Aux Input Stereo? Left Channel Only!

[missouriboy]

I play a SanDisk thru the Aux input with a stereo-jack cable to the 7-pin input, but I get only the left channel; the right speakers are silent. Of course, the SanDisk provides beautiful stereo through my headphones at home.

I thought the (second-hand, $21 on Amazon) cable might be bad, so I checked it with a circuit tester and found three pins were hot, as follows:
Plug to Pin
1st ..... 3
(Slim pointy section)

2nd .... 2
(Center section)

3rd .... 4
(Nearest the wire)

There is no Balance setting that I know of, and the right-side speakers are silent. Yet the FM Radio selection plays in stereo just fine.

Any ideas? :dontknow: (I'm not a techie, so I won't be tearing into any wiring harnesses myself...)

Thanks in advance.

 

[Highwayman2013]

There are settings for balance and fade using the mode button and screen.

 

[finless]

I am sure I can help you but I am not understanding exactly what you are doing?
What Spyder and year?
I "think" your talking about the input plug in the rear trunk of a RT?
What phone or whatever?

FYI... USB is NOT an audio connection. The radio deals with that.

More info and I bet we can get you going. The Audio system is kind of my thing

Bob

 

[finless]

OK never mind what Spyder your talking about. Looks like a 2015 RT...
So "what" are you plugging into the USB port and then "what" audio connection are you using.
I am kind of lost with your connections... And devices you are using?

Bob

 

[YIRYDE]

Try wiggling around the the DIN cable (the round 7 pin connector in the trunk) and if you get sound from your right channel you may have a short in the DIN Connector that connects to the radio connector. I currently have this problem with my Spyder when I play my Ipod using the Ipod to DIN adapter. I have sound from the radio and my weather channel so I know the speakers are good. I just move the cable around until I get sound out of all the speakers and try not to have anything in the trunk that will bump the cable.

During a visit to my dealer I asked about this and we tried another Ipod to Din adapter and had the same issue which is why I know my issue is between the connector and the radio. I didn't have time to get it fixed during that visit and told him I will come back at another time for the repair which will be under warranty. The replacement cable has already been received.

I have had this issue for a while and will be getting it fixed this winter. It's not an easy fix because the DIN cable is connected to the radio connector and you have to remove the pins from the radio connector then insert the pins from the new cable.

 

[missouriboy]

OK never mind what Spyder your talking about. Looks like a 2015 RT...
So "what" are you plugging... a SanDisk thru the Aux input with a stereo-jack cable to the 7-pin input

into the USB port no, not USB... to the Auxiliary Input socket in the trunk

and then "what" audio connection are you using the circular 7-pin female socket, with the male plug on the output end of my stereo-jack cable.
I am kind of lost with your connections... And devices a SanDisk with a single-hole stereo-jack receptacle for its output you are using?

Bob

See blue inserts above, copied from my OP...

Thanks for your response, Bob. But YIRYDE has it nailed and I'll use his post to show my dealer when I take it in.

 

[missouriboy]

Try wiggling around the the DIN cable (the round 7 pin connector in the trunk) and if you get sound from your right channel you may have a short in the DIN Connector that connects to the radio connector. I currently have this problem with my Spyder when I play my Ipod using the Ipod to DIN adapter. I have sound from the radio and my weather channel so I know the speakers are good. I just move the cable around until I get sound out of all the speakers and try not to have anything in the trunk that will bump the cable.

During a visit to my dealer I asked about this and we tried another Ipod to Din adapter and had the same issue which is why I know my issue is between the connector and the radio. I didn't have time to get it fixed during that visit and told him I will come back at another time for the repair which will be under warranty. The replacement cable has already been received.

I have had this issue for a while and will be getting it fixed this winter. It's not an easy fix because the DIN cable is connected to the radio connector and you have to remove the pins from the radio connector then insert the pins from the new cable.

I have tried wiggling the plug in the socket, but it's a very tight fit with no wiggling. Another test I'll do, which I should have thought of before, is to try my input on another RT and see if it works OK there. I have TWO neighbors with RTs! :banghead:

Your response is exactly what I was looking for, so I can print it and show my dealer some prior experience. Thank you very much for your effort, I appreciate it.
This forum is awesome. :yes:

 

[PMK]

Before we went to the IPod, I used the BRP audio 3mm to round in the trunk plugged into a SanDisk MP3.

I thought I had a similar problem and found the 3mm pin was not fully engaged into the MP3 player.

If MP3 works for you great, but going to an Apple setup allows the left switches to control the audio as you ride.

But whatever works for you.

 

[tmcquain]

Yes, the plug going into the ipod or whatever is stereo, if not pushed in all the way you will only get one channel.

 

[missouriboy]

(I checked the plug insertion into the SanDisk, and that's not the problem; it requires effort to pull it out, far more effort than the weight of the dangling device pulling on the cord. Thanks for the suggestion, though.)

So I tried the SanDisk in two more RT Limited machines, a 2012 and 2014 in addition to my own 2015. Result: ALL 3 machines performed exactly the same... total silence in the right rear speaker (and the front also, I believe, which is difficult to tell because of carryover from the left speaker beneath the cowling). All four speakers worked fine on all 3 machines when playing the radio.

This seems to prove that the problem is with my cable. But I still don't understand why, based on my circuit test (see OP). If the 3mm plug has only three separate contact areas (separated by two insulators), and three of the seven output pins are "hot", then what could the problem be?

Are there supposed to be more than three signals coming from those 7 pins? :dontknow: That doesn't make much sense to me, unless another pin is supposed to have a combined signal from two of the plug points... but that seems off the wall!

At this point I cannot complain to the dealer, but I'm also reluctant to blow $20-25 on another cord, without knowing this cord is truly defective. (I couldn't find one locally, so there's no opportunity to "try before I buy".)

Again, many thanks to all for your help!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

ALL 3 - HUH!!!

Now this sounds odd to me ...... could the problem be with the SAN-DISC not sending out a signal for one side ??? ..... I think it's unusual that all the RT's are having the same problem with the same San-Disc and it being the wiring or connections ..... as opposed to the device that's sending the signal's ......just a thought ..... good luck ... Mike :thumbup:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

(I checked the plug insertion into the SanDisk, and that's not the problem; it requires effort to pull it out, far more effort than the weight of the dangling device pulling on the cord. Thanks for the suggestion, though.)

So I tried the SanDisk in two more RT Limited machines, a 2012 and 2014 in addition to my own 2015. Result: ALL 3 machines performed exactly the same... total silence in the right rear speaker (and the front also, I believe, which is difficult to tell because of carryover from the left speaker beneath the cowling). All four speakers worked fine on all 3 machines when playing the radio.

This seems to prove that the problem is with my cable. But I still don't understand why, based on my circuit test (see OP). If the 3mm plug has only three separate contact areas (separated by two insulators), and three of the seven output pins are "hot", then what could the problem be?

Are there supposed to be more than three signals coming from those 7 pins? :dontknow: That doesn't make much sense to me, unless another pin is supposed to have a combined signal from two of the plug points... but that seems off the wall!

At this point I cannot complain to the dealer, but I'm also reluctant to blow $20-25 on another cord, without knowing this cord is truly defective. (I couldn't find one locally, so there's no opportunity to "try before I buy".)

Again, many thanks to all for your help!

I take it the tests with the neighbors' machines was with your connector cord. What is the result if you use one of their cords?

 

[missouriboy]

Now this sounds odd to me ...... could the problem be with the SAN-DISC not sending out a signal for one side ??? ..... I think it's unusual that all the RT's are having the same problem with the same San-Disc and it being the wiring or connections ..... as opposed to the device that's sending the signal's ......just a thought ..... good luck ... Mike :thumbup:

From my OP: Of course, the SanDisk provides beautiful stereo through my headphones at home.

 

[missouriboy]

I take it the tests with the neighbors' machines was with your connector cord. What is the result if you use one of their cords?

Neither one has such a cord, but that's a great idea... to further prove whether it's my cord that's bad.

Another neighbor plays satellite radio through his Aux input, but he wasn't home. I'll catch him and see what his cord is like... it might not have the 3mm stereo-jack plug. If not, then I'll check with my dealer for any possible cord they might have that we can test with.
Thanks for the suggestion! :clap:

 

[YIRYDE]

Did you use the same Din to 3mm Aux cable on all three Spyder's? If so, try one of your neighbors Din to Aux cable to see if the problem remains. If it goes away your Din to 3mm cable is bad.

Do you have a cover on your Sandisk MP3 player? If so, remove the cover and insert the 3mm connector and see if that helps. The diameter of some 3mm plugs are larger than others and the headphone jack opening of the case could prevent the Spyder Din to 3mm cable from going all the way in which would cause no sound out of one channel.

I know you said that playing your Sandisk with headphones you had sound on both channels but I would also try another device with a headphone jack, like your cell phone and see if you have sound out of both channels.

The problem I have with my Spyder is different than yours and it's highly unlikely all 3 Spyder's are having the same issue.

 

[Bfromla]

Find another cable to test it all properly process of elimination. If dealer will let u test on any of their units would be helpful & the techs may have info for what pins should have voltage to operate. Also just for kicks try blowing some air into where the 7pin plugs into on the bike.

 

[WA5VHU]

I have had to "whittle down" some of the 3 circuit plugs to get them plugged into some devices that have a slightly recessed jack. Look a little closer at yours.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Neither one has such a cord, but that's a great idea... to further prove whether it's my cord that's bad.

Another neighbor plays satellite radio through his Aux input, but he wasn't home. I'll catch him and see what his cord is like... it might not have the 3mm stereo-jack plug. If not, then I'll check with my dealer for any possible cord they might have that we can test with.
Thanks for the suggestion! :clap:

Your neighbors should have the cord unless they bought their Spyders used and the cords didn't come with them. The RTs all come from the factory with 2 adapter cords, one with the 3mm stereo jack like you have, and one with a flat 30 pin iPod connector. There are no others other than a configuration change back about 2012.

 

[missouriboy]

I was hooking up my XM receiver in the trunk. Figured I would buy a cheap adapter cord and it did the same thing as yours. It seems BRP has decided to not use a standard pin arrangement for the DIN plug. I bought a genuine BRP plug and it works perfectly. They want you to buy their plug i guess

Different pin arrangement?!?!?!???????????:yikes:

FINALLY! That MUST be the answer!! OP: I thought the (second-hand, $21 on Amazon) cable might be bad

Well, it's obviously "bad" if the internal wiring doesn't match the schematics of the receiver, right?

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Now I know how to proceed! :bowdown:

 

[missouriboy]

Your neighbors should have the cord unless they bought their Spyders used and the cords didn't come with them. The RTs all come from the factory with 2 adapter cords, one with the 3mm stereo jack like you have, and one with a flat 30 pin iPod connector. There are no others other than a configuration change back about 2012.

I looked through all my stuff and didn't find such a cord. I found only some cords for the GPS, and a plugwire to use output from the 12-volt socket. So I hunted and bought the 3mm-to-DIN cord on Amazon.

I guess I'll ask the salesmen if I should have received one, and if they say Yes I'll ask if they'll supply one. If not, I guess I'll just have to buy one.

Either way, my $21.54 to Amazon is down the drain. :sour:

Many thanks again to everyone for your replies!