2015 Forester 3011DS Outside Radio Removal

[Rzbot]

My left speaker on my MH below the 32" outside TV is not working properly. It is crackling and it normally has no sound at all. It has worked somewhat on and off. Makes a thump when you turn unit on. Trying to remove unit so I can check for loose wiring/connection. Any help would be appreciated. Do not know the unit model or make since nothing is visible on unit and I received no documentation. I am enclosing a picture to help identify the unit.

[Sagecoachdriver]

I had issues with the sound balance on my outdoor radio. Under warranty, Connex sent me a new radio. I removed the old unit and installed the new one. Still had the issue. I checked the wiring diagram and found that the unit was miss wired during installation. Easily fixed and returned one of the radios to the factory. I was able to also access the rear of the outdoor radio from under the back of my sofa by removing a black plastic cover.
Your radio doesn't look exactly like mine. To remove the radio, you need the keys that slide into the side of the radio and releases the locking clips. Here is a photo of mine. Not sure which I used as one is also for the dash radio.

[Rzbot]

Stagecoachdriver thanks so much for the reply and the pictures of the tools required to remove my radio. Just bought the tools today and hopefully I will find my problem this weekend. Again thanks! Safe camping to you!

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by Rzbot

Stagecoachdriver thanks so much for the reply and the pictures of the tools required to remove my radio. Just bought the tools today and hopefully I will find my problem this weekend. Again thanks! Safe camping to you!

Let me know how it goes. Notice in my last photo the blue twist on splice caps. I redid the connections to the speakers as I rewired mine to allow the outdoor overhead speakers under the awning to work off the outside radio instead of the dash radio. Now my outdoor TV also plays thru the radio speakers and the upper outdoor speakers. I also added a rocker switch to kill all power to the outdoor radio and TV to prevent parasitic power drain and phantom ghosts from turning on the radio.

[michael621]

Originally Posted by Rzbot

Stagecoachdriver thanks so much for the reply and the pictures of the tools required to remove my radio. Just bought the tools today and hopefully I will find my problem this weekend. Again thanks! Safe camping to you!

Interested to hear what you find, we’ve got the exact radio, and it has the EXACT problem!

Michael

[Rzbot]

Sagecoachdrive and Michael621 so far haven't found any loose connections and everything is connected properly as per the schematic. Tomorrow I am going to try connecting speakers to a different channel and see if that helps. Will let you know. I have pulled the radio it is a Magnadyne m3500DVD. Called the company and they don't make it anymore and don't have a replacement that will fit in the single DIN unit. So if it is the radio I will have to look for a replacement. The problem with the replacement is that I need AV input in the rear of the unit to play TV output through radio. If anyone can suggest a unit that has AV inputs in the rear of the unit I would appreciate it.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by Rzbot

Sagecoachdrive and Michael621 so far haven't found any loose connections and everything is connected properly as per the schematic. Tomorrow I am going to try connecting speakers to a different channel and see if that helps. Will let you know. I have pulled the radio it is a Magnadyne m3500DVD. Called the company and they don't make it anymore and don't have a replacement that will fit in the single DIN unit. So if it is the radio I will have to look for a replacement. The problem with the replacement is that I need AV input in the rear of the unit to play TV output through radio. If anyone can suggest a unit that has AV inputs in the rear of the unit I would appreciate it.

My outdoor radio plays the TV thru it and the speakers. Name and model number on manual in photo. But I think it’s speaker wiring. You can trace the wire from the left speaker to the connection at the back of the radio and try switching wires around. The radio should have balance and fader switches. Since there are only 2speakers, turning the fader should cut off the two. Does it?
You should be able to download the manual and diagram of wiring at rear. Should make testing easier.

[michael621]

Originally Posted by Rzbot

If anyone can suggest a unit that has AV inputs in the rear of the unit I would appreciate it.

I was looking around on camping world, and found this one. Sounds like it has the RCA auxiliary input on the back. I will do some additional research and see if it may fit.Waterproof Stereo with App Control - Jensen and Voyager MS2ARTL - Stereos - Camping World

The manual has the size/wiring specs, but I do not know enough about it to know if it will work? https://www.rocktheboatmarinestereo.com/specs/MS2A.pdf

[Sagecoachdriver]

michael621, I don't see where the radio can play a DVD and output to the TV.
Did a search and I think mine has been discontinued also. Found this one on Amazon.

[Rzbot]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

michael621, I don't see where the radio can play a DVD and output to the TV.
Did a search and I think mine has been discontinued also. Found this one on Amazon.

Ok guys fixed the radio. Here is what I did, the radio came from the factory hooked up only to the rear (right/left) channel. The right side of this channel is where the problem was. I tried known good speaker but still nothing. Looks like the rear right channel on my radio is bad. So I hooked my current speakers to the front (right/left) channel according to schematic on top of radio and everything is working fine. Checked DVD, TV, CD and radio and all is back to normal. Want to thank all of you for your pictures and suggestions.

BTW, I changed out my factory speakers to Rockford Fosgate R14X2 Prime Full Range Coaxial Speaker - 4". Fit perfect and sound much better. Bought from Amazon.

Sagecoachdriver I called the company for your Connexx radio and your correct it has been discontinued. Here is his reply.

Hi Ron. The AVS400BT was replaced by the AVS500BT. Your cost would be $99.00 plus shipping. Call with a credit card to order.

Joe Ronzone
RiverPark, Inc.
574-522-7781 ext 314

michael621 hope this will help with your problem as well, again thanks to all.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by Rzbot

Ok guys fixed the radio. Here is what I did, the radio came from the factory hooked up only to the rear (right/left) channel. The right side of this channel is where the problem was. I tried known good speaker but still nothing. Looks like the rear right channel on my radio is bad. So I hooked my current speakers to the front (right/left) channel according to schematic on top of radio and everything is working fine. Checked DVD, TV, CD and radio and all is back to normal. Want to thank all of you for your pictures and suggestions.

BTW, I changed out my factory speakers to Rockford Fosgate R14X2 Prime Full Range Coaxial Speaker - 4". Fit perfect and sound much better. Bought from Amazon.

Sagecoachdriver I called the company for your Connexx radio and your correct it has been discontinued. Here is his reply.

Hi Ron. The AVS400BT was replaced by the AVS500BT. Your cost would be $99.00 plus shipping. Call with a credit card to order.

Joe Ronzone
RiverPark, Inc.
574-522-7781 ext 314

michael621 hope this will help with your problem as well, again thanks to all.

Great, glad to hear you got it working. I believe mine was hooked up to the rear channels also. When I rewired for it to work my under awning outdoor speakers, I also rewired mine to the front. I used the rear channels for the under awning speakers. Good luck and enjoy!

[michael621]

Thank you so much for all the information, I will give that a shot!