Radio/Clock on I/S not working

[72cutlassdude]

So, I go down to check on the bike yesterday and I turn the key on and the clock does not show up on the LCD screen. I then hit the switch for the radio and is does not come on. Everything was working when I put it away in November. I have checked all the usual suspects and everything looks good. Any one have any idea what I could be missing? Seems like a ground problem but, I don't know. Thanks, David

[old2soon]

Is the battery fully charged?? Reason I ask is when my alt dumped on me the first place it showed up was the L C Ds for what you are talking about. I'm SURE others will chime in. RIDE SAFE.

[haulzazz]

Like said by Old2Soon, the symptoms you described are the first indcators of a discharged battery on an I/S.

You didnt say whether you have lights or enough juice to turn over the engine.  If the battery is fully charged (orignally being from NoDak, I know how the cold will suck the juice out of the battery in the winter), then you may have a bad ground connection.  Although I dont drive my Valk as often during  the TX winters, I do try to take it out at least once a week to keep the battery charged.  If I still lived up North, I would keep a battery tender on it once I serviced and parked it for the winter.

[72cutlassdude]

Thanks guys,

The battery is fully charged as I do store it with a tender. I store the bike in the basement of the house so cold is not an issue. Just struggling with what could happen in 2 months from sitting in a climate controlled area when it was working when stored. I have since checked all the connectors and do not have any corrosion on anything. The bike cranks over and the idiot lights work on the dash, the only thing that shows on the display is the gas gauge. Turn signals, brake lights, horn, ect are all working, just no radio or clock.

[Michvalk]

I think all that stuff is controlled thru the black box (radio) on top of the battery. Check the connections going to that. Otherwise, you may have to check the connections on the back of the dash. 

[Ricky-D]

The battery is fully charged as I do store it with a tender

I don't feel that is a good indicator at all.

There have been many of the same, on this forum, that end up finally

admitting that the battery was in fact "shot".

The only way to truly tell if a battery is good, is with an honest stress test, of a kind that

the majority of auto parts stores (call it 99% of them) do not have the ability to perform.

***

[eric in md]

did the bike start?   if not i still say battery ..   if bike start . might sound crazy but turn the radio back on ..

[72cutlassdude]

Eric, I didn't try to start it, gas if off and carbs drained and I store it in my basement. It does crank over without any problems and I am sure if I turned the gas on she will fire right up. I hit the radio button and get nothing, same with the clock. Normally you see the clock and AUX when you turn the key on but, all I have show on the lcd is the gas gauge.

[Bighead]

Even a battery that will spin the engine well still may not have enough power to actually start it.

[gordonv]

Doesn't the radio default to off, after lose of power? Was the battery removed?

[72cutlassdude]

Gordon, battery was not removed and is only a year old. Rolled it in the basement and put it on the jack and hooked up the tender. If the radio defaults to off then what's the trick to turning it back on? Cause the button on controller isn't turning it on.

[eric in md]

there a button on side on the switch box . please let us know . im stumped

[old2soon]

If the battery is disconnected on the I/S the clock would come back at 12:00 and have to be reset to the correct time unless you hooked the battery back up at noon or midnight local.  I just KNOW I'm missing something here and I can't figure out what-YET. RIDE SAFE.

[BigBad1]

The on/off switch is located right above the push to talk button for the cb. You have to hold it for a second or two for it to turn off or on. However, the clock should display even with the system off. If the battery is in fact ok, sounds like you may have a blown fuse. If I remember correctly the IS has two fuses for the radio. One is to retain the clock and preset stations when the key is off and the other is for power when the radio is on. Does the radio play and just the display is blank or does the radio not play. I know it may be hard to tell if its on or off without the display.

[fordmano]

I am voting for a bad connection somewhere and not a failed component or failed device....

Start with checking the connections on the physical radio under the seat, if that doesn't solve issue the get ready to pull fairing at least enough to get your hand in there and check the big connection/plug at the back of the dashboard...





Have you checked your fuses? specifically the one for the radio?

[72cutlassdude]

All fuses have been pulled, tested and put back. Fusible link checked and tested. As I said pushing the radio button on the controller does not turn the radio on and the clock does not display. I have the fairing off right now because I ordered a cee baileys windshield, the connection on the dash is good. Based on talking with another member I am leaning toward the ground jumper block inside the main harness.

[kenf]

2000 Interstate


No Radio or clock


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I had a problem where my LCD display and radio would quit intermittently and finally quit altogether and I stumbled upon the cause with the help of this forum.If you fiddle with the main wiring harness above the swing arm there is an electrical connector or what I refer to as a jumper block taped up inside the main wiring harness. Unfortunately this jumper block is just forward of the rear tire between the battery box and the swing arm. SO when it rains the wiring harness/jumper block is exposed to road spray. Over time the connections inside the jumper block will corrode and hence all kinds of gremlins appear such as:
•   Stop Lights;
•   Clutch Lever Switch;
•   Side Stand Switch;
•   Neutral Switch;
•   Alternator turn on and voltage sensor wire;
•   Bank angle sensor and relay
•   General grounds


I know the LCD display and radio/CB are also connected through this jumper block too. When mine went out all I had on the display was the gas guage.

The solution was to cut out the jumper block; solder and heat shrink all the connections. Everything works perfectly now
You will need to remove the battery, battery box etc to get access to the wiring harness where the jumper block is taped inside. You will feel a square block inside the wiring harness. That’s the jumper block.

You need to cut out this block and manually slpice these wires together with solder and tape being careful to get all the splices right. I did this 3 years ago and haven't had an issue since. I am at work now but can e-mail you the entire procedure with pictures when I get hom later today. Have a look and see if maybe this could be your issue.



 

[trout dude]

Check your wires close to make sure a unwanted visitor did not chew thru them I have known this to happen to a few bikes.
    Dennis

[72cutlassdude]

Thanks Ken, I got the instructions on how to do the jumper block repair last night from Novavalker! I pulled the jumper block apart and did find some corrosion on a couple of the pins. Tried to clean with some contact cleaner but, still no radio or clock. So, I will be cutting and splicing all of the grounds per the repair sheet. Keeping my fingers crossed.

[kenf]

Good luck with the splice block. There is also an electrical connector under the left side cover by the antifreeze bottle that will affect the radio and other dash readouts. I hit mine when changing the antifreeze last year and knocked out my dash. Only found it by wiggling wires in the area of the antifreeze bottle. The plug was partially unplugged and not making contact. The bike ran fine but only the gas guage worked on the dash. I plugged it back in and all was good. Just tought this might be another place to look if the splice repair doesn't work. Do the splice repair anyway because it is just a matter of time before it goes if it hasn't already.
Good luck and ride safe when we get to get our babies back out againin the spring.
Ken

[Novavalker]

I just want to update everyone that 72cutlassdude sent me an email and the splice block fix solved his problems with the LCD display, radio etc.

[72cutlassdude]

Shout out to Novavalker! Took the splice block apart and found several corroded pins in the cap! The instructions you sent worked perfectly! Now to finish putting it all back together. Thanks for all the input from my fellow riders!

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks for the update. I will try to log this in my shrinking memory bank. Glad it worked out

[old2soon]

Shout out to Novavalker! Took the splice block apart and found several corroded pins in the cap! The instructions you sent worked perfectly! Now to finish putting it all back together. Thanks for all the input from my fellow riders!

   Kewl!  Luv it when a plan comes together.  RIDE SAFE.

[desande]

I think I may have the same problem with my I/S.  Where can I get the instructions to repair the splice block?  Thanks

[Novavalker]

I think I may have the same problem with my I/S.  Where can I get the instructions to repair the splice block?  Thanks

Check your email.

[desande]

Just got finished doing the splice block fix and WALLAH!!!  Radio and clock, etc works.  Thanks Novavalker.  I can only assume that was the problem, since I did clean and grease the radio connection blocks as well at the same time.  I suppose I should have tried the radio once I did the radio blocks, but what the hey, the splice block probably needed attention anyway to prevent future potential problems.  Glad I did it, although it was a pain.  The block didn't look corroded at all but who knows?

[destin]

Hi. I need the instruction for the splice block repair. Please somebody help.

[Bighead]

My radio and display went out yesterday but had blinked in and off on my last trip. I have ridden 900+ miles since it quit working so I know charging and Battery are Ok so when I get home gonna cut that block out I don't mind the radio not working as much as the damn clock.

[Novavalker]

Hi. I need the instruction for the splice block repair. Please somebody help.

Check your email.

[Bighead]

Question when this problem occurs did anyone's dash lights go out also? Was in a tunnel today and the light in the radio display and tach were not working but speedo was.

[Bighead]

Anyone?

[desande]

I know this topic is about a year old, but this info may help someone with the same problem.  Radio going out and then the dash lights blinking on and off, then going out is often the first sign of an alternator going bad.  I've had 2 alternators go bad and that was exactly what the early symptoms were.

[Bighead]

First check your voltage output.
If that is ok there is a splice block in the harness that gets corroded that can be the culprit. Someone here will be able to provide a link, I can't remember where the link  is

[Maldog4]

Hello And Greetings Fellow Valk Riders < I Also Need The Details On The Splice Block  Repair  Help Anyone And Thankyou

[Mooskee]

Sounds like it would be good to have the splice block repair put in Shoptalk.