How to Troubleshoot Bose Car Audio

by Keith Ruckus

The Bose corporation manufactures high-end audio equipment, including car audio systems. Bose car audio systems include dynamic frequency speakers, high-performance head units, and thickly insulated sound cables. Occasionally the Bose car audio sound systems may need troubleshooting due to wear and tear, damage or user error. Some of the methods used to fix a Bose system include master resetting, cleaning the head unit, and speaker replacement. By personally troubleshooting the Bose system, a car owner can avoid costly trips to car audio repair shops.

Step 1

Reset the Bose car audio system to fix most display or playback errors. Remove the faceplate of the Bose car audio head unit by pressing the release button in the bottom corner of the unit. Locate the small port in the top right corner of the unit (left corner for Bose units in European vehicles) marked "Reset."

Step 2

Flatten out the paperclip and poke the end into the small reset port (this is also possible with a pin). Hold the paperclip in for 15 seconds. Replace the faceplate onto the head unit and turn on.

Step 3

Remove the face plate again if playback issues still persist. Point the long nozzle of the compressed air canister into the Bose CD player/MP3/Tape Deck port. Squeeze the trigger on the air canister in short two-second bursts. Spray around the edges of the unit as well.

Step 4

Replace a blown Bose speaker if the sound from it is distorted. Use the screwdriver (with special Bose-style hex bit) to loosen the casing of the grill. Remove the grill to access the cone of the speaker. Remove the Bose-style connectors on the cone by hand.

Step 5

Remove the blown clone. Replace with the replacement cone, and lay in the speaker casing in the same fashion as the broken cone. Re-connect the Bose-style connectors by hand. Replace the grill and tighten with the Bose hex bit and screwdriver.

References

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