My daughter has a 2009 Mazda 3 Sport Nav.
Occasionally, when she gets in the car, white noise is being emitted from the speakers, it is quite noticable.
The head unit switches on, but no audio is being produced.
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It seems that there’s a common fault with the Bose amp, but reading Mazda 3 forums, this tends to show it’s self as a popping noise.
ÂŁ1000 for a new amp, ÂŁ160 for a repair.
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Just wondering if the MX5 suffers any similar issues and if so what might the fix be ?
Hissssss is usually because it is all working (no problem with speakers or amp) but not tuned to a station (tune in) or the aerial is disconnected (look for disconnected plug in boot, behind the head unit and by your right foot behind the trim, or dead aerial - which has a pre-amp).
First thing to check is if it works with a CD or via the Aux jack socket. If this works then as above.
Next if nothing with either aerial or CD then check for corroded or loose connectors between and including head unit and amp (also worth checking aerial connectors while about it).
Be careful, and good luck.
I’ve only heard it, and it does sound akin to it not being tuned in, but pressing any buttons on the head unit, switching the volume etc has no effect.
I’ve personally not experienced what triggers it, but she tells me that she can come to the car and it’s doing it without even putting the keys in the igntion.
Basically, she opens the door and the speakers are already hissing.
That is bad news. It suggests the head unit is not behaving. It should at least turn off! Is she also having trouble with the battery going flat?
The hiss suggests the power amp is working but being fed duff gen.
Some simple diagnostics might help to isolate the problem.
First unplug the power amp from the head unit, either end of the cable will do. This should turn off the power amp - it has a relay operated by the head unit. If the hiss persists it is the power amp at fault.
If it goes away then try replacing the head unit with a known good one. If it returns with the good head unit then it is getting expensive…
One other possibility strikes me, is it the original Bose head unit? After-market replacements should have a control line to switch on the power amp, and also an add-in matching pad for the line-output audio. There might be a bodge-wiring issue surfacing. See the various recent threads about upgrading Bose systems with better head units.
I’ve been away for a few weeks.
Last weekend I finally got to experince this and have cocluded that it is the amp.
The head unit appears to work and will behave as normal, then all of a sudden, the audio will start clipping and popping.
The reason for the white noise upon entering the car is apprently down to the hands free kit.
The moment the door is opened, the hands free system is activated, which of course is run through the amp.
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It seems Mazda3’s were fitted with bbm266a20, and is a very common fault.
They can be repaired but at a cost of ÂŁ160.
However, the repairers offer a lifetime warranty on the reapir, so it’s not all bad I guess.
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I’ve already located and removed the amp from under the drivers seat, so she can now at least drive it, without being distracted, until she has the amp fixed.
Hello Richard,
May I ask what the current state of play is with your Bose amp repair, and which firm you have had the quote from?
I ask as my wife reports identical symptoms (no audio despite the head unit display seemingly OK, then some epic pops when she least expects it…) from her Bose equipped MX-5.
Ours is out of the car, but as my daughter has a family to run, it’s the lowest of her priorities at the moment, so it’s not in the process of being fixed.
At least out of the car, she can drive without distraction (just no music).
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This is the web site I found, they reckon that they have reversed engineered it, so offer a lifetime warranty.
http://boserepairexperts.eu/mazda-bose-amplifier-repairs/
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My word that was a quick response!Â
Thanks very much, Richard. Will see if I can get to the amp when the car returns this evening.
I’ve been called a few things, but never Richard
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lol
My apologies; scrolled down the thread and picked on the wrong post…
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Hope my diagnostic skills are a little more precise!
If you are handy with a soldering iron you can probably fix it for pennies. My first thought was that it would probably be an electrolytic capacitor that had gone faulty. The most prone sort of components. That is very likely to be the case.
Found a thread online from somebody who has repaired their Bose amp, admittedly on an RX7 but still likely to be a similar repair. Link to the thread at the end. The repair services are probably the best option as they will replace all suspect parts with upgraded components as a matter of course. However if you just want a straightforward repair it may be obvious which component is faulty just by looking at the board. A blown electrolytic capacitor will more than likely have a bulging or split casing, probably with nasty white stuff oozing out.
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Well hello…
Have redacted the customer name and the serial number in the above. As they have previously repaired the amp I have emailed Bose Repair Experts to request that they review the amp under their warranty scheme.
Promising news!
This evening I have received a very prompt (and out of hours) response from Chris of Bose Repair Experts confirming that they will review and repair my amp under warrantyÂ
In addition to a link to Bose Repair Experts Chris’ email footer also has a link to Sound and Vision Technical Services; looking at that website it would seem that these chaps are into repairs for a wide range of electronic devices
Sounds like a really good result. Let’s face it most guarantees aren’t transferable so they don’t seem to be wriggling out of anything.
Put ’ sound vision edinburgh review ’ into Google and look at the 25 x 5 star Google reviews that they have.
Everybody without exception says how helpful, reliable and reasonably priced they are.
As they say they have a 100% success rate with these amps it’s looking rather hopeful.
They make a very bold statement about reverse engineering and so confident that the fault won’t return, that they offer a lifetime warranty.
When I saw Jingars post showing a previous repair from only 2 years ago, I’ll be honest, I was a little disheartened.
However, things do indeed look promising.
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I also found the back link to svtservices.co.uk, and the promising Google reviews.
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Please keep us updated Jingar, as I personally would like to know the outcome.
Just happened to be “passing by” their Edinburgh shop today, so dropped the amp in to them in person.
As requested, will post any updates on here.
Unit returned yesterday - but I missed it as I entered my mobile number incorrectly on the work order and so didn’t receive any text updates from Parcelforce - D’Oh!
Collected it this morning - and I have been “upgraded” to an Audi It is the same unit I sent them, just a new sticker.
Plugged back in and it works a treat.
True to their word, no charge requested for either the repair or the return courier. Will now be able to play some muzak to and from the National this SundayÂ
Good old fashioned customer service. Doesn’t it gladden the heart?