When you say "vents" do you mean moving the control levers or turning on the blower? There are a series of cables that run behind the dask between the vents and the levers that control them. A big bundle of these cables runs right over the radio. If you take out the ashtray you can see see it running on top of the radio. Sounds to me like you have a loose connection on the back of the radio and probably a loosly installed unit besides. When you moved the lever it pushed the radio down and pulled the connector on the back the rest of the way out. either that or you have an electrical problem. Seems odd since the radio and the fan are fused seperatly.

Tue Aug 02, 2005 9:03 pm

Clarification (due to using wrong terminology on my part and not providing a better visual). It's not the actual vents but the knob to adjust the flow (has a 0, 1, 2 and 3 on it). My radio isn't dash mounted but is mounted behind the shifter, almost straight up and down. Will have to take out the ash tray and take a look and see what's going on. Thx.

Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:48 am

:D I would bet that someone used the power wire for the blower to power the stereo.... when the blower goes on, the sudden power drain starves the radio for power.(like flushing the toilet with your wife in the shower.. she still gets some cold water.. but there just isn't enough to do both things) The radio is supposed to be wired up with the dome light and the lighter. :twisted: :twisted:

Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:44 am

That's the Fan/blower switch and that shouldn't have any effect on how the radio works, you need to pull out the radio and see how it's been wired in. If you what fresh air while driving the vents that are located on the far side, of the driver, and passenger side are for this. open them up on the hwy and see how much air comes out, If no air comes out when driving(the fan/blower has nothing to do with these two vents) then someone has blocked it off, this seems to be a normal thing since no one takes the time to learn how the vent system works.

Wed Aug 03, 2005 12:37 pm

:D second lever from the bottom controls wheather it comes in the venton the sides of the dash, of at your feet. My girlfriend likes evrything neat and tidy, so she always slides them all to the right. I drive down the road and can't figure out why it's so cold... :shock: :shock:

Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:10 pm

Ericthenorse wrote: :D second lever from the bottom controls wheather it comes in the venton the sides of the dash, of at your feet. My girlfriend likes evrything neat and tidy, so she always slides them all to the right. I drive down the road and can't figure out why it's so cold... :shock: :shock:

Not in the older aircooled, The only controls you have on the far right and left vents are on the sides of the vents, they can be off or on.