Radio not working 99 I/S

[rocketman98]

My battery died on me a few weeks ago. Charged the battery bike cranked up just fine, but the radio quit working. All I get is the clock and I cannot change it. I changed the battery and still the same thing. A list of the check out process I have done.

I checked all the fuses.
I checked the relay and the diode.
I cut off the ground block under the battery box and soldered the wires together( fixed the LCD from going out).
Tested voltage going in the radio and out. Also checked voltage going to the handle bar switch. All has power. Handle bar switch only has 4 volts going too it.
Took apart the radio and did not see any loose connection or burnt areas.
Checked ground wires on everything I could find.
 Took apart the starter switch and cleaned it good.

I am lost here. It is driving me nuts.

[Jersey]

Electrical can be very frustrating to troubleshoot.  In my experience, it's easy to miss something seemingly minor.  Classic example is very slightly oxidized ground connections messing up the battery charging circuit.

If you need any schematics, PM me and I'll send along the old Rattlebar pages if you don't have them.

It seems like you're being very methodical, so may I suggest starting over with the schematics in hand and test each and every wire for either a break in conductivity or a reduced resistance.  Power and GND wires should show full continuity with no more than .2Ω or so resistance.  Check them off as they test out.

Usually when I do this I can find the issue whether it's related to the wires or not.  It's a PIA, but might work for you.

Good Luck and let us know what you find!
Jersey

[3W-lonerider]

Might be a dumb question. But did you hit the switch on the control unit to turn the radio on.

[da prez]

  Another quick check is to attach a ground wire to the radio chassis and run it to the battery ground.

                            da prez

[gordonv]

Might be a dumb question. But did you hit the switch on the control unit to turn the radio on.

I 2nd this, no mention of turning it on, and the speakers. Insure that the head set is off.

Email sent with the radio pages from the owners manual.

[Bighead]

Also the radio will quit working with a failing alternator.

[Savago]

Electrical gremlins are the worst.

Did you try to clean the contacts of the buttons in the handlebar switch (the one that looks like a Starwars deathstar escape pod)?

May be worth to try to spray some contact cleaner on the buttons and play a bit with them (my I/S had an issue with the button that turns the Radio on and it was just a matter of cleaning the contacts).

I recommend this CRC contact cleaner for those jobs:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BXOGNI/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[rocketman98]

Electrical can be very frustrating to troubleshoot.  In my experience, it's easy to miss something seemingly minor.  Classic example is very slightly oxidized ground connections messing up the battery charging circuit.

If you need any schematics, PM me and I'll send along the old Rattlebar pages if you don't have them.

It seems like you're being very methodical, so may I suggest starting over with the schematics in hand and test each and every wire for either a break in conductivity or a reduced resistance.  Power and GND wires should show full continuity with no more than .2Ω or so resistance.  Check them off as they test out.

Usually when I do this I can find the issue whether it's related to the wires or not.  It's a PIA, but might work for you.

Good Luck and let us know what you find!
Jersey

I have the Honda service manual. The schematic in the back looks like a hurricane spaghetti model. I have tested every wire I can find. I am going back to the beginning and testing them again. I hope I missed something.

[rocketman98]

Might be a dumb question. But did you hit the switch on the control unit to turn the radio on.

I have checked that. I push it and nothing happens. I show I am only getting 4 volts to the switch.

[rocketman98]

  Another quick check is to attach a ground wire to the radio chassis and run it to the battery ground.

                            da prez

I used jumpers from the negative battery and grounded on the bike. Still nothing.

[rocketman98]

Might be a dumb question. But did you hit the switch on the control unit to turn the radio on.

I 2nd this, no mention of turning it own, and the speakers. Insure that the head set is off.

Email sent with the radio pages from the owners manual.

Thank you for the email. I checked if I had sound before I tore it apart making sure it was not the LCD.

[rocketman98]

Also the radio will quit working with a failing alternator.

Shouldn't the radio come on when I turn the ignition to ACC and a brand new battery?

[rocketman98]

Electrical gremlins are the worst.

Did you try to clean the contacts of the buttons in the handlebar switch (the one that looks like a Starwars deathstar escape pod)?

May be worth to try to spray some contact cleaner on the buttons and play a bit with them (my I/S had an issue with the button that turns the Radio on and it was just a matter of cleaning the contacts).

I recommend this CRC contact cleaner for those jobs:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BXOGNI/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I cleaned it and put some dielectric grease in it.

[Ricky-D]

There is a connection with multiple wires and connectors that is wrapped within the harness and located down under the battery in front of the rear wheel. I cannot be more precise about the location because I have never looked for it.

But, I do know there have been reports on this forum several times, regarding specifically the radio and the instruments in the dash, to include the led screen, that have gone blank and the fix was to clean all the contacts in that specific connector.

I wish I could be more precise and a search may turn up more information, but I do know this was a fix for radio problems that escaped all other trials, and seemed insurmountable.

***

[3W-lonerider]

do a search for ( splice block ) alot of info there,, and most have reported radio problems because of it.

[Novavalker]

PM me with your email and I'll send you the splice block repair document.

[rocketman98]

There is a connection with multiple wires and connectors that is wrapped within the harness and located down under the battery in front of the rear wheel. I cannot be more precise about the location because I have never looked for it.

But, I do know there have been reports on this forum several times, regarding specifically the radio and the instruments in the dash, to include the led screen, that have gone blank and the fix was to clean all the contacts in that specific connector.

I wish I could be more precise and a search may turn up more information, but I do know this was a fix for radio problems that escaped all other trials, and seemed insurmountable.

***

I have done the ground block mod. It fixed my LCD screen. Sometimes the screen would cut out.

[rocketman98]

PM me with your email and I'll send you the splice block repair document.

Someone named Craig sent that to me from Facebook. It was a lot of help.

[Avanti]

I had a radio problem that turned out to be the relay not making a proper connection.

[Novavalker]

PM me with your email and I'll send you the splice block repair document.

Someone named Craig sent that to me from Facebook. It was a lot of help.

That someone was me

[Bighead]

Also the radio will quit working with a failing alternator.

Shouldn't the radio come on when I turn the ignition to ACC and a brand new battery?

Yes was thinking of when riding down the road. Follow Craigs advice on the splice. That is probably where your trouble is.

[rocketman98]

Ok here is the update. Still can’t find the damn reason the radio is not coming on. It must be the unit itself. So I decided to go out with the old and in with the new. I am getting a clarion Bluetooth unit that is 3 inches in diameter and putting it in my faring. Also buying an amp to help push the speakers. All I am losing is the clock. Which I don’t mind because wife can’t say “ you can’t lose track of time because the bike has a damn clock on it”. I am going to wire it into the fuse box of the existing radio and call it a day. Besides I don’t really feel good paying $100 for a twenty year old radio from another Valkyrie. I do think all of you for the help.

[gordonv]

Ok here is the update. Still can’t find the damn reason the radio is not coming on. It must be the unit itself. So I decided to go out with the old and in with the new. I am getting a clarion Bluetooth unit that is 3 inches in diameter and putting it in my faring. Also buying an amp to help push the speakers. All I am losing is the clock. Which I don’t mind because wife can’t say “ you can’t lose track of time because the bike has a damn clock on it”. I am going to wire it into the fuse box of the existing radio and call it a day. Besides I don’t really feel good paying $100 for a twenty year old radio from another Valkyrie. I do think all of you for the help.

Before I quit it, I would add your location to your profile, and ask if someone local can swap/lend you their IS radio. I would swap you. You would find out quickly if your's works or not. Then you can work out what is wrong.