strange audio issue

[Ritz]

The other day, Mrs. Ritz told me the radio in the VUE stopped working. Upon further inspection, it was clear the radio was working, but there was no sound output. We've got the "upgraded audio" so I knew there was an outboard amp under the back seat. So I checked the fuse first. Pulled it out, inspected it, no problem...so I put it back. And then it started working.

So I'm thinking either the fuse had a bad connection or that the amp needed a hard reset. Anyone know if the latter is true?

Cheers,

[YourMainParadox]

From working in car audio for 4 years it is more than likely a speaker grounding out and the amp going into protection or the amp is failing or there is a burn mark on the fuse causing lousy conection.

In all the years of doing this as a friends and family thing and then professionally I have never seen amps act like computers needing a hard reset to run (unless there was one of the things listed previously) The speaker grounding out can happen very intermittently as well and can sometimes be a one time event but rarely is.

[far2grumpy]

Find out which station(s) she'd tuned to ... if she went to NPR the radio could have gone into self-protect mode.

I get in my Vue and find anything other than the AM stations with Rush, Glen Beck or Hannity and I make my missus drive the pickup for a week.

[1saxman]

Find out which station(s) she'd tuned to ... if she went to NPR the radio could have gone into self-protect mode.

I get in my Vue and find anything other than the AM stations with Rush, Glen Beck or Hannity and I make my missus drive the pickup for a week.

+1 :usa::):D:us::flag:

[happy_go_lucky]

My 06 Vue is doing the same thing starting last week. Can someone explain exactly what I have to do to at least try and fix this myself? I have no tools and no car experience but am willing to try vs. paying a dealership! :ugh:

Thanks!
Lori in Colorado

[far2grumpy]

H_G_L ... do you have a fancy radio? Like with XM, MP3 and such? Another member - Ritz - brought his system back to life ... at least temporarily ... by reseating a fuse (I assume in the under-hood fuse box).

You can open the hood, remove cover from fuse-block (to rear of battery) and check for a 20 amp fuse ... labeled PREM AUD (check underside of fuse block cover for fuse location). Grab the fuse by the indentations on the side and extract from the fuse block. Give it a good visual to make sure the metal element is in one piece and then reinstall. If fuse is defective you can replace at any auto parts house or department store with auto supply section.

There's another radio fuse in the instrument panel fuse block (see little door on passenger's side of the lower part of center console). You can also check or replace this fuse if the one under the hood made no difference.

Let us know if reseating or replacing either fuse restores the radio

[happy_go_lucky]

Yes, my radio has XM and MP3. Thank you, I will try that and let you know. I saw the fuses on the passenger side and tried to pull one out but couldn't...do they just pull straight out? Do I need pliers? Not sure what I was doing wrong. I wont get electrocuted or anything will I? My hair is already curly enough! :)

[far2grumpy]

You won't get shocked but will probably break one or more fingernails unless you find a tool.

The box under the hood generally has a fuse puller ... little plastic close-pin looking thingy ... which you squeeze to slide over the fuse ridges and then give sharp tug.

Don't recall one being in the IPC fuse-box but you can use the under-hood one most anywhere.

You can also use pliers or any other squeezing type tool that'll fit over the fuse. Try not to squeeze too hard as the little guys can be busted.

[happy_go_lucky]

Great, thanks, I will let you know what happens.

[Ritz]

Great, thanks, I will let you know what happens.

I just sent you a PM with the procedure and telling you which fuse to pull. There is a fuse puller in there. It looks like a white plastic clip. Push the open end over the fuse, squeze the "blades" of the tool together so they latch onto the fuse, and give it a good yank straight up.

If the fuse puller is missing, you can also (carefully) use a pair of needlenose pliers or your fingers if they're small enough to squeeze in there.

Cheers,

[happy_go_lucky]

OMG, IT WORKED! I have audio sound again! I have never fixed anything in a car before! I am so happy! THANK you guys for the excellent and specific instructions!:yes:

[Ritz]

Glad I could help out.

Best regards,

[BobbyP]

Interesting... I also have the same radio.

The only strange thing my radio does is change radio stations to my last preset when OnStar downloads information from my VUE.

Today I'm cleaning my K&N air filter. It's been 3 years and 13k miles and it looked a little dusty. It cleaned up quite well. The throttle body still looks new.

[far2grumpy]

H_G_L ... which fuse did the trick? Under-hood or in console?

It does appear there's some sort of logic glitch on the loose in our Vue sound systems. The chances of isolating something like this are never good.

There are some really bright Saturn mechanics visiting this forum so perhaps they have advice.

Incidentally, there are at least three other computers in the Vue controlling body and power-train functions ... so if you're stuck somewhere with all sorts of crazy things going on with the truck ... its not a bad thing to disconnect the battery ground cable for a few minutes. Removing power could result in a logic reset to get you going on the road to your mechanic.