Changed 12V Battery - stereo works without sound now?! Argh

Daz Jam · May 12, 2023

Hi all

I have searched and perused for hours but have had no luck finding anything other than "check fuses" that would seem to relate to my issue.

I'm in a 2006 RX400H with Mark Levinson stereo.

I ran my Battery flat a few days back and, on inspection it seemed to be somewhat leaky after charging so, though it works, I decided to replace it with a new one. Having seen some good recommendations for a Bosch unit, I duly bought one and installed it, have driven around without issue but discovered today that the stereo no longer outputs sound.

The controls all work, the volume increases/decreases on the display via the rotary control and also the steering wheel controls and all other options are there, changing inputs etc, just no actual sound. Sat nav has audio too....

I have disconnected the Battery again this evening to see if that might jog it into life but no luck. If anyone else has had this issue I would be very obliged to know if you found a solution. It "feels" like I need to reset something but then why would the display work? It could be a loose connection but then why would that happen now after a a Battery change?

I will do a check of fuses etc shortly but will post this now to see if you guys have some advice. Here's hoping.

Thanks in advance!

Daz Jam · May 13, 2023

I've been to the fuses in the engine bay and checked/tested all the relevant (or so I reckon) fuses and all are fine.

I haven't checked the fuses under the glovebox yet, that'll be next but looks to be well fiddly. while down there I noticed I have a pair of fuses that look to be addons - attached to the passenger cover that clips in under the glovebox; does anyone know what they might be for? I'll add a picture tomorrow and - bizarrely, just got in the car to have another fiddle and the satnav announced something unintelligible and the stereo came on...!! I'm bemused. I managed to play most of a track but it started dropping out at the end. I'll go again tomorrow. Fingers crossed this is a good sign.

Tachinbucki · May 25, 2023

Hi Daz Jam. I have got same issue. I have checked all suspected fuses but all of them were not blown. Any progress in your case? All best. Marcin

Barry14UK · May 25, 2023

Did this also happen after a Battery change or after a Battery had been allowed to go flat?

Daz Jam · June 23, 2023

On 5/25/2023 at 8:46 PM, Tachinbucki said:

Hi Daz Jam. I have got same issue. I have checked all suspected fuses but all of them were not blown. Any progress in your case? All best. Marcin

Hi sorry for the delay, my stereo went after the Battery was changed - it came back on randomly after the satnav voice said something - I'm not sure what! I was not listening but it sounded like an announcement, perhaps there was some kind of reset that happened and things were being calibrated or the car went into trip mode and muted the stereo??? Did you have any luck yourself? Mine was a few days and restarts of the car....

It might be worth cycling the ignition a few dozen times to see if it reverts back to un-muted (if that is what happened).

Daz Jam · June 23, 2023

On 5/26/2023 at 12:39 AM, Barry14UK said:

Did this also happen after a battery change or after a battery had been allowed to go flat?

Hi, yes it was after a Battery change. It is back now though.

The satnav made an announcement and it popped back on.... odd.

Barry14UK · June 24, 2023

Electronics are well out of my area of expertise but it seems to me that allowing a Battery to go flat in particular can cause corruption. This is not so bad if there is a definitive procedure for resuming correct operation rather than check this and that and try various things that don't work or not immediately. When disconnected my Battery as part of a suggested procedure when I replaced my front brake discs, I had to reset windows and tailgate in the prescribed fashion and also reset radio stations where presets had been lost. However, the sound was not lost. Could it be that the Battery was fine before being disconnected in my case so there was no corruption I wonder? Is there a sure way of rectifying problem if this happens?