Blew my Bose amp?

[Crunchy Monkey]

I have a 2003 Yukon XL with stock Bose. Leaving a restaurant, one of the kids put a paper cup on top of the center console access door. When I turned right, it tipped over and spilled soda in my lap, down the left side of the console, and under the driver's seat. I cleaned everything up but suddenly my audio system is misbehaving. No sound from the door chimes or OnStar can be heard. If the radio is turned up to max volume, music can be heard very quietly coming out of only two speakers, one of which is the driver's door speaker. If I set balance to Left only or fade to Front only, that speaker turns off!! It's like the system thinks the driver's door is actually the rear right speaker! Finally, the passenger-side rear door speaker is continuously making random crackling sounds, even when the car is completely off.

I've read in this forum (thanks, everybody!) that the Bose amp is right underneath the center console. I'd imagine some soda made it's way down there and is either shorting out some of the connectors or has blown part of the amp out.

Any thoughts on how to verify the issue? If I do pull the amp out, how can I test it?

 

[GeneralNoobzor]

Well you have to take out the center console, easy just a few screws.
It's self explanatory, after you get stuck use this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4v8bEAxyuc
Not the best video, not mine, but it helps a bit. If you have any questions, just message me.

You can't really test the bose amp... I'd just make sure you have clean contacts...

 

[Crunchy Monkey]

Spare Bose Amp?

Ok, let's try this approach...

Does anyone have a spare stock (working) Bose amp they'd like to unload?
Perhaps you upgraded your Yukon's sound system and tossed that stock amp on the shelf.

 

[magicbus]

I have one that I will never use, I just haven't removed it yet. Make me an offer and I might remove it and ship it to you for said offer.

 

[Crunchy Monkey]

Fixed it!

I managed to fix the Bose amp myself.

Getting to the amp was a bit of work. Removing the drink tray, storage bin, and rear audio controls was deceivingly easy. But in order to move the metal bracket that covers the front of the amp, I had to remove the entire center console. Well, technically I didn't remove it... But I did have to remove all the screws and bolts necessary to remove it. I didn't have to remove the seats, just slid them forward and removed the plastic cover over each seat's inside track so I could access the rear floor screws on the console.

Once I extracted the amp, I removed the screws on the underside and separated the circuit board from the shell. Using 99.8% isopropyl alcohol and some cleaning swabs (similar to Q-tips but with wooden shafts and tighter wound cotton tips) I carefully cleaned away all the soda residue from the circuit board. I also cleaned off the thermal grease from the 3 amplifier ICs and the outside shell and put fresh grease on before replacing the circuit board.

When I plugged the amp back in and fired up the stereo, I was happy to hear clean, clear music playing out the front speakers, but was sad that there was no sound coming from the middle & rear speakers. I was ready to concede that part of the amp was blown when my wife (kudos to her) suggested I reconnect the rear seat audio controls. As soon as I did that, the rest of the speakers came to life! On reflection, it makes sense because from the rear seat audio control panel you can turn off the rear speakers.

Thanks to those who read and replied to this thread, and to those who posted other threads on removing the center console and dashboard!

 

[tino ramirez]

I'm gonna have to try this out. My bose speakers arn't working for some reason but my subs are. I can't get any sound from any speakers in my 2003 Tahoe.