My radio was working fine and than I replaced driving lights and than the radio began to make strange sounds. With engine off it makes static and of a putt-putt noise and the radio is unusable. I feel it must be a connection problem but where do I start to look?
Check the ground for the lights. I had same problem when I installed a power outlet. Might need to move the ground.
If you disconnect the lights does the radio still act up? If it doesn't try connecting the lights to a different circuit.
Some vary good points I will have to try again this evening, Thank you for the info. I can see a little hope now.
also make sure that your ground wire is large enough for the load, if the guage is too small then the lights won't properly ground.
How are the driving lights hooked up?
![[Image: drivinglight_wiring_diagram.jpg]](http://usera.imagecave.com/trickyone/drivinglight_wiring_diagram.jpg)
I disconnected the lights, still the same problem. Mechanic at Honda thought
possible antenna but haven't figured out how to get to the back of the radio
You put the ignition key into the lock next to the clock, turn the key then pull the radio out. It probably wouldn't hurt to clean up those connections back there with electronics cleaner.
The best thing for cleaning and burnishing the contacts in the radio and dash plug is a pencil eraser. DO NOT use a file. The pencil eraser will clean any carbon or corrosion off of the contacts with out removing the finish on the contacts. After burnishing with an eraser then use the contact cleaner.
I cann't figure out how to get to where the antenna plugs into the radio. Can anyone shed a little light on this?
Did you find the connection between the antenna cable and the short piece that goes to the radio.
Don't believe everything you hear from a mechanic. Most of them know absolutely nothing about the radio system.
Where did you hook up the lights in the first place, if the radio was working OK prior to hooking up the lights then it is something you did.
Is there anyway you could test your radio in another bike?
Well I didn't find the connection to the antenna. I had the lights connected to the Battery with a relay as you had on your diagram. I'm not sure when the problem started, but it was about the same time I was working on the lights so Am a bit confused
Does the bike have a CB or Intercom?
Hi Folks,
I used to be one of the pencil eraser to clean contacts supporters until I read the information from Caig who make Deoxit - really very good contact cleaner and they advise never to use pencil eraser as some of them leave rubber or plastic residues which coat the contacts and can lead to problems later on. I got put onto Caig by guys on another list and all the high end electronics types who specialise in resuscitating old electronic gear use it. their address is <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.caig.com/">http://www.caig.com/</a><!-- m -->
If the contacts throughout each plug and socket are cleaned up using the two part method it is time consuming cleaning each until no more black comes off but once done and treated with the final coat no more problems from then on.
Regards,
Checkpoint Charlie