Audio system sound is weak or distorted (display is normal)

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2011 Honda Insight and 2010 Honda Insight. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE:

Check the vehicle battery condition first (see 12 VOLT BATTERY TEST ).
Check the connectors for poor connections or loose terminals.
Do the individual speaker test (see ELECTRICAL NOISE TEST ).
Set the fader and balance positions to the center.

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the audio unit or audio-navigation unit and check for sound in each mode (AM, FM, and CD).

Is there sound from the speakers, and is the sound quality normal in each mode?

YES -Intermittent failure. The system is OK at this time. Check for loose connections at the audio-navigation unit, the audio unit, and each speaker.

NO -Speakers all work normally, but the sound quality is poor.

If the sound quality is poor only with AM or FM radio, go to POOR AM OR FM RADIO RECEPTION OR INTERFERENCE (WITHOUT NAVIGATION) .
- With navigation (see SYMPTOM TROUBLESHOOTING ).
- Without navigation (see POOR AM OR FM RADIO RECEPTION OR INTERFERENCE (WITHOUT NAVIGATION) ).
If the sound is poor in all modes, go to sound quality diagnosis (see SOUND QUALITY DIAGNOSIS ).