Here's my sad tale of woe. Bought a remanufactured radio because of CD Error fo cd changer would not work. Got the unit and I had a PA15-NIS I had purchased a couple of years ago and had just never installed. Well I wasn't pleased with the sound I was getting after the install and decided it wasn't the brightest of ideas to install an untested remn and the USASPEC at the same time so took it back apart and removed PA15-NIS. Everything seemed to be working fine until I turned off the radio. Now I'm getting a constant hissing sound even with the power turned off.

Also, does anybody have a picture of the back of a 2003 Bose with SAT button (Don't know if this makes a difference but I believe there was more than one model of Bose in 2003). I know I'm not cabled for SAT just have the button and wondered if when I plugged up...after removing the NIS I have something plugged up wrong. Also, is their a ground wire I missed. I did ground the NIS. For now I'm not really interested in putting the NIS back in just want to make sure this radio is OK 30 day warranty!

Wrathernaut...I'm sorry if I ever said anything rude to you!!! HELP I'd give you my first born but, I'm way to old for that...(I've got great children) Hope gratitude will be enough!!

 

OK...maybe I can answer my own dumb question. How about that pesky little ribbon cable I know I didn't install after removing the NIS??? First time around...had the radio mounted...nav remounted...when I noticed this little piece of pink paper that said remove and mount cable during installation. So took everything apart and freed up and mounted the cable. Now if I'm correct...you can still claim all my children, grand children, and great grand children since I support them all anyway!!!

 

So after messing with that bit, did you solve the hiss? That sounds about like a ground-loop, so missing a ground cable/ribbon would be a potential source. Otherwise, perhaps you got the wrong '03 as a replacement? I don't know the VIN# that indicates the difference between the early '03s and late '03s when it comes to radios.

 

Well...after having removed the radio with nav (I mention this only because of the weight of both I gave up today). Twice in one day was enough for me. In addition to twice yesterday. Try again tomorrow...I'm sure I did not connect the ribbon cable. Will there also be an empty connector slot on the main body (top)black or (bottom)white row of the radio? The serial no. of my original radio is 0013650. When I received the remanufacture I noticed a 2002 build date which surprised me a little until after I removed the original radio...it is also 2002. The build date on my G is 10/02..I don't know the original build/release of G's but I would think that is fairly early. I bought this car...new as soon as I knew they were at the dealers.

Thanks...for responding. Anything else you can think of? What does that little ribbon cable do? I know it is not currently connected.

If more of the mods on this forum were like you it would be a far better place. Because of the age of the G's the forum should be more about technology/repair.

Thanks Again...sure you don't want my kids, grand kids, and great grand kids? Afraid they might cost you as much as a Mercedes Benz SLS (Black Edition)...but hey that's the way it's suppose to be! Oh...have a couple of cats for you too!!!

 

That sounds like a early '03 to me, but the re-manufacture date sounds right for being the correct radio.

I'm not sure which ribbon cable you're talking about, exactly. There's the main one that connects the radio to the trim, which is a culprit for missing audio channels (more details here: https://g35driver.com/forums/audio-v...g-channel.html ). That one may have been disturbed during the radio removal. That one can screw stuff up even with no removal of the radio.

There is a small grounding wire on the '05+ - which I assume has an analogue on the '03 - on the side of the bracket connecting to the body of the navigation screen unit. It is very easy to catch on the metal as you install it, if that broke you could be getting improper grounding of the navigation unit.

The main radio bracket grounds to the metal of the car when its bolted in, so unless the '03s are very different in that regard, there shouldn't be separate grounding wires to connect besides the ones connecting the radio to the main bracket.

There's one connector for the electronic nav lift, one for the nav display, one for the navigation controls, one for the climate controls, and then like four on the back of the radio itself.

Already got a cat, and if the kids aren't similarly trained to clean themselves and poop in the correct place, I'm not interested.

 

Thanks for all the info. It was cold as hell here in North Alabama today and I just didn't have it in me to pull the radio again. I did however start the car and tried the Nav, works fine...radio works fine...CD player works fine...steering wheel controls...they work fine. Just that when you turn the radio off it sounds just like it does if it's on and you don't have a station tuned in. The only ribbon cable that I can find is the very small one front right that plugs from the unit to the black clip on the chassis. That's the one I'm thinking I may not have properly installed. I have the two black sockets and underneath those two white ones on the back of the radio. Only one plug in for the white sockets. It appears that since I have an early 2003 one of those would be for the SAT if the car came prewired which it didn't. Let you know how I make out. Thanks again.

 

Boy...now I'm more confused than I was before. Just found Fullonshred's post and the problem he describes is identical to mine in every way and he hasn't replaced his head unit. He tried replacing his amp and the problem persists. The static noise seems to be coming either entirely or mostly from the side panel speakers in my coupe and I don't know where the side rear speakers are in the sedan. We've got the same years 2003. As much as I hate to say this looks like it might be smart for me to reinstall my old radio and see if the static problem is there with it...wasn't when I took it out.

 

Ah well, put in something aftermarket

 

I know you're right...but I just can't get passed keeping this car OEM. I even contacted Infiniti Parts USA (online chat) and inquired about purchasing a brand new Bose unit. Ah not happening... discontinued and it appears with good reason. I had this same Clarion head unit in a 2005 Cadillac CTS. Cadillac was nice enough to replace the unit free of charge and I sold the car in 2010 with no problems. Currently, I have a 25 year old Mazda Miata with an after market Blaupunkt and a 2010 Mercedes E Coupe with a Harmon Kardon. I suggested that the best way to solve this problem was for me to trade the G on a slightly used Porsche Cayman S. My wife...however suggested I find the best Audio Shop in our area and get my butt there. As things usually go...I'm off to the audio shop. I just can't stand the frustration of trying to figure this out when I really don't know what I'm doing. In my youth I was a mechanic for a Triumph TR4 racing team. I tore everything apart cleaned all the parts and then the other team members would put things back together. This appears to be the case here...everything is apart...I just need someone knowledgeable to figure out what's wrong and put it back together again.

I said this many times..but thanks. To me you are one of the most valuable assets this forum has. I'll let you know how I make out. If I can convince my wife that the audio shop wants $36,000 dollars to get the radio working...there may still be a Cayman in my future!

 

Price of the proper diagnosis is probably going to cost more than a replacement factory amp from a scrapyard. I'd start with that. If the 03 coupe was compatible with the 05 sedan, I'd send you mine for testing.

Have you tried posting up a WTB for an amp in the marketplace?

 

No...I have not even thought about replacing the amp. If fullonshred is having the exact same problem and he replaced his amp and nothing changed. I don't see how replacing my amp would change anything. It really does seem to be the rear speakers in the back seat side panels not the two on the rear shelf. Do you know if there is anything about these speakers that could be unique. Could a cracked speaker cone (because of the cold...my coupe is garage kept...problem is the garage is unheated) cause this type of problem? Haven't heard any feedback from fullonshred ...if he has had any success! As I've said I have no idea if (I'll call them sections of the amp) control different speakers. I just don't know...you're not in the mood for a road trip to Huntsville AL. Six hours tops from Savannah. Just kidding!!

 

If it's just the sides, then yeah, headunit becomes much more likely. The hiss is probably in the frequency range that is being blocked by the low-pass filter on the rear 6x9's, that's why they're not showing the problem.

No way your speakers would crack while they survive just fine up north.

And when it's 10 degrees warmer here, I'll stay in Savannah.

 

OK woozy...stay in Savannah. Just to let you know we are expecting 2 to 4 inches of snow in Huntsville AL, tomorrow. It will be headed directly your way. Brought in the kerosene heaters and fired them up...first time this year. Also have a generator...directly wired into the fuse box. Come on mother nature I'm ready for ya! Just can't get my Bose to work. Hope the storm misses you. Update!!! I'm watching the local news right now and they are saying 4-6 inches from here to the coast...that would be Savannah. Hope you are running All Season's. I run Michelin MXM4's on the Benz. Michelin PS2's on the G35 so it stay's parked in bad weather. Hope they are wrong and you end up with sunny skies!!!

 

Nope, weather looks good, a little cold and rainy tomorrow, otherwise 60-70 degrees expected all day during the weekend.