2009 Vibe intermittent radio

D_M

Here is a puzzler. The radio cuts out for three or four seconds whenever the turn signal is engaged or any other electronic feature, like traction control, engages. Not every time, but most times. The radio comes back on in a few seconds even if the feature is still on, like signal still flashing.

[Deleted User]

Electrical gremlins are always tricky to pin down. Is the whole radio powering down (display going off) or just the sound cutting off. Something is shorting power from the radio, but since you say it's when any electronic feature engages, and it's just for 3 or 4 seconds that makes me think some kind of computer module.

D_M

Yes, the radio seems to lose power. Today has been mild, 10 deg C and the radio wasn't cutting out with the turn signals as much as the other day when it was around 1 deg C. The thing that did it was flashing the high beam. And it only does it the first instance. Flash the high beam a second time immediately and there is no effect. It's as if the circuits have to rest or reset. Perhaps the initial current flow creates a hot spot causing a cracked track or solder joint to open up followed by a cooling period that closes the joint and then it's ready to cycle again. But where to look.