Sony stereo cutting out

pickledboater · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2015 9:40 am

My Sony marine drive-s stereo has started cutting out when you turn the volume up. It shuts down for a few seconds then comes back on. I put a new battery in the boat yesterday, cleaned all the connections and even the fuses in the fuse block. Anyone else had this problem with a Sony?
I don't have an amp or any of that.

Wylie_Tunes · **Joined:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:21 am **Posts:** 176

Are you actually seeing the head-unit power off and then back on or just a lose of music for a few seconds, then music returns?

LVChris · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2015 3:00 pm

I had the same problem. Changed out my power wires to heavy gauge...no more problem.

pickledboater · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2015 3:09 pm

I think the whole head unit shuts off then starts again, it don't loose any of the memory for presets or the clock.
I've been outside messing with it some, I found it only did it with my Ipod, plugged into the wire from the back of the unit. My Wife's Zune, plugged into the front aux. jack didn't cut out at all. I tried a CD and it was fine. So... I turned the volume down all the way on my Ipod before I connected it and now it seems fine. Gremlins?

Wylie_Tunes · **Joined:** Mon Oct 01, 2012 10:21 am **Posts:** 176

If you can induce the problem, then put a volt meter across the head-unit black and red terminals and monitor. Lose of voltage on the red would let the head unit power down. A momentary lose on the yellow or black may not result in lose of the presets and clock, so I would test the yellow next.

Surface Interval · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2015 8:16 pm

Some sources such as blue tooth, USB, or iPod, etc may provide a weaker signal than others. For example, the signal from the device may require that the stereo volume control is turned up higher than normal just to hear it at the same volume from the speakers. This high volume setting may cause the stereo to cut out due to requiring more power than the wiring can deliver.

mannix2 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2015 7:42 am

+1 on the heavier gauge wire. I just did this repair last weekend on my sony unit. Ran a test wire from the battery to the power wire on the radio. Played great at any volume. I determined the gauge was fine to the fuse box, so i just replaced it from there to the radio.

babbot1 · **Joined:** Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:46 pm **Posts:** 570

I also think it is wire related. If you are plugging your iPod in via usb that will use more power because it is charging the ipod or at least providing power to it. This could be just enough to bring the voltage down below the head unit's fail safe voltage when you increase the volume. Use a voltmeter and test when you are running the radio. Have you tried while the engines running. The alternator will bring the voltage up from about 12.6 to 14.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Apr 20, 2015 9:17 am

This is a voltage drop issue. Measure the voltage at the head unit when turned up, if it cuts below 10.5v it will cut out. Also measure the voltage at the battery when it cuts out. A real world voltage on the battery should be around 12.5-12.6v with the engine off.

You may end up having a bad battery. Happens.

Toddely · **Posted:** Thu Apr 23, 2015 8:03 am

ric wrote:

This is a voltage drop issue. Measure the voltage at the head unit when turned up, if it cuts below 10.5v it will cut out. Also measure the voltage at the battery when it cuts out. A real world voltage on the battery should be around 12.5-12.6v with the engine off.

You may end up having a bad battery. Happens.

Ric i noticed you have another boat.. whats this one? any pics?

pickledboater · **Posted:** Sun Apr 26, 2015 4:04 pm

Thanks for all the replies guys!
Here is what I found, I checked and cleaned every connection for my accessory circuit, found a really loose connection on a ground wire. Fixed that. Charged my Ipod in the house, then plugged it into the unit, with the volume on the Ipod turned down, tried every tune I have with a lot of bass at high volume and no problem. Tried a CD, my wife's Zune and the radio. All seems to be fine now.
So.... Bad ground, under-charged Ipod, ??? Not sure but the shotgun fix worked. Again, thanks for the input!!!

Bwalton · **Posted:** Thu May 28, 2015 10:07 am

When you placed the power wire did you replace wires postive and negative Thanks

ConsWinns96 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 21, 2016 11:17 pm

ric wrote:

This is a voltage drop issue. Measure the voltage at the head unit when turned up, if it cuts below 10.5v it will cut out. Also measure the voltage at the battery when it cuts out. A real world voltage on the battery should be around 12.5-12.6v with the engine off.

You may end up having a bad battery. Happens.

and 14ish with the engine running.

Paul I. · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2016 10:40 am

The head unit may be overheating. Just a thought..............

EvilZ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2016 1:18 pm

Looks like the OP resolved the issue last April and posted above.

www.iFourWinns.com

Sony stereo cutting out

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