Audio - Radio Concerns After Installation of CD

Models: All models
Section: Electrical
Classification: EL92-009
Bulletin No.: NTB92-068
Date: September 8, 1992

IMPROPER AFTERMARKET INSTALLATION OF CD AUTO CHANGERS

APPLIED MODELS:
All Models which have had an Aftermarket CD Auto Changer installed.

SERVICE INFORMATION:
This Technical Bulletin is being issued to assist Nissan Dealerships in diagnosing audio system problems and identifying related cause.

SYMPTOMS:

^ Fluttering sound (volume fading in & out) and/or static noise on local AM stations.
^ FM station "bleed through" during CD play mode [usually from FM88.3, 88.5, or 88.7].
^ Severely limited reception and/or static noise on all AM and FM stations.
^ Severe FM multi-path propagation (dead spots or distorted sound quality).

RELATED CAUSE:
These symptoms may have been caused by improper splicing and soldering into the coaxial cable of the OEM mast antenna (Diversity Antenna System) with an aftermarket CD Auto Changer FM Modulator.

The installer of the CD Auto Changer may not have used commercially-available plug-in adapters (i.e., Clarion Corporation P/N 264-500 or equivalent) to integrate the CD FM modulator to the dual lead Diversity Antenna system. The center conductor of the coaxial antenna is a thin filament wire which should never be spliced into or soldered.





The diagram identifies a typical improper aftermarket installation of a CD Auto Changer (Figure 1):





The proper method for "integration" of the FM Modulator for the aftermarket installation of CD Auto Changers is detailed, (Figure 2):

REPAIR INFORMATION:

The only method to correct the improper installation of an aftermarket CD Auto Changer, as identified in this Technical Bulletin, is to remove and replace the damaged Diversity Antenna cable. Head Unit replacement will not resolve this incident.

NOTE:
Even with proper plug-in adapters, aftermarket CD Auto Changers using an FM modulator result in poor CD sound quality due to losses in digital to analog conversion and introduction of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)/Electrical Magnetic Interference (EMI) noise from the FM tuner and antenna system.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

Installations of aftermarket (*) CD Auto Changers are not covered by the Nissan Warranty. All repairs to aftermarket (*) installations, including damages to factory components attributable to the aftermarket (*) installation, are at the customer's expense.

(*) Those CD Auto Changers not offered as factory-authorized accessories by Nissan.