RAZ to RBQ Radio Upgrade Failed

[MMathewson]

I didn't like the RAZ (cassette-CD) radio I had in the 2004 Dodge Ram, so I purchased a RBQ (6-CD, tuner) radio. When I swapped out the radio, the new radio has no volume at all. I have the Laramie package with the separate amplifier. The old radio (when swapped back in) works fine. On the 2004 Dodge Ram, the radio and amplifier are controlled by the computer. There are only two sets of speaker wires going out of the radio, yet the fade control works fine. Some computer picks up the signals on a PCI bus and then tells the amplifier to do its thing. For some reason, the computer is NOT telling the amplifier to turn on. There is no direct wire between the radio and amplifier for "turn on".



Anyone have a clue what needs to be done. My thought on the 2004. 5 is that the computer thinks there is a RAZ installed and not a RBQ radio, so it refuses to cooperate. Perhaps the computer needs reprogramming from the dealer.



I am sure that I have the correct model number for the 2004 year RBQ radio and the dealer says it should work "out of the box".



Any help/guidance is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[artie]

RBQ maybe bad

It sounds like the RBQ has a problem as it should be getting and giving info using the PCI bus to the AMP and also getting some default acoustic setting from FCM. The part number on the RBQ I removed from my 04 when Iput in RB1 was as follows: P05091979AD on the top of the radio.

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

Could it be as simple as the RBQ radio you have is kaput?

 

[turbod]

I havethe same problem only mine was stock with the 6cd and radio. the radio has been replaced 3 times and the amp once and it still will not play 99% of the time. kinda of makes me mad to have a 45k truck that you cant listen to the radio in.

 

[MMathewson]

I took my truck into the dealer and had them look at it. They swapped the RBQ radio with another one and that one didn't work either. So they ruled out the radio. The dealer (after consulting with corporate?), said a bad amplifier or a bad ground. He is now checking to determine whether a bad amp would be considered a warrenty repair. To me, if the amp is bad, and that was delivered with the vehicle (just two months and 670 miles ago), then that should be under warrenty. Same with a bad ground. The dealer said that DC might say that since I replaced the factory radio with another DC (depite that all of their radios are plug-compatible), that they may not warrent the amplifier. I hope it doesn't come to that since I'll have to waste time and fight it.



The dealer did verify that the amplifier is not turning on when commanded by the radio.



Thanks for the replies. I'll let everyone know how it turns out. I hope I don't end up with a radio that doesn't work 99% of the time like turbod

 

[Kirwin]

Well??? Any updated status? Inquiring minds want to know! Thanks Ken Irwin

 

[sag2]

Mark, sent you a PM, should be able to help, but need some additional info.

 

[MMathewson]

Update to my radio problems

Took my Ram2500 for a 1000mi engine breakin with my trailer for a few days. What a dream to drive. The only thing not perfect was my silent radio. :{



Had the Dodge dealer in Billings, MT turn on my daylight running lights for me. Zero cost to me. Good dealer. My home dealer in Longmont didn't know how to do this.



Interesting enough, after the DRL was enabled, the radio now acts completely dead. Before I would get no sound, but you could turn on the radio, play a CD, adjust the volume, and the radio would indicate it was doing so. Now it acts like there isn't any power getting to it at all (except that the clock works).



The original dealer thought my radio problem might be a bad amp or a bad ground. With DRL enabled and the radio suddenly acting like no "accessory" power, I just wonder if there is a bad ground somewhere. [I say "accessory" power since the radio obviously has power for the clock so the always on battery +12 volts is present, but the line that is turned on when you turn on the ignition switch apparently no longer has 12v with the ignition on. ]



Wonder if it could be a bad relay somewhere?



Stay tuned as I work with my dealer to resolve this.

-Mark

 

[MMathewson]

UPDATE: Finally, my radio works!

I finally got my RBQ radio working. The dealer replaced a total of 4 RBQ radios and 2 amplifiers. The sound would work for a short time, then go dead. I even had the radio cycling on/off with the grid heaters once before the radio went dead. The last time I had it in the dealer, they replaced the radio again and it didn't work. They called someone and had them take half of my truck apart to diagnose the wiring harness. 8 days later - they ended up replacing the wiring harness and so far it is working.



Summary: 3400 miles on the truck, truck 6 months old, and the radio only has worked about 4 days in all that time. Hopefully it will work forever more. I was just about ready to start the "lemon law" process.



-Happy Holidays -

Mark

 

[evldsl]

Look's like the wrong wireing harness was installed at the factory. I do know that the sat radios have a different harness and that the remote cd players have a different type of harness.

 

[SLinse]

Anyone have the cd/tape combo they want to get rid of?

 

[Kirwin]

Stolen???

SLinse, Someone stole your 98 12 valve? :{ How did that happen? I feel for you! Its not like you can just find one of those anywhere! I hope you get it back! Tell us your story so that maybe one of us won't have to endure your pain! Ken Irwin

 

[SLinse]

I posted in the 2nd gen forum about a week ago. Short story. . I had it sitting outside of the shop I work at in Fairbanks AK. Sunday night someone stole my 98 12V, my bosses 94 F-350 crew cab Flatbed, and a 6 month old 20 ft utility trailer. They had been scoping out the place for awhile. They hotwired and had to cut a D ring off the trailer. Not really sure what we could have done to prevent it. We are looking, I went out again today in fact. We are going to study a few survalience tapes this week, and see if we can get a lead. Cross my fingers!



Sorry, didn't mean to highjack the thread!