Problem with my Bose system

[CarDemon04]

I have a 1986 corvette with the Bose sound system. the clock on the radio works, and when I turn it on it hums but nothing else will work. The tuner doesn't come on, and neither will the cassette player. I replaced the head unit, and the new one does the exact same thing as the original(VERY frustrating!!). I checked the fuse in the fuse box and it is good. Do you know if there are any other fuses in the car that may be harder to get to, or if the corvette Bose head unit has an anti-theft circuit in it? if not, what do you think the problem is?

 

[tyrel]

Sounds like the amps are shot. What happens is that the capacitors on the printed circuit boards (one at each speaker) wear out and need to be replaced. I've heard that you can send them to Bose and they will restore them for you.

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

You can get the Amps repaired but they are still crap. The Name Bose is used to sell stereo equipment to people who do not know any better; I guess that the General does not have much of an ear for music…probably deaf from all of those years in the foundry.

For less than the price of repairing 4 amps you can buy a really good MP3CD system with some great speakers. The installation is a piece of cake.

 

[1995 RedVette]

You can find replacement speakers and amps from Mid America, Corvette America, Eckler's and many other Corvette houses. They are a little expensive, but if you want to retain the stock appearance of your vette, then you have little option unless you replace the Bose system with a nonBose system from another Vette. Bewarned that if you go to a non Bose system, you may have to run completely new wiring to each speaker location.


Brett

 

[CarDemon04]

thanks for the help guys, I think I've decided to just replace the system with an aftermarket system that has lots of bells and whistles.... I was wondering does anybody know that size speakers.... I know it's made to have 6x9's in the back and no speakers in the doors withouth the bose system....does anyone know what size speakers go in the dash if you don't have the bose system?(what size it's made to take)

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

thanks for the help guys, I think I've decided to just replace the system with an aftermarket system that has lots of bells and whistles.... I was wondering does anybody know that size speakers.... I know it's made to have 6x9's in the back and no speakers in the doors withouth the bose system....does anyone know what size speakers go in the dash if you don't have the bose system?(what size it's made to take)

Talk to Ken, I think that he had a nice sound system in his car before he went Buddhist and gave up all creature comforts.:L Do not try to hack into the Vettes wiring. You can pick up power and pwr antenna connections under the right side of the dash. This is the easiest car ever made to run wires in, also if some purest in the future wants to make it original again it will be a simple ¨plug n play¨ job. After the Fosgate was stolen I installed a black faced Sony in the 90. With the windows closed it is impossible see that there is a stereo in the dash.

 

[CarDemon04]

thanks I intended on running my own wiring on the new deck since it would be so easy....I just can't decide on a deck I like

 

[tcolyer]

If you are still interested in repair of the original system, the relay that powers all the amps is a good place to look at for the fix to your problem. It is located behind the passenger side dash pad (beard loaf). It can be reached from underneath to remove the wires & hook up the new unit, but you have to dissassemble the dash to rebolt it.

Hope this helps,

Terry Colyer
86 Coupe
82 Silver Blue coupe

 

[SPANISHVETTS]

Here is the Fosgate before and after.

The only good thing about the Bose is that No body would ever do this to you car to steal it.
http://corvetteactioncenter.com/gallery/data/500/5541dash.jpghttp://corvetteactioncenter.com/gallery/data/500/5541fosgate.jpg

 

[1987Silvervette]

1st off let me comend you for trying to save the bose. I perviously owned a Production company and if i had my choice i would use nothing but the bose. but sometimes when them "self powerd" bose go out, normaly it is best to replace EVERYTHING even the head unit. if i were you i would bring it to a REPUTABLE audi establishment in your city and have it professionly dont and make suer they run new wires. it is not wise to hack in to the corvette wiring. that is what i did in my 87 and 77 vette.

but i also have 2 4 gauge power wires running to the back for subwoofer amplifires.