PAN-AUDIO

QUALITY DRIVEN SERVICE
PANASONIC AUDIO SYSTEMS
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
• 2010-2014MY LEGACY and OUTBACK MODELS
• 2009-2013MY FORESTER MODELS
• 2008-2011MY IMPREZA MODELS
•
!IMPORTANT!
Whenever possible confirm the condition as reported by the customer before starting
diagnosis.
•
Make sure the vehicle has a fully-charged battery before proceeding, approximately
12.63 volts.
•
Ensure that all related wiring harness connectors are securely seated.
•
When diagnosing CD-related concerns, always have a known good CD available for
testing.
“This Troubleshooting Guide is intended for use by professional technicians ONLY. It
is written to inform those technicians of conditions that may occur in some vehicles, or
to provide information that could assist in the proper servicing of the vehicle. Properly
trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do
the job correctly and safely. If a condition is described in this guide, DO NOT assume
that your vehicle will have that condition”.
Page 1
TABLE of CONTENTS:
Page 3: No radio reception
Page 4: Radio Station is selected on its own
Page 5: Weak radio reception
Page 6: Bluetooth cannot be connected or certain functions are not available
Page 7: Outside (physical) damage
Page 8: No sound
Page 9: Cutting out sound
Page 10: Distorted sound
Page 11: Volume level changes on its own
Page 12: Noise from speaker
Page 13: No power
Page 14: Power turns on and off on its own
Page 15: CD cannot be inserted
Page 16: CD does not play, “READING” / “CHECK DISC”
Page 17: CD does not play
Page 18: CD cannot be ejected
Page 19: Skipping sound
Page 20: No display or Segment(s) drop out
Page 21: No illumination
Page 22: Others / General issues
Page 2
Page 3
NO
Exchange the unit.
Not clear
Is condition location specific? Is there
any improvement in another areas?
YES
NO
Not clear
Signal environment or weak signal
area.
ANT AMP B+ not connected, breaking
of wire, short
ANT AMP defect
NO
ANT not connected, breaking of wire,
short
ANT defect
S = signal
N = noise (static)
NO
Weak signal? Noise (static) only? Too YES
much noise?
NO
Not
Receive
SP = speaker
ANT = antenna
ANT AMP = antenna amplifier
Receive
The unit does not receive
broadcasting always?
No Radio Reception
Page 4
Exchange the unit.
NO
Was the steering switch pressed
unintentionally?
NO
YES
Does it happen when there is interference
from wireless applications?
Radio station is selected on its own
YES
Incorrect operation of seek button on
the steering switch
Interference of wireless applications
Page 5
Exchange the unit.
NO
Both S and N is big or small.
Not clear
YES
Is the signal field lowered due to the
NO
LEGACY / OUTBACK:
Is signal field figure of S meter lower
than usual?
OTHER MODELS:
Is the signal obviously weaker than
usual? （Broadcasting signal is small
YES
Does antenna sensitivity change
according to the car direction?
NO
Signal environment or weak signal
area.
NO
ANT AMP B+ not connected, breaking
of wire, short
ANT AMP defect
NO
Generally speaking, under weak signal conditions, S (signal level) is
small and N (noise level / static) is big. So, S/N is inferior under weak
signal area if you compare with highly sensitive radio.
Sometimes, by radio tuning, both S and N is big (effective in the area
Radio tuning specifications.
NO
NO
YES
Does It happen near power line or
signal tower?
NO
NO
ANT element defect
ANT (feeder wire, each wire etc.) is not
connected efficiently, breaking of wire, short..
YES
YES barrier, such as mountains or tall buildings? YES
S = signal
N = noise (static)
Does poor reception occur in
specific locations?
NO
Is reception sensitivity always weak? YES
Weak radio reception
Page 6
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is there metal interference near the
unit?
NO
YES
Is there improvement if cellular phone YES
replaced?
YES
Is the cellular phone applicable to the NO
audio?
NO
Wrong operation of cellular phone?
NO
Low battery of the cellular phone?
Not applicable model.
YES
YES
Bluetooth cannot be connected or certain functions are not available
Signal interference
Cellular phone defect
Wrong operation of cellular phone.
Low battery of cellular phone
Page 7
Can you confirm damage when
customer claims unit trouble?
Outside (physical) damage
YES
Bad condition of packaging when the
unit is returned?
Exchange the unit.
NO
Damaged by user?
YES
YES
Bad packaging by the retailer.
Customer caused defect
Page 8
All mode, multiple
modes?
Radio only
No sound
YES
NO
YES
YES
Exchange the unit.
NO
B+ ACC connection unstable
NO
Isn't BATT voltage lowered?
NO
Is hands free unit connected?
NO
Recover to normal by operating
volume.
NO
Does it happens at specific channel?
Exchange the unit.
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Was station changed when you heard YES
sound again?
NO
During several to 10 seconds?
Can you hear noise?
Temporary B+ OFF or ACC OFF
Temporary B+ OFF
NO/Not clear
Recover to normal by disconnecting
hands free unit.
Wrong operation of volume
Wrong operation of SEEK/SCAN
button
YES
Bad effect of hands free unit.
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is output voltage of the channel of audio
NO
Wrong fader/balance set up
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is the signal weak at the same place
comparing with normal unit? (Clearly
distinguishable by ears)
NO
Can the place be specified?
YES
YES
YES
YES
Confirm SP connection / SP defect.
Wrong fader/balance set up
Related to ANT defect
Signal environment problem such as
sudden drop of electric field
Page 9
All mode, Multiple
modes?
CD only
Radio only
Cutting out sound
NO
Exchange the unit.
NO
Was steering switch pressed
unintentionally?
NO
Is hands free unit connected?
NO
Happens at specific channel.
Exchange the unit.
NO
Does the car vibrate during driving?
NO
Does it happen with specific CD disc?
Exchange the unit.
Can you hear noise?
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Wrong operation of MUTE or SCAN.
Confirm hands free unit operation.
SP loose connection, SP defect
Jumpiness due to vibration
Jumpiness by defective disc
(scratched, dirty)
Exchange the unit.
NO
The problem happens at certain
stations or it is rare to happen.
NO
Is condition location specific?
YES
YES
Possible to be caused by broadcasting
station's problem.
Temporary signal field down
Page 10
All mode, Multiple
modes?
AUX only
Radio only
Distorted sound
YES
YES
Exchange the unit.
NO
It happens on specific channel only?
Exchange the unit.
NO
YES
Sound is distorted when volume of the YES
source is too high.
NO
Too much volume of connected unit.
Exchange the unit.
NO
Sound distorted after seek or manual YES
station search?
NO
Is condition location specific?
SP loose connection, SP defect
Sound of connected unit is distorted.
Too much input level to the head unit.
Frequency is not matched (seek,
wrong manual operation)
Bad effect of signal environment
Page 11
All mode, Multiple
modes?
Radio only
Exchange the unit.
NO
Does it happens at specific channel?
NO
Did you press the steering switch
unintentionally?
NO
SVC (Speed Volume Control) is ON.
NO
It happens when mode is changed.
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is condition location specific (foot of
mountain or tall buildings)?
Volume level changes on its own
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Check SP cable or connection.
Wrong operation
Confirm after turning off SVC.
Mode level difference.
Weak signal.
Page 12
All mode, Multiple
modes?
CD only
Radio only
Noise from speaker
YES
Exchange the unit.
NO
Does display and sound disappear
simultaneously?
NO
It happens at specified channel only.
Exchange the unit.
NO
It happens when the car vibrates
NO
It happens on specific disc.
Exchange the unit.
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
Possibly not sufficient audio and / or YES
ANT/ANT AMP ground.
NO
Is condition location specific?
Exchange the unit.
NO
Power harness （B+,ACC,SP） bad
connection.
Exchange the unit.
NO
SP loose connection, SP defect
Noise due to vibration skip sound.
Skip noise due to scratch or dirt of
disc
Check audio and ANT/ANT AMP
grounds.
Strong signal area or mixing noise etc.
Page 13
Exchange the unit.
NO
All mode, Multiple
modes?
No power
Exchange the unit.
NO
B+、ACC bad connection?
NO
Battery voltage less than 11V?
YES
YES
Power connector bad connection,
harness defect
Not enough power voltage
Page 14
All mode, Multiple
modes?
Exchange the unit.
NO
Possibly wrong operation of power
switch?
NO
Is hands free unit connected?
Power turns on and off on its own
YES
YES
Wrong operation
Check hands free unit performance.
Page 15
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
Not
Possible
Not
Straight
Please do not use deformed discs.
Please do not use warped discs.
Please do not use discs with burrs.
NO
Isn't the label floated or peeled off?
Exchange the unit.
Please insert the disc straight from
the front of the CD slot.
Exchange the unit. Let us keep the disc which cannot
be inserted for analysis. Disc will be returned later.
NO
Is the disc deformed?
Is the disc warped?
NO
Are there burrs at the edge of the
disc?
NO
Is the disc labeled?
Possible
Not possible to insert any disc?
Straight
Insert the disc from not straight
direction.
CD cannot be inserted
YES
Please do not use discs with label
floated or peeled off.
Page 16
YES
NO
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is the disc dirty or scratched?
If no change with known good CD inserted, exchange the unit.
Please let us keep CD disc which cannot be played for analysis.
The disc will be returned later.
NO
Is "READING" shown for about 3 minutes before
the display changes to "CHECK DISC"?
YES
After inserting CD, is "READING"
shown on the display?
CD does not play, "READING" / "CHECK DISC"
YES
Please do not use discs
with dirt or scratches.
Page 17
YES
NO
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is the disc dirty or scratched?
Exchange the unit. Please let us keep CD disc which cannot
be played for analysis. The disc will be returned later.
NO
Is the disc which cannot be played a
specific CD?
YES
Can't any disc be played?
CD does not play
YES
Please do not use discs
with dirt or scratches.
Page 18
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Please do not use deformed discs.
Please do not use warped discs.
Please do not use discs with burrs.
NO
Is the label floated or peeled off?
NO
CD disc is inside the unit.
Exchange the unit. Please let us keep CD disc which cannot
be ejected for analysis. The disc will be returned later.
NO
Is the disc deformed?
Is the disc warped?
NO
Are there burrs at the edge of the
disc?
NO
Is the disc which cannot be ejected
labeled?
Not All
All discs cannot be ejected?
CD cannot be ejected
YES
YES
Please do not use disc with label loose
or peeling.
Exchange the unit.
Page 19
YES
YES
YES
YES
Please do not use discs with dirt.
Please do not use CD disc
which is scratched.
Exchange the unit. Please let us keep
CD disc which skips sound for analysis.
NO
Sound skips on rough roads.
The sound jumps when SCAN is
used. This is normal operation.
Exchange the unit. Please let us keep CD disc which skips
sound for analysis. The disc will be returned later.
NO
Is the CD disc with dirt?
NO
Does the CD disc scratched?
NO
Does it happen with any CD disc?
NO
Does the problem happen when driving YES
the car?
NO
Operated SCAN when the sound
skipped.
Skipping sound
YES
Audio unit is operating within
design specifications.
Page 20
YES
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is there any improvement when dimmer YES
switch is turned on (or lights turned
NO
When display is missing, can you hear
sound?
No display or Segment(s) drop out
Please adjust illumination control.
Refer to "No power section.
Page 21
Exchange the unit.
NO
When illumination is turned on, voltage
for illumination is not supplied to the
connector. Check harness.
NO
Is dimmer switch turned on?
No illumination
NO
YES
Connect the harness connections and
check illumination voltage.
NO
Is the harness connected firmly?
Please turn off dimmer switch.
YES
Check the harness from the car.
Page 22
Confirm the mode of
the incident.
Others / General issues
YES
YES
Exchange the unit.
NO
Is the symptom related to display or
illumination?
NO
Is the symptom related to sound?
NO
YES
YES
Condition occur in specific location? YES
NO
Is there abnormality of B+, ACC or
ILL voltage?
NO
Is the function related to external
units?
YES
YES
YES
NO
The problem can be improved by
adjusting illumination or display?
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
Adjust audio settings.
Adjust illumination/display.
YES
NO
Are external units normal? Is
connection correct?
NO
Is SP normal? Is connection correct?
NO
Is each unit normal? Is the connection
The problem can be improved by adjusting audio set
up such as BAS/TRE/FED/BAL, VOL, SRS, SVC
Radio : Check signal condition
CD : Check vibration
Connect BATT, FUSE and harness
connections.
Are any other external units related?
NO
Is SP related? Does the problem
happen at specific channel?
NO
ANT、ANT AMP related.
Check external units and connection.
Check SP and connection.
Check ANT, ANT AMP and
connection.