Radio not working

Tiny
CARTER96
  • MEMBER
  • 2007 GMC SIERRA
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,100 MILES
I have a 2007 gmc sierra classic crew cab. I started having problems with my radio this week so I decided to change out the head unit. Put a new one that is recommended for my truck and same thing is happening. First thing in the morning the radio only comes out of the small speakers in the front doors and sounds horrible. This lasts till about the same time every day around 11am. Any ideas of what can be causing this?

No amp. What has me stumped is that it worked fine last night and now it is doing the same thing the old stock radio was doing. Would putting it on a code reader maybe tell me something? My check engine light has been on for about 6 months now. Last time I did that they told me it said a part my truck supposedly doesn't have was showing defective.

The radio did not start working yesterday at all. In doing some research the only thing I have come up with is possibly the bcm. Is there any way to test this?

Thanks
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Friday, May 13th, 2011 AT 2:51 PM

31 Replies

Tiny
FIXITMR
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,990 POSTS
What happens is the communication module goes out causing the radio to stop at the same time as well as turn the check engine light on.

I would check all fuses as well, here are some guides and diagrams (Below) to help you get the problem fixed.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Please let us know what happens.

Cheers
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Thursday, May 26th, 2011 AT 11:38 PM
Tiny
WILBER100
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  • 7 POSTS
Hey carter96, did you ever solve this one? My 07 sierra has the same symptoms, the two front tweeters and one rear speaker work. The rest have no output at all.
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Friday, January 20th, 2012 AT 2:08 AM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
  • 6,110 POSTS
Check the wiring. Especially the connector in the back of the head unit. You're most likely going to find something loose. Also check the moisture barriers around the speakers.
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Monday, January 23rd, 2012 AT 4:54 AM
Tiny
07CLASSICCREW4.8
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I have a 2007 Sierra crew that does the same thing, it seems to happen when the weather is damp or wet, like early in the morning. I've checked the head unit and wiggled the wires, unplugged and plugged back in with no luck so I'm going to try the speakers next.
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Saturday, July 21st, 2012 AT 12:50 PM
Tiny
WILBER100
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Hey classiccrew,
how many of you speakers went out? And do you like to "crank up the volume"?
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Saturday, July 21st, 2012 AT 3:44 PM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
  • MECHANIC
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Turning it up, as SpinalTap once said "to 11" when you have speakers not working properly will end up blowing both the pre-amp AND the post-amp sections of the head unit, or external amp, if you have one. Determine and fix the problem first.
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Saturday, July 21st, 2012 AT 4:57 PM
Tiny
CINEMADUCK
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have a 2007 GMC Sierra ext cab doing the same thing. My Drivers front and rear speaker do not work until it gets very hot outside. The drivers tweeter on the pillar and all of the passenger speakers work all the time. I have checked all connections, back of stereo, speakers, and even tested the speakers on another 4 ohm setup. All are good. I finally talked to an after market stereo installer and he said this is a common problem with the 07 and 08. It is a short somewhere in the dash wiring. I am beginning to trace the problem now. When I figure it out, I will be back to respond again.
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Thursday, September 13th, 2012 AT 10:49 PM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
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We might be able to help with a wiring schematic cinemaduck. Let us know if one would be helpful and we'll take a look at our reference material.
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Thursday, September 13th, 2012 AT 11:37 PM
Tiny
WILBER100
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
This should be interesting cinemaduck. Too bad the installer didn't give you more specifics about the short.I did all the same things you did, like cleaning contacts at the speaker wires and the connector on the head unit.
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Friday, September 14th, 2012 AT 12:11 AM
Tiny
ROBMURPHEY
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have the same issue, started about a month ago. Front and rear door speakers go in and out seemingly with the weather. I have never been the crank up the volume type, JFYI. I could believe it was a short, but I have a hard time connecting weather and a short.
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Friday, September 14th, 2012 AT 1:54 PM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
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I'm leaning more towards a cold solder joint that "freshens up" as the temperature increases. I can't think of anything else that could be weather- or temperature-related.
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Friday, September 14th, 2012 AT 2:19 PM
Tiny
ROBMURPHEY
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Replaced the two front door speakers, they are working now. The wires connected to the factory speakers are soldered (didn't look unusual), perhaps that is the weak link though. Speakers appear to be in good condition. I have a friend that is a technician for an audio manufacturer, he is going to take a look at them to see if something in the speakers failed, design flaw or just poor workmanship.
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Friday, September 14th, 2012 AT 7:43 PM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
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You want solder to be bright and shiny. If it's dull, it's a cold solder joint and making a weak connection/bond.
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Friday, September 14th, 2012 AT 8:10 PM
Tiny
CINEMADUCK
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  • 2 POSTS
Alrighty everyone! Here is what was wrong with mine. The speakers. They would come on intermittently but only in hot dry weather. I hooked up an old speaker I had, directly to the existing plug and it worked. I also tried hooking up the wires to the voice coil wires of the stock speakers and it still did not make the stock speakers work. The stock speakers will only work when hot. This tells me that something inside the speaker is not Scottish, so to speak. So, in my case, I am replacing my speakers. I will be sure to get back on here and let everyone know if something else goes wrong with it.
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Wednesday, September 19th, 2012 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
WILBER100
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Hey cinemaduck, I asked this before to another guy, but he never replied. Before your speakers went out, did you like to listen at moderate or higher volume levels? I'm tyring to see if my theory is correct. I think that with the mediocre head unit, cranking up the volume results in a clipped or overdriven signal and the speakers heat up and "blow" That is what I think is happening to us.
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Friday, September 21st, 2012 AT 12:54 AM
Tiny
RIVERMIKERAT
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Wilber100: It would make sense if the speakers didn't work when the ambient temperature went up. A blown speaker is a blown speaker no matter what the outside temp is.
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Friday, September 21st, 2012 AT 2:43 AM
Tiny
WILBER100
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
What I know at least about my situation is that in the beginning, all the speakers were intermittent and at one time, I even thought there was a pattern related to ambient temperatures. Finally, I did the communication module and it fixed the problem. I love this site!
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Friday, September 21st, 2012 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,468 POSTS
Glad you could get it fixed, that kind of problem can be tough. Please use 2CarPros anytime we are here to help

Cheers, Ken
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Sunday, October 1st, 2017 AT 3:48 PM
Tiny
BUMFUZZLED
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1992 GMC SIERRA
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 99,000 MILES
Electrical problem
1992 GMC Sierra V8 Two Wheel Drive Automatic 99000 miles

Backed the truck out of the garage and the antenna hit a bike. It stopped working. All lights are on. Clock is hanging @ 1:00. Can change stations but it will always default to the last one listened to. Can hear nothing. Looked but couldn't find problem. Asked and even looked through a manual. Nothing. Bought radio from junk shop just like it, it works until it is put in truck. At a loss as to what is causing the problem, husband driving me nuts
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Sunday, October 1st, 2017 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)
Tiny
2CARPRO JACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 11,533 POSTS
Nothing aftermarket tapped into the stereo?(Amps) Try unplugging theantennae to see if that changes it. There is nothing other than the antenna plug connected to the steroeo. Does this system have a cassette palyer? If so it probably has an amp in the system too.I need too know so I can look up the wiring diagram. He replaced the receiver or the control head?The part in the dash you see is just a controller, the stereo is the "radio reciever"
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Sunday, October 1st, 2017 AT 5:54 PM (Merged)

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