Radio controls stopped working!
- motorhead1977
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:58 am
- Location: Albany, New York
- Motorcycle: 2018 BMW R1200 RT, 2015 Ducati Scrambler 800, 1987 VFR 400R, 1986 VFR 700F Gone: 2009 GL 1800 ABS
Radio controls stopped working!
The volume and channel controls on my 09 GL1800 stopped working but only in the lower volume and down channel/CD functions! Happened suddenly. Everything was working fine but after stopping for a walk and cold drink when we started out again the malfunction began. Help! I never realized how much I used those controls until this happened. TIA for your help.
"When fascism comes to America it will be draped in the flag and carrying the cross." Sinclair Lewis
- Viking
- Posts: 3760
- Joined: Wed Sep 29, 2010 6:59 pm
- Location: North Bay, Ontario, Canada
- Motorcycle: 2009 GL1800 AD
1987 Harley Softail Custom
1974 Harley FLH (sold)
1965 Harley FLHE (sold)
1957 Harley Chopper (sold)
Re: Radio controls stopped working!
First thing to do is disconnect the negative terminal on your battery, then test out the battery and connections prior to reconnecting. Take your time and give it about five to fifteen minutes. Reconnect the negative terminal, ensuring both pos and neg are tight. Turn on your bike and see if your radio has reset. If not, then on to further diagnosis, but glitches like this are quite common on the GL1800, and a total reset by removing all power usually corrects them. Hope it works for you.
- MikeB
- Posts: 3642
- Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 12:54 pm
- Location: Tacoma, WA
- Motorcycle: 1998 - GL1500 Aspencade
186K Miles
2017 - GL1800 Audio Comfort
20K Miles - Contact:
Re: Radio controls stopped working!
It is very possible that the switch quadrant on the left handle bar is just dirty. You could probably benefit by squirting some Electronic Contact cleaner into the quadrant and operating the switches multiple times. When you do this, make sure you cover anything on the bike that could be damaged by the solvent, paint, plastic and the like. Use an old sheet or large bath towel to cover things up.
MikeB
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
1998 - GL1500 w/184,500 miles ~ 2017 - GL1800 w/13000 miles
USAF Avionics Communications Tech - 1968 - 1986 / Flight Engineer C-130E - C-141B - 1986 - 1992. Retired
Industrial Maintenance Tech - 1992 - 2014
Retired in Tacoma, WA
- motorhead1977
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Sat Jun 30, 2012 5:58 am
- Location: Albany, New York
- Motorcycle: 2018 BMW R1200 RT, 2015 Ducati Scrambler 800, 1987 VFR 400R, 1986 VFR 700F Gone: 2009 GL 1800 ABS
Re: Radio controls stopped working!
Did the radio reset. No change. Still no down volume on the volume switch and no down channel/CD track at that switch. Going to try the contact cleaner tomorrow but since there wasn't any malfunction ever before the sudden failure I'm not very hopeful. Any additional suggestions may help. TIA.
"When fascism comes to America it will be draped in the flag and carrying the cross." Sinclair Lewis