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Chevrolet Impala Audio

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Comments

  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    Scauer,

    Sorry to hear that. I think your next option is to complain again with the dealer. Hopefully, they can replace it with new one that has less radio computer lock up incident. They may unplug the fuse and let the radio restart properly again and call it fix. Probably that what they did last time

    jt
  • dstowersdstowers Member Posts: 5
    There is a fix that involves reprogramming the DSP (digital Signal Processor.) I am taking mine in to have the procedure performed and see what happens. From what I can tell GM seems prertty confused by what is going on. I think they forgot to have someone without hearing loss inspect the radio setup before they started mass manuafacturing ;) Other than that we are extremely pleased with the 06 Imp in comparison to the 04 we had previously and had massive problems with.
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    dstowers, can you please let me know if the reprogramming of the DSP works to eliminate the static sound from the speakers? I would really appreciate an update. Thanks and good luck!
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    ibaswimmer,

    So GM is doing the software patch on this problem. Hope that will work.

    Do they re-program the DSP in the head unit or in the Bose Amp? I'm just curious what makes the hissing noise.

    Thanks,

    jt
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    JT,
    Your guess is as good as mine with what makes the hissing noise. I have been trying to research this for the past two months without success and have just found other people talking about it in this forum for the past couple of weeks. dstowers is the one who is getting the re-programming of the DSP and hopefully we will hear back from them and if they re-programmed the head unit or the Bose amp.
    IBASwimmer
  • dstowersdstowers Member Posts: 5
    Unfortunately the DSP thing didn't work. It described the problem exactly, but made no diff other than resetting everyting in the radio. The next step involved troubleshooting that narrowed it down to something external to the radio (the Amp most likely.) They ordered a new Amp but it made no difference either. I went back to the dealership and checked out a 06 SS model and was able to duplicate the problem. The base models without the Bose upgrade did not exhibit the problem.

    The other weird thing I have noticed is that if you get the upgrade (it may also involve having the 6cd option) you get no other tone/eq settings other than TALK and MANUAL as options when you press the EQ button.

    I'm beginning to worry that this is going to become one of those things where the corporation says "they all do that" and just tells us to go away. The tech doing the work is a good friend of mine and I am 100% confident in his work, so I suspect GM just does not know the definition of a "premium" sound system and has bad QC in the audio department. I am still holding out hope that they will eventually acknowledge and track down the problem before just giving up. :sick:
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    dstowers,

    Thank you SO much for that update. You don't know how greatly appreciative I am. I have been talking with GMs customer service and haven't gotten anywhere either. They keep directing me back to the service manager at the dealership.

    I definitely agree that it is something that they all do and they seem to not really be worried about it or in any rush to fix it seeing as how they are not even really acknowledging that there is a problem.

    I have heard from numerous non-GM people that I have talked to that it is probably something to do with the Amp, but that putting a new one in there probably wouldn't help. Something to do with the fact that it is how that system interacts together. You would have to put an entirely different radio with amp from a different manufacturer in there (so I am told) before the noise would possibly stop. :(

    Also, thanks for the EQ button settings tid-bit. I was debating on the 6-disk changer, but might not now that I know that information.

    I'll let you know if I hear anything more and look forward to hearing if you are having any luck either. Thanks again!
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    I think the head unit is the root cause of this problem based on your info.

    Normally with Bose option, the audio level coming out of the head unit is cut down considerly. So if the noise (hissing sound) level is high coming out of the head unit while the audio signal is low, you have the classic case of Low Signal-to-Noise ratio problem. The external Bose amp just amplifies both Signal and Noise by the same amount. So that is why you can hear noise more easily with the Bose option since the noise now gets boosted more by the time it gets to the speakers.

    In the case of the base unit, eventhough the noise level is unchanged coming out of the head unit, the Audio level is a lot higher since it has to drive the speakers directly. On top of that, there is no further boost of noise. So the Signal-to-Noise ratio, in this case, is better. As a result, it is harder to hear the hissing sound.

    jt
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    jnt,

    So is there any fixing this problem if it is the head unit??
    Thank you for the info too...Very helpful!

    -IBASwimmer
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    If this is a head problem. It is likely hardware problem. So the wait could be long since they have to validate the new design,... to make sure the new design does not screw up something else.

    My 05 Odys minivan has horrible resonating sound with engine speed between 2200-2500 rpm. It happens on 05 Model Year. Now people with 06 Model Year complainning about the same thing. So car makers are typically slow to address something that they think not too important. Unless it is Hyundai. Those guys want to change the world every 6 months.

    jt
  • sifupksifupk Member Posts: 2
    Hi, i just want to know if the 10k resistor was just a plain resistor?
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    Again, thank you very much. You have been incredibly helpful. I really appreciate it. :) Good luck with the minivan sound!

    -IBASwimmer
  • bbj_flbbj_fl Member Posts: 1
    The audio output from my radio started erratically shutting off and on. After a couple of days the audio went completely dead. Traced the problem to an intermittent trunk mounted AMP. Anyone with recent experience for this problem? Also, is there a recommended after market replacement?

    -thanks
  • binneyrbbinneyrb Member Posts: 1
    Can anyone help me? I need to know how to bypass or replace the factory amp in my 2004 Impala. I've tried to find some info on the net but failed. HELP..
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    binneyrb,

    see the posting #1133 on page 59. It has detailed info that you looking for on wiring diagram on head unit and the external audio amp

    jt
  • btmarkbtmark Member Posts: 3
    Okay, so about 3 weeks ago, my radio made a slight unplugging noise (now, I'm not the slightest technically gifted, so please don't flame), but does anyone know what that possibly could be? The radio will work for 2-3 minutes after the car is restarted, then do it all over again. Not sure what to do, any help is greatly appreciated.
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    btmark,

    How is the car doing while the radio misbehaves? The reason I am asking is Battery Voltage. Normally radio is expected to work between ~10V - 16V. If the Battery voltage drops below 10V, the radio just showing the by-product of low bettery condition. If that is the case, you have more important problem to worry about (bad battery, bad alternator,..). You can check the Battery voltage yourselves with multimeter or stop by some Auto part store, they probably offer the free service.

    Other possible causes of the problem:

    1. If CD or Cassete works while AM/FM is not, then the Tuner section is probably the problem. If you only hear noise on AM/FM, then another possibility: your antenna connection is loose in the back of the radio or Rear glass antenna connection itself. Even if it is loose, you should pick up some strong local FM stations

    2. If the whole radio display (Time of Day clock, radio frequency,..) completely goes out and no sound: bad Power connection (12V battery wire got pinched or the low battery voltage,...). Depending what model year your car is, the Ignition wire may be intermitten, loose,or pinched.

    3. Radio is bad internally : bad internal power supply or certain part gets overheated and will shut down just like home stereo equipment gets overloaded. Sometime, you may have speaker terminals shorted outside. That condition, if not fixed, will permanently damage the radio's Power Amplifier.

    Something to try first:

    Disconnect the fuse(s) for the radio, leave it out for 2-3 minutes for the radio totally discharged (dead) before plugging the fuse(s) back. This will fix the radio computer brain dead problem. Sometime, for intermitten problem, this procedure will reset the radio. In your case, it seems to repeatable, so this procedure may not help.

    If your car is under warranty, it is best to take it to the dealer. The best they could do is to replace the radio. If the radio is not the culprit, then that will not help. But during the process of taking the radio out, they may notice loose or pinched wires outside the radio.

    jt
  • stagpolestagpole Member Posts: 6
    Sorry it took me so long to reply on this issue guys. I have had my '06 LTZ in the garage at my dealership many times now, I just can't stand that hiss, it is so annoying. My dealership worked directly with Chevy engineers (the technician working on my vehicle would contact Chevy engineers daily and try various fixes, whatever they told him to do) on the problem for one week, however, they were unable to come up with a fix. Chevy was actually using my vehicle as the first to diagnose the problem. They tried everything, system upgrades, replacement of the entire system, replacement of various parts. After one week they returned the vehicle to me and said that chevy guaranteed a fix within 30 days. 30 days went by and no fix. Another 45 days or so have passed since then. It looks like there is no fix in the near future. My dealership continues to contact chevy weekly to give me updates on the situation. I have heard no positive news yet, other than a promise that it will be fixed.

    On a side note, has anyone found the front bucket leather seats in the '06 Impala to have a protruding lumbar support? I read somewhere awhile back that Impalas manufactured in 6/05 and 7/05 have this problem. Mine was manufactured in 6/05 and is quite uncomfortable. Anyone have any additional info on this?
  • scauerscauer Member Posts: 13
    Thanks for the update Stagpole, good to hear, albeit disappointing.
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    Thank you for the update Stagpole. That really stinks that there is no fix for this radio static noise issue so far. Some of us are very appreciative though that you are allowing Chevy to use your car to try and diagnose this issue.
    I have called Chevy customer service a couple of times to see if they have gotten anywhere on this issue and every time I contact them they say that nowhere in any of their records do they see this as a recorded problem. What I don't understand though is how come so few of us are hearing this noise, or at least acknowledging that its there. None of the professional reviews that I have read list this as a problem and very few of us are on the forums trying to figure out what the deal is and even mentioning that there is a problem.
    But anyway, enough of my ranting and raving... as for the seat problem. I didn't even know that there was one with the lumbar support. If I do see or hear anything though I will be sure to let you know. I would imagine that they could replace the seat for you though, it's worth a try... especially since you have been so cooperative with the dealership :)
    Thanks again!
  • aquaknot2000aquaknot2000 Member Posts: 30
    It seems to me that this same radio problem existed in the model year 2000. Back then they corrected the problem by changing out the AMP. What now????
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    GM is having multiple suppliers on radios now and most of GM radios look the same (one big knob in the middle of radio). They can put different radios made by others in the Impala to see if the problem follows radio or Audio Amplifier. That is what Japanese car makers and Ford have been doing: if supplier A screws up, and he is late to fix it, then suppliers B or C will take up the supplier A business until the problem is fixed.

    jt
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    Now that's a great idea. If they would take the radio from say the Buick LaCrosse and put it in the Impala we might be talking. But that would require them to admit that they have a problem at all which is what I am seeing, and the numerous times that I have talked to them, to be a majority of the problem.
  • hcimpalahcimpala Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2001 Impala that has an RDS AM/FM/Cassette radio and I am looking to somehow upgrade to a CD player. I have been told that through a dealership I will have to pay an outrageous amount of money (naturally) but I have also been told that it is possible to install a CD player in the dash or a CD changer (my preference) without 'messing up' the RDS system. Of course, this wont come cheap or so I am told. Does anyone know how/where I can get the equipment/installation for this? I understand the money involved but most importantly I need a clean installation that will not affect the RDS. Or if you have any other ideas or advice it would be greatly appreciated!
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    I have a 2001 Impala that has an RDS AM/FM/Cassette radio and I am looking to somehow upgrade to a CD player. I have been told that through a dealership I will have to pay an outrageous amount of money (naturally) but I have also been told that it is possible to install a CD player in the dash or a CD changer (my preference) without 'messing up' the RDS system. Of course, this wont come cheap or so I am told. Does anyone know how/where I can get the equipment/installation for this? I understand the money involved but most importantly I need a clean installation that will not affect the RDS. Or if you have any other ideas or advice it would be greatly appreciated!

    If you prefer the factory radio that has CD and fits perfectly with your dash, then either buy the AM/FM/CD with RDS or AM/FM/CA/CD with RDS from a Chevy dealer or from a junk yard (cheaper that way). It is safer to buy an Impala radio.

    The RDS function is a part of FM. So most, if not all mid-grade factory radios have them now. So there is no worry about messing up the RDS function as long as radio has FM and has RDS logo since some models (mostly base with simple display) does not have RDS decoder and display for it. If you like the way RDS works with your current Chevy radio, it is no brainer to get another Impala CD with RDS radio prior to new design (model year 06 has new style).

    The most difficult thing is to take the old radio out. Once you know how to do it, the process of putting a replacement in is a breeze. You may want to talk with a technician in a Chevy dealership to get info on how to replace radio. They can do for you and charge you an arm and leg for it. For some vehicles (like Siverado or
    Trailblazer), it is 5 minute job. I have not a chance to work on the old Impala, so I could not be helpful here. But normally, it is not that bad. Most GM radio uses 7mm and Philips screws to hold radio to bracket. So your tools needed for radio replacement are couple screwdrivers (Philip and Flat) and 7mm socket driver.

    For your radio, there are 3 connectors in the back of radio: two black body connectors (Power, audio and data bus) and the Antenna connector (small metal socket that allows the antenna co-ax) lead-in to go in.

    Good luck

    jt
  • axle52axle52 Member Posts: 36
    Hi

    I bought a 06 Impala LTZ with a Bose package. I had the car no more than a month when static appeared across the FM stations only. This would happen intermittinly. I finally decided to take it in to the Dealership. The Gm radio specialist simply replaced the radio with a new one and so far so good. It's only been a month since the replacement so we shall see.

    I also have another problem with the vehicle and that is with the cooling system. ON the DIC a warning came on saying Engine Hot/AC Off.. I took in to the dealership and they told me that the Thermostat was staying open and that they would have to replace it. Turns out they didn't have the part in stock and I had to wait 2 weeks before the part came in. They replaced it and everything was fine until the other day and guess what.......the problem is back. I am taking it back tomorrow to the dealership, and hopefully they will get it right this time. Please let me know if anyone has had a similiar problem and what the proper repair is.

    Thanks alot
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    Hi.

    I don't know about the AC problem... but regarding your static problem in the radio, do you still here a very faint static type noise coming out of the speakers when the volume is fairly low or when the stereo is off and you turn on the turn signal? Just curious.

    Thanks!
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    Another thing for those who wants to replace factory radio with aftermarket unit: you will lose the TURN SIGNAL sound since GM radio now produces this sound instead of the old relay switch of the good old day. That is why you hear the hissing sound when the turn signal is on.

    jt
  • ekalakaekalaka Member Posts: 3
    I picked up a keyless fob on ebay for my 2001 Impala.
    engine off/Key turned to on
    hold down the tune button on the radio until "settings" is displayed on the radio.
    push the search until "program fob" is displayed
    push the prev/next buttons on the radio and "begin" is displayed.
    Hold down both the lock and unlock buttons on the fob until you hear a soft short beep.
    remember to program all of you fobs at this time as your old ones will be erased. It works great.
    I paid $7 on ebay for my fob rather than $60 at the dealer.
  • btmarkbtmark Member Posts: 3
    So, I finally broke down and went to the dealer, and after 500 dollars, they decided the Radio has to be replaced. GRRRRRR, internal short? That's what they said, oh well.

    Also inquired about putting my own radio in it, but they said it isn't possible, seeing the radio in that model controls the whole car, pretty much.

    Oh well, I'll be breaking the bank to fix it.
  • quietproquietpro Member Posts: 702
    Well, add one more Bose system owner who can't stand the hiss. Some folks say it doesn't bother them but I use my car as a place to relax when I'm having a bad day at work. Playing my stereo at low volume would just add to the stress. We all need to stick together and make some "noise" so Chevrolet will take the matter seriously. I'm going to search for some forums with other "Black Tie" equipped vehicles. It would be interesting to see if Pontiac or Buick owners are having this problem.
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    Hi quietpro,
    Any luck finding any other forums talking about the hissing issue in the impala or with the dealership about finding a fix for it?
  • quietproquietpro Member Posts: 702
    Nothing so far. While I was shopping, I did see the Black Tie head units in other makes (Pontiac and Buick) but neither of them offer the Bose system. Pontiacs have the Monsoon system and I think Buick calls theirs simply premium sound system. So, Bose is Chevy exclusive as far as I know. I have yet to go to the dealer but I will be sure to keep up with the forum.
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    Awesome.... I look forward to the udpates! :)
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    Actually you don't have to further than the Chevy dealership where you bought your Impala. The new Tahoe has radio very similar to the Impala.

    jt
  • scauerscauer Member Posts: 13
    Have any of you seen this?

    http://www.alldata.com/tsb/General-Motors/1132128000000_1136534400000_05-08-44-0- 31A/440311.html

    It sure sounds like our problem, that document has a date of 11-16 and a post date of 1-6. Not sure what those date signify but last time I had my car at the dealer for this was right before new years, not sure what they did but they had it overnight and it didn't fix the static. Maybe they didn't have this bulletin at that time? Seems unlikely.
  • scauerscauer Member Posts: 13
    Also, anybody know how to access the radio menu mentioned in that bulletin?
  • quietproquietpro Member Posts: 702
    Scauer,
    Thanks for the TSB. I'm sure that will go a long way toward convincing a reluctant service manager that the problem exists. Unfortunately, I have nothing to add at this time but I'll share anything I find.
  • gtrglenngtrglenn Member Posts: 1
    The fellow who installed my CD changer offered to install an external antenna, but would not guarantee that I would be satisfied with the results. He implied that there was a signal booster from the rear-window antenna and that perhaps it was defective. The car is still under warranty. Should I just go for the external antenna?
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    The fellow who installed my CD changer offered to install an external antenna, but would not guarantee that I would be satisfied with the results. He implied that there was a signal booster from the rear-window antenna and that perhaps it was defective. The car is still under warranty. Should I just go for the external antenna?

    gtrglenn,

    How did the installer know that the signal booster unit (antenna amplifier) is defective in your vehicle? Did he check the AM/FM reception of your radio and came up with that conclusion? Or do you really have AM/FM reception problem with your vehicle today? Quick way to check yourself:

    1.Find an area that is clear of tall buildings, power line during the day (AM behaves differently in late afternoon)

    2.Tune AM band and try to see if you can pick up station ~ 200 miles away: if you can receive it, your AM is probably OK. You can test your AM radio while parking

    3.Tune to a FM station that is about 40 miles away. If you can receive it, yours is OK. Since your vehicle has glass antenna, you may want to drive the vehicle around in different directions to make sure (directional problem with glass antenna). Note that if you live in a big city, your radio will pick up most local stations even if your antenna not working (disconnected or the antenna amp unit defective)

    If the result is not good, then he is right and you should go to dealer to have the system checked. The tech probably will have their favorite far distance stations to listen to.

    The CD changer installer probably worry that his FM transmitter is not strong enough for your antenna to pick up. As a result, the CD changer audio will not be in full stereo or lacking fidelity.

    Next question: if you decide to go with his external antenna, can he assure you that your normal AM/FM reception will not suffer? He will charge you extra for the external antenna. Unless he install the good old fender whip, then it is likely to be harmless and may give your radio better reception yet.

    jt
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    scauer,
    Thanks for that link... no I had not seen it. As an FYI, I went back to the dealership over the weekend and one of the salesmen said they would have someone contact me regarding the problem because they did not have any idea that there even was one (surprise, surprise). Anyway, a service manager called me yesterday and told me that he had heard the static from the radio but had not seen any sort of postings from GM on the problem, so I'm not sure why he didn't mention this one that is linked. Who knows, but still no luck on my end with a "cure" for the problem.
  • impala1impala1 Member Posts: 1
    I have the directions for programing my keyless remote, as soon as I get it, I think there might be a choice of two, to pick from.
    Will any remote for a 2000 impala work ? or do
    I have to specify between GM#25695954 or GM# 25695955. if so how do I determine which one I need ?

    Thank
  • quietproquietpro Member Posts: 702
    I just left feedback at the Bose web site regarding the '06 Impala's Bose sound system. It may help all of us having the problem to make sure they're aware of it. It is a bit lengthy but hopefully it will be worth it.
  • amram99amram99 Member Posts: 2
    I just purchased a 2006 1LT with the Bose Stereo and discovered the hiss problem almost immediately. I believe it's only coming from the tweeter in the front right. Can anyone verify this? I also noticed that the hiss volume is independent of the stereo volume. This makes me think that it's not the head unit, but rather the amplifier. If it were the head unit, the hiss would track the aplification level.
  • jntjnt Member Posts: 316
    amram99

    Tweeters are good on producing high frequency sound and noise. That may be why you hear the noise there easier. You may be right pointing the finger back to the BOSE amp. The head unit in the new Impala is not Bose, BTW (Bose never made a car's head unit that I am awared of. They just make speakers and amp)

    jt
  • ibaswimmeribaswimmer Member Posts: 24
    Just as an FYI for everyone... I wrote to Consumer Reports asking them if they had any information on this issue. They stated that they were not aware of the problem but that they would forward that information on to be investigated. I will let yall know if I hear any more from them. I was hoping they would be a good resource to figure this hissing noise out!
  • shouldofknownshouldofknown Member Posts: 1
    I think the hissing noise is coming from the amp that is mounted in the trunk between the speakers. I am also having problems with the fan running all of time. When idling you almost need to shut it off because it is so annoying. Anyone else having this problem? Have already had the power stearing hose burst and was in the shop 14 days waiting on a new one!! this right after I went through a lemon law buy-back on my defective 2004 Rendezvous. Have been having shifting problems since week 2. Purchased it November 2005. It delays engagement when shifting from reverse to drive.
  • quietproquietpro Member Posts: 702
    I agree that it's likely a problem with the amplifier(s). I doubt I will ever buy another Bose product. They do have great technology with stereo separation and filling the room (or car cabin) with balanced sound but the quality of that sound has been lacking every time I've taken the opportunity to listen. I first discovered this at an overseas military exchange store where they were showing off their products. I became suspect when they wouldn't compare them directly with their competitor's products. Later, with me at the controls, I was able to hear the real difference. I chose sound quality over ambience. I'm not saying the system is terrible but it seems like a "clean" amp would be something much easier to develop than the tuning of sound reflection inside the Impala's cabin. Oh well, live and learn, right?
  • zjimzjim Member Posts: 51
    I compared the sound from the Bose system and the standard system when I was purchasing my '06 3LT. My dealer had two identical cars to select from, with the only difference being the Bose system, XM, and the 6 disc changer in one of the cars. After comparing the sound of both systems at normal volume levels, I choose the standard system. To my ear, the standard system actually sounded better than the Bose. I was also concerned about all the complaints about the "hissing" amplifiers at lower volumes. It was the same when I compared the Bose system in my '93 Z28 to the Monsoon in my '99 Z28. The Monsoon was definitely better. I have always felt that Bose systems were over-rated. Kinda like comparing over-rated foreign cars to domestic cars! ;)
  • quietproquietpro Member Posts: 702
    Yeah...guess I only have myself to blame. I was sucked in with that sweet V-8 sound so much that I didn't even imagine that the high-end stereo would be a problem. So much for modern technology. Eight speakers, 6 disk changer, XM Satellite Radio, MP3, auxilliary input = early 80's cassette tape sound quality. I wonder if Dolby has considered working with Bose? LOL :P
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