2002+ Bose CD Player Cutouts Have Been Resolved
 

Okay. I've been through multiple Bose HUs in my 2002 Max, and I know alot of you have been too. Finally, I got down and dirty with several people/companies to resolve this issue. And I have the answers. Here's what I found out:

NOTE: The following information has only been validated for 2002-2003 HUs. If it applies to 2000-2001 HUs, PM me and I'll update this thread.

I had the local Nissan dealer called the Bose repair shop here in town (http://www.carstereohelp.com/ is local to me). They knew of the problem and how to fix it, but didn't have authorization from Bose, Nissan, and/or Clarion to get it repaired under the factory warranty.

So I had them give the appropriate information to me, and I called 1-800-Nissan-1. I talked to them about it (and other things like my 2nd clutch going out) and they said that they weren't making the HUs (duh) so all they would do is swap it out and send the defective one to the manufacturer (Clarion).

So I got the number for the tech line over at Clarion and called them up. After a few minutes, I got a tech on the line who explained the problem to me verbatim. They are aware of the problem. And they are actively making adjustments to the new/repaired units as they are reported. The repaired/updated units have this cable replaced with a different cable (without the 45 degree angle in it - read below) that makes a solid connection.

So here's the actual problem with the HU: There is a cable inside the HU that has a 45 degree angle in it. For some reason or other, the connectors on the end of the cable are not attached properly, which results in contact not being made at all times. When the HU receives enough shock (speed bump, fist to faceplate, etc), the cable moves and may/may not make contact with the connector. This is what is causing the cutouts. The reason that it cuts out on either side is because it's basically carrying a RCA signal to the HU. So it's either the entire left, entire right, both, or neither.

So... how do you know if your HU is good or bad? Well, I went so far as to find out that as well. To guarantee that it is good, the manufacturing date will be on or after November 2002. There is a sticker on the top of the radio that has the date. If the radio was manufactured before that date AND has been updated/repaired, there will be a sticker on the radio as well indicating that it was fixed. That sticker IS NOT a "remanufactured" sticker.

My 2nd HU had that sticker on it and was dated December 2001. The new, repaired HU that I got was made in December 2002. So far there have been no cut-outs.

Before running to your dealer, know a few things first:
1) You must take the car to the dealer with the HU broken. They won't just do a swap-out.
2) There is no TSB (yet!)
3) If the new radio comes in without the stickers or a manufacture date of December 2002, have the dealer send it back. Over and over again until you get one qualifies.
4) Take a copy of this post with you. Have your dealer call 1-800-Nissan-1 (or the Nissan tech line) to get the number for Clarion's tech line. Then have them call them about the same problem to verify this post's information.

Also, save future readers some time and don't reply to this thread unless it's a valid point. A note to say "good job", etc can be done via private messages. Save the next 2778879832123 visitors from scrolling through 32 pages of "thanks" posts.

Awesome info. once again. I'm taking it in on Tues. for this. Thanks!!!!

At 51K my bose is just starting to act up once in a while. Always when CD, never on radio. The left speakers don't go "out" all the way, just gets a bit distorted. And when that happens, I eject CD, reinsert it, and all is good. WTF? I am sure at my miles, I will have to foot the cost of replacement.

If/when I do replace, I wonder what aftermarket will work with the Bose speaker set up? I don't want to regut/replace the entire sound system.

And I wonder what would look good in there? I don't want a single din chassis in that double din space.

Maybe get someting with a nav built in?

There is now a TSB out. This thread is really really old, but there is a TSB out now. Visit my web-site and click on Technical Bulletins to access the TSB.

Thanks! But which TSB? There seems to be ALOT of them to choose from. Ugh!

And would they fix/replace one from a max with 50K on the odo??

NTB03-017

They won't fix it for free unless you are under the 3/36 warranty with them. If you've already had it replaced, you could possibly argue with 1-800-Nissan-1, but good luck there.

The Bulletin Number is: NTB03-017.

Here is the link:

http://maxima.theowensfamily.com/tsb/NTB03-017.pdf

They should have another TSB for brand new CDs skipping when that crappy HU is cold too. I think that when they rebuild them the also apply some kind of grease to the gears which thickens up too much in the cold.

They're ordering me a new one. I will try to check the unit before it's installed, to make sure it has the appropriate stickers...

Just had mine HU unit replaced due to the speaker cut-out issued described in the TSB. Dealer was great to work with, I am still only original warranty.

they sent mine off to be fixed... 225 bucks... luckily im covered by a bumper-bumper 100k warranty i bought w/ my max. They say 4-6 weeks for turnaround... im gonna lose it with no radio... i need music in the car

Does this affect ALL Bose systems including the one with the CD6 changer?

yea mines a 6disc in dash... im gonna have to buy a boombox to work with my fm modulator, at least ill have XM radio till my crappy HU comes back...

I wish N would get away from the Bose systems. They seem to crap out a lot.

Why do Jeremy's threads seem to last for years?

NEWBS: PLEASE CHECK THE DATES ON THREADS BEFORE YOU POST.

Agreed, I think theyre just dug up for the hell of it...

BTW, nice sig Rich. :D

Thanks even though you meant to say Kevin.

:bonk: Hey I havent slept in like 40hrs.....you all look the same to me now. :D

Well Ive watched 8 hours of economics lectures today, 2 more to go tomorrow and then a test at 8 pm tomorrow night. Bish :D

Better than spending most of your time watching your premature babies laying in the hospital rather than at home, dontcha think? ;)

Agreed. Not a big fan of hospitals myself.

They just do it to verify that I am still around and that I still know about the Bose systems.... lol!

Cable fix?
 

So if the problem is a poorly connected cable and I'm no longer covered by warranty...does anyone have some instructions on how to repair the problem? Like solder wires down or something? I have my stereo out of my car right now and would love to fix this problem before I put the stereo back in. What should I look for inside the HU, can I just solder the cable?

Please advise. Thank you!

I also have trouble with the HU for some reason when it's morningtime---- no matter what temperature, my CD cuts out before 11am. It's the darndest thing. Any ideas for home repair?

Also- who has some *free* instructions on how to take out a 2k2 6CD bose unit from my dash?

Yup, had it happen twice to me. Out of warranty. Anyone have a fix or new cable or something? What is the change to the headunit?

is there a self fix for this?

you guys might wanna try to contact United Radio, they fixed an aftermarket HU with more problems than this of mine 2 years ago for $60, it was done in less than 2 weeks...

here's the number: 1-800-448-0944

thanks man

I just used these instructions this weekend and they worked great.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?p=4485620

Hard to believe, but Clarion will not allow you to contact them in anyway shape or form on this issue. I called twice today to enquire about how I could mail them my unit for repair outside of warranty. I was told to take it to the dealer. I informed them that the fix was simply for the dealer to remove and mail them the unit, at the cost of $300. The Clarion rep insisted that this was the ONLY way to send them the unit for repair.

I called a local Nissan dealer and talked to one of the technicians. He was surprised that was the only way to get the unit to them. The best he could do was to knock off the removal/install of the unit and he would send it in. I then called a local Clarion dealer (Now Audio Video). They were again surprised that this was the only way to get the unit to them. Now Audio Video offered to send it in, but there would be charge of $50 for Clarion/Bose to investigate (minimal charge) and then whatever it costs for parts and repair.

I called back to the Clarion hotline when I got home (Customer Service: 800-347-8667) and got the same guy. Very short yet friendly..."you'll have to take it to a reputable Nissan dealer". I asked about having one of their local dealers take care of it, and was told no. How could this be though, because in carsterohelp.com has rates to send in the 2002/2003 Maxima Stereo?

Clarion like most manufacturers has strict contracts with vehicle manufacturers, no outside persons are availalbe to send in/receive products. Vehicle manufacturers only.

Carstereohelp.com can repair it, as it do it themseleves, not sending it to Clarion.

Credit for the writeup goes to studman for pointing me in the right direction. I had the unit apart about 6 times, each time thinking I had found it only to find that the problem comes back after a week.

Im still running on the original "repair" from last year, and it is really not as difficult as it looks. I just figured I would document the process in great detail (as I was doing someone elses deck) so that people wouldnt have to toss out their HU untill they were ready.

I"d like to add that I have a similar issue with my 2000 bose audio setup (which may be the same as the 5.5 gens).

Also of note, my sub which is what keeps cutting out, works in warm weather generally, but not in cold. (seriously!)

My left channel has been fuzzy/dead since I bought the car. Now it randomly shuts itself off and flashes AUX then goes dead. Occasionally it beeps and bumps at random. This is the 6 disc one. I think the thing needs an exorcism.

Considering they're ~1000 from Parts.com dealers, it's not even worth replacing. I see 300$ mentioned above through the dealer. That's probably not worth it either. It's just not that great of a head unit.

--D

I used to be one of the 'replace all Bose equipment' resisters. No longer. It's not worth the trouble. I tried it all. Go aftermarket. Go all.

hi, i just joined the forum and i'm trying to find threads on the issues i'm having. it sounds like there are a lot of people having issues with the BOSE sound systems.

my 6 cd in-dash changer hasn't worked very well since i bought my car. it plays cd's when it feels like it but it skips when i go over pretty much any bump in the road. cold weather makes it worse.

it sounds like some people were able to get them taken care of inside of their warranty. i'm at around 90k miles so my warranties are long gone. does anyone have a suggestion for how to get it repaired? it sounds like carstereohelp.com is good at repairing BOSE systems. thanks.

~mike

stupid commies

sh!ty
 

my stock HU is not a bose system and the right side speakers are cutting out but not completely you can still here the faintest music when u crank the stereo and move the balance completely to the right. If anyone see's this post please help. i am new to this forum and i have a 2003 maxima SE. My stereo is my life but all i could find is this issue with the bose system and i wont be able to put in an aftermarket stereo for a while if i could get some advice that would be awsome. wondering if 03 maximas have stock amp built into the system.

Thanks,

Mikey

There is an outfit, I think, in Florida who can repair these. Who it is, I forget.