New member, audio issue

[TRCobra506]

Picked up our 13’ SHO yesterday. I had bought the car knowing it had a few small problems. The largest of which is the Stereo has no sound except when you connect a phone it will talk telling you the phone is connected. Button noises also work. You cannot select the fm or am radio as a source. Hit the buttons and nothing happens. Sirius and bluetooth will display like they are playing but no sound.
Climate control will occasionally shut off on its own as well.

Anyone had a similar problem? Seems like the ACM has a issue and is causing the grief. Considering upgrading to sync 3 depending on what modules it replaces.

Cars awesome, just needs a little straightening out

 

[TRCobra506]

 

[Johnbigdog]

One thing that will make a huge difference here on what help the community can provide is if you have Sony or not. I'm going to assume so being you have some audio, but again.... assume.

 

[TRCobra506]

Yes it’s the Sony system, I see there’s a recall which may apply 12M02

 

[Johnbigdog]

Cool.

High level overview.
Apim has stereo and mono signal outputs. Stereo audio signals are sent to the Audio Control Module (this is The module with The C.D. player in it. The ACM relays this to the Digital Signal Processing (DSP) module. This is in the trunk. The DSP powers the speakers, takes care of volume, speed comensaing volume and other fun stuff.

For mono signals the APIM sends this directly to the DSP.

Since your radio (am/fm) is inoperative it makes me think that there is a stereo signal system fault. Meaning ACM, circuits (4 to me exact left high low, right high low) then the DSPs. DSPs tend to be a common failure point. Have to verify if there is input to the DSP from the ACM looking for A.C. voltage.

I tried to read up on the different mono and stereo signals but I can't easily find this on my cell phone.

C4236A pins 7 and 17 are left (green grey). 9 and 19 (Violet and yellow) are right channel at the d.s.p. this connector is long rectangle 20 pins large. Measure A.C. voltage at 7 and 17 and see if there is a signal. It's not common for both left and faith fail at the same time. I see a lot of DSPs failing. But make sure and don't make a guess. The module is not plug and play.

 

[TRCobra506]

Thank you for the information, anymore you can dig up would be greatly appreciated. I assume the APIM is responsible for the climate control intermittently shutting down or does it have intermediate modules involved in the process as well?

 

[COMpulse]

Does the Sony unit have capacitive buttons?

My audio was unresponsive due to an issue with the capacitive buttons on the non-sony unit.. AC would constantly turn on max too.

 

[TRCobra506]

You nailed it that’s what it’s doing

 

[2011TAURUSSEL]

After you figure out the signal output problem I would highly recommend replacing the speakers at minimum. There could be more based on your musical choices but definitely the speakers on the Taurus seem to be the weak link in the otherwise decent system. YES Even the SONY MODELS! Speakers should take you no more than a few hours. If you don't have SONY You can still add rear deck speakers to the system. I tapped mine into the rear door speaker wires and it definitely made a difference especially sitting in the back where the desk speakers would be closer to the ear. Door speakers are getting lower I would guess primarily due to the door, side curtain and pillar airbags....(SRS)

 

[2011TAURUSSEL]

Sorry Any chance I can take to provide recommendations for replacement speakers I take it. The days of swapping head units for better sound are pretty much gone, now pretty much stuck with speakers, AMPS and SUBS.

Seriously I consider the OEM stereo system itself to be pretty decent but the weak link is the cheap speakers. You can have the finest stereo system in the world but if pushed through $2.99 speakers that's what you hear.

 

[Lostneye]

ForSYNC3 the ACM is not changed. IF you are replacing the control panel which it seems may be your issue or ACM it might be worth looking into doing SYNC3 while you have the dash apart. I should have a non -nav APIM and possibly screen for sale when my nav one finally shows up.

I have not heard a SHO with just upgraded speakers but several people saying it makes a noticeable improvement. You cant change head units anymore but you can buy integration pieces to bypass the Sony amp, I'm using the PAC Amppro.

 

[2011TAURUSSEL]

Lost an eye wrote.....

I have not heard a SHO with just upgraded speakers but several people saying it makes a noticeable improvement.

Probably me on multiple occasions...……..

 

[Johnbigdog]

Thank you for the information, anymore you can dig up would be greatly appreciated. I assume the APIM is responsible for the climate control intermittently shutting down or does it have intermediate modules involved in the process as well?

No the APIM does not directly control climate control. It's a human machine interface. Meaning it takes voice or touchscreen commands and sends an action request. So within the APIM there is a customer interface protocol that you interact with and a vehicle interface protocol. You communicate with the C.i.P. The CIP talked to the VIP and the VIP tells the car to do something. The APIM and the FCIM (front control interface module - capacitive button pack) are both inputs to a HVAC module I believe on 13.

I will admit, I read you post, got distracted and forgot about the other concerns you mentioned.

 

[Lostneye]

Lost an eye wrote.....



Probably me on multiple occasions...……..

I don't think it was just you lol

 

[2011TAURUSSEL]

So the CIP talks to the VIP which is controlled by inputs from the D.I.S (Driver in seat). I **** me

 

[TRCobra506]

To start this trouble shooting I’m going to unplug the FCIM and turn it on and see if anything is operable without it and if it changes anything

 

[COMpulse]

Does the face-plate come off the head-unit? If so, I would try removing that first.

 

[Lostneye]

Does the face-plate come off the head-unit? If so, I would try removing that first.

The "head unit" or ACM is behind the control panel and has no user controls on it. It's just a metal box with plugs on the back and the CD slot on the front. The control panel has the volume ****/capacitive stereo/HVAC controls on it, and is one piece with the screen bezel and center HVAC vents. It's not hard to remove but time consuming as you have to take a bunch of panels off to get to all the screws and IIRC only has one plug to remove.

 

[6500rpm]

Not to over simplify things, but have you tried to do a hard reset by draining B+ to ground?

 

[TRCobra506]

Yes, same problems. Tearing it apart tonight. I’ll let you guys know the results