2008 GL1800 AD Audio Sytem Problems

[saxnwings]

A close friend has 2008 GL1800 with airbags. The audio system on the bike will not provide audio through the head set only to the speakers. He has changed helmet headsets, cords and has had a dealer look at it all with no luck. Honda is suggesting a new radio. mega $$$$$$. Any suggestions as it seems it should be a wiring problem not a unit issue?

[93aspy]

Aside from the obvious things to check, make sure that headset volume and intercom volume are turned up to the appropriate level... If this fails, I would seek guidance from either Sierra Electronics or Wing Connect, both of who are quite knowledgeable along Gold Wing radio repair lines... It may be quite a bit cheaper to repair the radio rather than replace it and both f these companies are quite capable of doing just that...

http://www.sierra-mc.com/

http://www.wingconnect.com/

Les

[WingAdmin]

If he's going to pull the radio out to look at it or have it serviced, make SURE he first disables the airbag by disconnecting the negative cable from the battery and waiting at least three minutes. Any time you work around the airbag on a GL1800, you need to do this. An airbag going off accidentally can be lethal if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time!

[Steve F]

I've had Larry at Winconnect.com do an upgrade to my radio, and he knows his stuff. I would recommend dealing with Larry

[Viking]

It might be late to suggest this, but before pulling it all apart, have you ensured that the buttons are working correctly. Push once turns it on with sound to the speakers, a second push reroutes the sound to the headphones (or maybe it is the reverse of this - my bike is in deep freeze right now), and a long push turns it off. Both Audio and Radio buttons have to be pushed. If you have already checked this, then sorry for asking, but you would be amazed how many times this has been the problem with GL1800 audio systems.

[93aspy]

That's a very good point - could be a stuck or otherwise inoperable button - it's been known to happen... Can he hear the CB thru the headset??? Might be worth pulling the left front pocket and checking the 6 pin headset connector at the end of the headset cable and make sure it's plugged in...

Les

[PastoT]

If you haven't already found resolve yet, try pulling fuses 20 & 21, and disconnect any mp3 adapter plugged into the CD player harness, give it a few minutes to kill stray voltages stored (this resets the radio and dash clock) and then put the fuses back in and start the bike and test the radio again. Low voltage starts from a waning battery will induce all kinds of problems with the radio. so check the battery voltage and contacts; its winter and the cold will really impact a battery even if it starts the bike the voltage drops so low during the startup that before the alternator is kicked in it will allow the radio circuit to boot up incompletely. I've lost button control, remote volume, headset audio, and tuning on a couple occasions (its been into single digit temps on a few days I rode this year). I replaced my 13 year old battery and it made a noticeable difference, I guess it was time.