Sony Xplode, technical assistance

This is a strange problem and I'd like to hear from anyone who may know what it is and why.

If there are any service techs out there, please pass along a tech tip to another tech.

This Sony Xplode HU, has sound from the speakers and sounds good. The line levels work for AM/FM, but not CD.....why is this?

It's not my HU, so I don't want to go openening it up, unless I know specifically what to look for, maybee it's a loose connector between the CD pre-amp and the mainboard?

I did get a 'source level converter' for $20, it's from American International part# SLC-1 CL  It will connect up to all four channels and provides four RCA outputs, with 8 potentiometers, one for each pole on every channel.

It says on the package that it's also for Bose and JBL factory system interfaces. The only thing I'm doing with it is tapping into the speaker level at the back of the HU and connecting it to the two pairs of RCAs already there....what a discrace!

I don't want to tell this guy he needs this $20 part and I don't feel like wiring it up. It just seems like too much respect for a defunct HU.  I definitly don't want another installer to see it someday and wonder what kind of crack I was smoking when I put it all together....

Thanks, I'm hoping that's what it is. I'll look again and see what wire I used for the 12v remote lead. I usually use the blue wire since that's the remote color I've always seen, isn't the antenna blue/white?

It's in a 92 Taurus and the stereo is all aftermarket.

I'm looking inside the 4 channel amp just out of curiousity. This thing seems to have cross-talk between the inputs. It's probably made in Mexico and the person who was assembling it was pissed that they get paid 7 cents a day and decided to splash some extra solder in there...

Ahh, I shouldv'e looked for the label on the bottom of the chassis...

It looked to me like the amp was on the whole time, does this mean it just doesn't have CD output while the anntena lead is connected?

no it means that when the radio is on it is supplying 12 volts but when the disc is playing it dumps to 0 volts, which of course will lower a power antenna ( or if hooked up wrong remote off a power amp )

check to see that you do indeed have remote voltage both with the radio and with the disc playing... if you do look for a problem in the HU.... if it reads the disc and counts real time, then the pickup, spindle motor and APC circuit are doing what they should... i would look at the D/A convertor or RF amp circuits......

Thanks Kgerry, that's why I'm hoping it is only the remote wire.