04 sub radio ctl panel failure

I have a 2004 Suburban with the CD/FM-AM/Tape radio system.

It has all the operating controls on the front panel and alternate controls on the steering wheel. The radio front panel controls have gone blank (totally non-functional except for ON/OFF), but the steering wheel controls still work perfectly.

Anyone know what is causing this and how to fix it. (Note: For a while, the front pannel failure was only an intermittent problem.)

eMAil me with any recommendations: RANisbet@yahoo.com

Bob Nisbet

You probably have a blown fuse in the radio itself.  Either that or it's simply gone bad.  Your dealer will likely only be able to sell you a grossly overpriced new one, but a local car audio shop might be able to remove it and repair it for you at much less cost.  In either case, unless you really want to keep the OEM radio, replacing it with a good aftermarket head unit will probably be the best solution.Support the12volt.com

Thanks for the insight. Since it continues to be intermitent (Just came back to normal today), it would not be a fuze.

I am leaning toward believing that the front panel interfaces the radio gutts through  a connector and that may be what is causing the probelm.

I plan to remove the radio next week and will open it to see if there is in fact a loose front panel connector.

ranisbet wrote: Since it continues to be intermitent... it would not be a fuze.

Oh so very VERY wrong! Hence the tip to rotate fuses (with same sized & type fuses) to start with any electrical problem.