Amplifier only works when raining?!... but only sometimes!

[teesh]

Hi,

I have a bizarre situation with my Mark levinson amp (standard Lexus IS fitment). It started with high pitch screeching from the speakers, to intermittant flicking on and off sound, to the present state where it will make no sound for weeks but will randomly come back to life when it's raining?!

I took the vehicle to Lexus who simply reported it was a fault with the head unit or the amp - no kidding. To replace the amp would cost meerly £2000!! They claimed to have checked wiring but not sure as to what extent

So I am wondering if anybody can suggest the likely fault and any simple diagnostics I can make to find/repair the problem??

Thanks

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[Falcons 5,000+ posts]

wtf? lmao

 

[teesh]

my sentiments exactly.. although I didn't lmao at £2000! I wish I was making this up but the rain/moisture defo has an effect.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

OK, moist air makes certain materials swell. I'd guess there's a bad connection on a circuit board either in the amp or HU, and the fiberglass or phenolic material expands a bit when damp... But wow.

Have you tried smacking the HU or amp with your hand?

 

[skylineTT 10+ year member]

OK, moist air makes certain materials swell. I'd guess there's a bad connection on a circuit board either in the amp or HU, and the fiberglass or phenolic material expands a bit when damp... But wow.
Have you tried smacking the HU or amp with your hand?

#1 fix in car audio

 

[West]

OK, moist air makes certain materials swell. I'd guess there's a bad connection on a circuit board either in the amp or HU, and the fiberglass or phenolic material expands a bit when damp... But wow.
Have you tried smacking the HU or amp with your hand?

Give it a slap for me two. Gotta put that deck in its place.

Problem with that fix is that it may start doing it again if you hit a pothole. Provided that does get it working.

 

[BrownVanMan 10+ year member]

at that price your better off replacing the system with better aftermarket equipment. wish i could help you with whats in there now but it sounds like its time to get the DMM out and start looking where you do and dont have power.

Good luck

 

[teesh]

thanks for the replies. I suspected it could be a component problem, swelling etc. I've slapped it about, tried deliberately driving over potholes (desperate measures) but has no effect, just the rain! lol I would have quite happily replaced the whole system but as the head unit also has the reverse camera, touchscreen climate controls etc this is not an option.. sounds like I need to find a circuit board anorack somewhere?!

 

[TheUnderFighter 10+ year member]

For 2,000 quid you could replace the whole system, with equipment to work with the touchscreen controls and all that crud.

 

[maylar 10+ year member]

I suppose you could yank the HU and amp and give them to a repair shop to test for you. If there are wiring issues you might find them in the process.

Besides, doesn't it rain a lot on that side of the pond? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

2000 Sterling is about $3100 USD.. awfully dear for a factory amp. I hope it sounds great when it works...

 

[xSPLoder 10+ year member]

For that much money, you can buy a real nice double din unit with all the trimmings and have room to replace all the speakers as well as adding subs and a amp. Then fill your gas tank with the rest of the money you would save

 

[teesh]

My plan of action will firstly be to check whether it's the head unit or amp at fault then get the circuits etc tested, so I'm going to try and find a fellow lexus owner with the same set up and swap the amp over hoping a bribe on the owners club forum will help! If you think £2000 for the amp is bad, try £5000 for the headunit!! Either way I would rather drive around with no sound than pay that kind of cash. It does indeed rain a lot here(!) but will only sometimes work so I can't rely on that and BOOMIN, have you seen the fuel prices in rip off britain!!

 

[hispls 5,000+ posts]

thanks for the replies. I suspected it could be a component problem, swelling etc. I've slapped it about, tried deliberately driving over potholes (desperate measures) but has no effect, just the rain! lol I would have quite happily replaced the whole system but as the head unit also has the reverse camera, touchscreen climate controls etc this is not an option.. sounds like I need to find a circuit board anorack somewhere?!

Driving over potholes is totally something I've done LOL.

For 2,000 quid you could replace the whole system, with equipment to work with the touchscreen controls and all that crud.

This ^^^

My plan of action will firstly be to check whether it's the head unit or amp at fault then get the circuits etc tested, so I'm going to try and find a fellow lexus owner with the same set up and swap the amp over hoping a bribe on the owners club forum will help! If you think £2000 for the amp is bad, try £5000 for the headunit!! Either way I would rather drive around with no sound than pay that kind of cash. It does indeed rain a lot here(!) but will only sometimes work so I can't rely on that and BOOMIN, have you seen the fuel prices in rip off britain!!

When you sit in that car are you on the left or right hand side? The problem could be that your steering wheel is on the wrong side.

You could also consider moving to Scotland. It would work 250 days a year anyway.

Really I think actually having a shop repair it is a good idea on paper, but as likely as not whatever is wrong is something proprietary and either a complete board swap or a part that is so specific you can't replace it will be the answer.

 

[teesh]

The steering wheel should always be on the right.. another debate lol! And not a fat chance I'm moving to gloomy Scotland... so that leaves the repair shop. I think it will be worth the £50 or so for someone to check over as it could be a bit of simple soldering... I guess my next best bet would be ebay as I just don't have 2K to spend on a fancy new system, although that would solve the problem!

 

[keep_hope_alive Premium Member]

Some of you haven't heard what a Mark Levinson system sounds like. $2k won't upgrade it.

Sounds like bad solder connection(s) that are resolved with humidity.

A competent repair tech can solve this with a soldering iron.