Radio cuts/fades in and out, but cds don't. What causes this?

carreragt7 · Jan 8, 2009

My car has the premium sound system and works very well with any cds I listen to. However, my radio seems to fade in and out much more than normal, especially on my back speakers. At first I thought my speakers themselves had issues, but since it is only when listening to the radio (or my ipod through the radio with an FM transmitter) I am kind of puzzled. I have never worked on car audio before and from what I have read on here our cars are different due to the fiber optic MOST system. I plan on getting a Dension GW500, but am worried the sound might still cut out unless I get this issue fixed.
Any ideas? Fixes? I really don't want to take it to the dealer unless it is my only option since I am sure they will fiddle with it for awhile and then charge me an arm and a leg. Thanks for any input!

PornSStar · Jan 9, 2009

check if you are in Dolby sound I have been thrown off that I blew one by the radio before

carreragt7 · Jan 9, 2009

Re: (PornSStar)

Where do you check that? I don't have a manual to refer to, is it just one of the options as you go through the setup? Btw, any word from your insurance company what they are going to do with your car? I am still interested in seeing about getting stuff from it.

-ForceFed- · Jan 9, 2009

Re: (carreragt7)

You will have to go thru your menu options and find it. I fought a S60R that they claimed rear speakers were blown then *light bulb* i checked and sure enough surround sound was on which doesnt emit full sound

Id walk you thru it but i dont have an S40 in front of me, should find the menu button easily enough and scroll thru your options. It should be in there and be able to check whether its activated.

You only experiencing the sound problem or are you also having issues with the ICM cutting out in which there is a software upgrade available for most people.

carreragt7 · Jan 9, 2009

What is the ICM?...The sound only cuts out on the radio, when I am listening to CDs it sounds amazing. Especially on the back speakers, but on all of them it does kind of fade back and forth. I will check with the surround sound settings the next time I'm in my car and see if that fixes it, which I really hope does. But I'm afraid it won't be such a simple fix. A previous owner did wire up a sub, so I am wondering if something he did caused this...I also have LED lights installed (like the setup someone did just recently) but they don't work either...

mattdoc · Jan 9, 2009

Check through the menus. You'll find an option that is called surround that is something like 1)disabled 2)3.1 3)dolby

Try different settings like ForceFed suggested. I found that with my sub wired into a rear speaker, going to 3.1 (or maybe it's 2.1) is the best for getting the sub to work.

PornSStar · Jan 9, 2009

To be honest I havent heard anything about my car. It is thier car now and State Farm owns the title. Hopefully, there is a wayt o search for the car or call them.

-ForceFed- · Jan 9, 2009

Re: (carreragt7)

ICM is your infotainment control module or your little screen for your audio and what not. If both the sound and the screen are cutting out theres a software update to correct that. But more than likely your just experiencing the dolby surround setting which i dont like at all unless your at a drive in movie lol.

carreragt7 · Jan 10, 2009

THANKS A TON GUYS!!!! It was just that stupid surround sound setting like you guys thought. I never thought Volvo would have a stupid setting for the radio that doesn't sound right, and I have no idea why the dealership/previous owner would have it on that setting, but from day one of me owning it I have been thinking whatever the previous owner did with a sub must have shorted out the speakers. lol. The wiring for an amp and sub are still in place, so maybe I will put them in and set it to that 3.1 setting like someone recommended. Thanks again! Saved me a headache and some money...

shotdisc98 · Jan 29, 2009

I am having an intermittent ICM problem. Stealership says the software is not covered by my extended warranty. Is it worth it since it's only a every once in a while annoyance? Or, is there something else that's fairly critical it will also fix?

shotdisc98 · Jan 29, 2009

I am having the ICM problem but just intermittently for now. Other than the minor annoyance, is it that critical to get fixed? The dealer says it's not covered under my extended warranty.

-ForceFed- · Jan 30, 2009

Re: (shotdisc98)

The ICM upgrade was fixing a lot of peoples concerns when the TNN came out. Id say its worth the money if its a major concern for you and if its per there diagnosis.

Radio cuts/fades in and out, but cds don't. What causes this?

carreragt7

PornSStar

carreragt7

-ForceFed-

carreragt7

mattdoc

PornSStar

-ForceFed-

carreragt7

shotdisc98

shotdisc98

-ForceFed-

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