Intermittent sound from Business CD

robpxx · 11-12-2013, 02:23 AM

Hello,
I recently purchased a 2003 Z4 3.0i. For the first couple of weeks the sound system would play ok for a while then the sound would cut out for a while.
Now it will not play at all and just cuts in and out for a split second when it feels like it. The system does cycle ok and continues change disc when in random. While cleaning the car yesterday I found that the system works perfectly fine with the engine off, but when the engine is on it reverts back to intermittent sound. Is this a common fault and does any one have a solution.
Kind Regards,
Rob
Plymouth, England.

chickdr · 11-12-2013, 12:10 PM

Sounds like the amplifier is going.

robpxx · 11-13-2013, 07:26 AM

Thank you for reply, but could that be the case if the system works perfectly fine with the engine off.

chickdr · 11-13-2013, 09:28 AM

I couldn't say. That is a strange twist. May take a dealership visit to fix that one.

gas-can · 11-13-2013, 02:29 PM

Hi Rob,

A couple of thoughts:

1) Can you check your battery voltage when the car is running? If your voltage regulator is not working properly, and the voltage climbs when the engine is on, the amp may shut down to protect against an over voltage condition. This should be unlikely as I would imagine this would have screwed something else first (like your ECU).
2) Check the wires that are running to your amp. Are they plugged in properly? Check the grounds especially, as a floating ground can definitely cause weird problems.
3) Vibrations may be causing a bad solder joint in the amp to go open. This would require opening the amp up and checking (not easy unless you are used to doing this kind of stuff)

If the problem is only happening when the car is running, it could be the vibrations, a floating ground (ie ground is loose), or an overvoltage condition. I would probably start with the voltage check and the wire checks. More than likely it's probably a loose cable going high somewhere.

regards,
gc

robpxx · 11-14-2013, 08:10 AM

Thank you for your replies and I will be checking out gc's suggestions.
Regards
Rob

11-12-2013, 02:23 AM	#1
robpxx Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2003 3.0i Z4 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Intermittent sound from Business CD Hello, I recently purchased a 2003 Z4 3.0i. For the first couple of weeks the sound system would play ok for a while then the sound would cut out for a while. Now it will not play at all and just cuts in and out for a split second when it feels like it. The system does cycle ok and continues change disc when in random. While cleaning the car yesterday I found that the system works perfectly fine with the engine off, but when the engine is on it reverts back to intermittent sound. Is this a common fault and does any one have a solution. Kind Regards, Rob Plymouth, England.
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11-12-2013, 12:10 PM	#2
chickdr Lieutenant Colonel 140 Rep 1,989 Posts Drives: 2006 M Roadster Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buford, GA iTrader: (0)	Sounds like the amplifier is going.
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11-13-2013, 07:26 AM	#3
robpxx Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2003 3.0i Z4 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Thank you for reply, but could that be the case if the system works perfectly fine with the engine off.
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11-13-2013, 09:28 AM	#4
chickdr Lieutenant Colonel 140 Rep 1,989 Posts Drives: 2006 M Roadster Join Date: May 2009 Location: Buford, GA iTrader: (0)	I couldn't say. That is a strange twist. May take a dealership visit to fix that one.
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11-13-2013, 02:29 PM	#5
gas-can Second Lieutenant 25 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2006 3.0i Roadster Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Hi Rob, A couple of thoughts: 1) Can you check your battery voltage when the car is running? If your voltage regulator is not working properly, and the voltage climbs when the engine is on, the amp may shut down to protect against an over voltage condition. This should be unlikely as I would imagine this would have screwed something else first (like your ECU). 2) Check the wires that are running to your amp. Are they plugged in properly? Check the grounds especially, as a floating ground can definitely cause weird problems. 3) Vibrations may be causing a bad solder joint in the amp to go open. This would require opening the amp up and checking (not easy unless you are used to doing this kind of stuff) If the problem is only happening when the car is running, it could be the vibrations, a floating ground (ie ground is loose), or an overvoltage condition. I would probably start with the voltage check and the wire checks. More than likely it's probably a loose cable going high somewhere. regards, gc
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11-14-2013, 08:10 AM	#6
robpxx Registered 0 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2003 3.0i Z4 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Thank you for your replies and I will be checking out gc's suggestions. Regards Rob
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