Stereo sound cuts out continuous every 2 minutes

[dougparis]

I'm working out a few issues with my 2013 (109,000 miles) that I've owned for a couple of months. Here's the latest issue.

After listening to the stereo for over an hour the stereo sound will cut out every 2 minutes and then comes back on after 20 seconds. Once it starts there's no stopping it. Seems it could be an issue with the amp.

This doesn't happen all time and never on shorter distance drives.

If I stop the LC for 5 minutes it clears up though I can't remember if it continued doing it.

Has anybody had or heard of this issue. I can't be the only 2013 with this problem.

Thanks Doug

 

[SharpeCat]

I'm working out a few issues with my 2013 (109,000 miles) that I've owned for a couple of months. Here's the latest issue.

After listening to the stereo for over an hour the stereo sound will cut out every 2 minutes and then comes back on after 20 seconds. Once it starts there's no stopping it. Seems it could be an issue with the amp.

This doesn't happen all time and never on shorter distance drives.

If I stop the LC for 5 minutes it clears up though I can't remember if it continued doing it.

Has anybody had or heard of this issue. I can't be the only 2013 with this problem.

Thanks Doug

Just a shot in the dark here, but is it happening when you go over bumps? Has it ever happened while you were not moving?

Asking because it sounds like a loose connection in your head unit/connection to amp. Also, does it eject any CDs when it happens? Club Lexus has a few threads and it seems loose connection of some sort is the typical culprit. For one guy who had almost identical symptoms as you, his IPod connection (that replaced the Satellite Radio connection) was loose; another guy had a loose connection at the volume switch. One guy even had a loose ground from his battery cause the issue every time he hit a bump.

Are you listening to music using your IPhone and does it happen when you are not using iPhone? If not iPhone then probably a different connection but if it only happens with iPhone then maybe check the IPod connection?

This is probably unrelated, but I had an issue with my audio not coming on when I had too many things plugged into the car/drawing power from battery, and when I unplugged my fridge and laptop and turned the car back on it was working fine. This was mostly due to me running on a bad battery for so long as well, one that was dropping voltage faster than alternator could keep up in some cases.

 

[Sandroad]

I think it will end up being a heat-related component problem or heat-related wiring problem. Does it happen with all inputs? If so, I’d check connectors to the amp and if that doesn’t fix it, I’d consider finding a new or used amp. I have not done a search on Mud or Google, so that might help.

 

[grinchy]

Maybe need new fans on the amp

 

[SharpeCat]

Maybe need new fans on the amp

There were some threads on Club Lexus that said overheating amp as well, and that it only happens in summer.

 

[grinchy]

I should be careful as OP has. Tlc and that jbl is different then the lx ML system. The ML has two fans on it.

 

[dougparis]

Thanks for the help!
This happened on Sat when I drove the LC most of the day, about 200 miles. Even though I drove the LC for over an hour in the morning in started up at night on the way home (highway driving) after about an hour. I timed it, it's 1 minute on and 25 seconds off, continuously. The sound just drops out. Happens with FM, Bluetooth...

I know the USB connector below the lighter is a little flaky, maybe that's causing some sort of a shorting issue. I'll wiggle the USB connector next time it happens.

At this point it seems the issue is the classic bimetallic switch, heating up and disconnecting the amp and then cooling off and bringing the amp back.

The worst part is it's intermittent and tough to track down. I guess pulling the amp will be next if it happens more frequently, just gotta find where the amp buried.

Thanks again!

 

[grinchy]

Thanks for the help!
This happened on Sat when I drove the LC most of the day, about 200 miles. Even though I drove the LC for over an hour in the morning in started up at night on the way home (highway driving) after about an hour. I timed it, it's 1 minute on and 25 seconds off, continuously. The sound just drops out. Happens with FM, Bluetooth...

I know the USB connector below the lighter is a little flaky, maybe that's causing some sort of a shorting issue. I'll wiggle the USB connector next time it happens.

At this point it seems the issue is the classic bimetallic switch, heating up and disconnecting the amp and then cooling off and bringing the amp back.

The worst part is it's intermittent and tough to track down. I guess pulling the amp will be next if it happens more frequently, just gotta find where the amp buried.

Thanks again!

under driver seat

 

[dougparis]

under driver seat

Thanks!

 

[PDoyle]

Another thing to look at is if you have another thing that is trying to connect to your bluetooth.

 

[trs80]

I have a 2013 and this happens to it as well. Only after an hour or so ...and only on FM radio. I can switch to bluetooth and it works fine. Has been an annoyance so far that we have been able to deal with because we tow the 120 behind the camper on longer trips, but I would love to find a solution.

Is yours FM only or any audio?

 

[trs80]

anyone else see this issue? is it FM only? (I have suspected it was the HD radio ...which I wish I could turn off sometimes)

 

[dougparis]

anyone else see this issue? is it FM only? (I have suspected it was the HD radio ...which I wish I could turn off sometimes)

I did get fooled by the HD radio once and thought that was the issue but unfortunately it wasn't the problem.

I turned off HD radio and it's analog only now but I still have the problem.

When it does happen it is both FM and Bluetooth but...I haven't seen the issue in a while now!

It might be the flaky USB connector below the lighter, which I don't use but could cause problems elsewhere.

 

[MHFJ]

Just found this thread on a search. I have a 2013 LC and my FM cuts out for a few seconds every few minutes on drives longer than a hour, too. Never does it on shorter trips so I’m assuming it’s a heat related issue. Music through the aux works fine all the time.

 

[Hatteras]

Just found this thread on a search. I have a 2013 LC and my FM cuts out for a few seconds every few minutes on drives longer than a hour, too. Never does it on shorter trips so I’m assuming it’s a heat related issue. Music through the aux works fine all the time.

My 2013 LC’s radio has the same behavior.

 

[Sacirema]

Has anyone found a solution to this? Mine has the same behavior.

 

[911f]

Has anyone found a solution to this? Mine has the same behavior.

I do not have a solution. But same problem.
FM only.
After almost exactly 1 hour driving.
Cuts out every 80 seconds for about 10 seconds. Cuts out withan audible ‘thump’.
Have tried turning all things off, different options etc.
Bluetooth sources work fine as do usb sources.

 

[YellowJacket]

This is super wild as it appears it's almost always a 2013. My 2013 has been doing the same thing. Only radio. XM radio, Bluetooth, DVDs no issue. I figure a heat issue somewhere.