Need CB help

[JohnS_Rosamond]

My parents just rode home a bright red RT-S (even Steveie Wonder could see this colour). The dealership installed the CB, but the CB no worky. You can't even select the CB settings, when you press PTT - nothing happens. I don't have a CB on my RT so I don't know where to look, but the headset plug in installed, the second antenna is installed. Could it be that there is a chassis ground strap that they left off? Anyone install one themselves? They are planning to take the RT-S back to the dealership, but if this is something simple, I would rather be the hero and fix it for them. I know how to take the body panels off and have enough experience that I am thinking about installing the radio unit on my own RT by myself. Thanks in advance.

Oh, by the way, the Honda dealership where they bought said that the RT was outselling the Gold Wing. Hmmm.

 

[NancysToy]

The wiring diagram shows no separate chassis ground or power connection. The CB unit merely connects to the radio, headset connectors, and antenna. My guess is a bad connection or else they failed to plug in the main connector, unless it is a CB bad unit. :dontknow:

 

[JohnS_Rosamond]

Thanks for the input. Can you tell me, is the CB unit under the bodywork on the right side saddlebag? And the radio is just above that is it not? on the right side?

 

[NancysToy]

Not sure. Some of the instructions are here.

 

[MarkLawson]

The CB is mounted on the leading (front) side of the right saddlebag. The RT audio unit is mounted on the top of the same saddlebag. Both are under body panels.

I'm curious if there are two headset plugs. The CB kit only comes with one. The other comes with the entertainment harness, which is required, but is ordered separately. If the entertainment harness is not installed, you might also have the problems you've described.

If the entertainment harness was not installed, there is a lot of labor involved to install it. Almost all of this labor is the same as was needed for the CB installation. If your folks already paid for that labor to have the CB installed, they should not be charged for it again to install the entertainment harness.

Take a look at a few pics from when I installed it early last year:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18347

Good luck.

 

[JohnS_Rosamond]

Thank you

Thank you for the link, that was very helpful. Just to let others know there is a You-Tube video where a guy has a 3 part video on installing the CB on the RT. It's very step-by-step. If I had to guess, I would say that the dealership did not correctly hook up the lead from the CB head unit to the audio unit. In the video you can clearly see (at the end) that he cycles through the various modes and can get to the CB settings. With my parents Spyder, when you cycle through the settings, it skips the CB and goes straight to the trip meter and then to the options menu. So, the audio unit doesn't even seem to realize that the CB is installed at all. In the video they did not need a computer or scanalyzer to let the RT computer know that the CB was available. So, sloppy work by the Honda mechanics I guess. Thanks to those who responded so quickly. Really, I am dying to look under the plastic, but better to have the dealer do it and maintain the warranty. Curiosity would probably kill the warranty.

 

[NancysToy]

Thank you for the link, that was very helpful. Just to let others know there is a You-Tube video where a guy has a 3 part video on installing the CB on the RT. It's very step-by-step. If I had to guess, I would say that the dealership did not correctly hook up the lead from the CB head unit to the audio unit. In the video you can clearly see (at the end) that he cycles through the various modes and can get to the CB settings. With my parents Spyder, when you cycle through the settings, it skips the CB and goes straight to the trip meter and then to the options menu. So, the audio unit doesn't even seem to realize that the CB is installed at all. In the video they did not need a computer or scanalyzer to let the RT computer know that the CB was available. So, sloppy work by the Honda mechanics I guess. Thanks to those who responded so quickly. Really, I am dying to look under the plastic, but better to have the dealer do it and maintain the warranty. Curiosity would probably kill the warranty.

The easiest way to fail to make the connection, is to neglect to install the Entertainment Harness, as mentioned above, but if your parents' Spyder has both front and rear headset connectors, the Entertainment Harness is there. I don't think you would jeopardize the warranty by taking a look, unless you goofed something additional up, in the process. Federal law prohibits that kind of thing, unless they can show that the work you did caused or contributed to the failure. Nevetheless, I would take it back to the dealer ASAP, and rub their noses in it. There is no excuse for installing an accessory like this, and failing to test it before it leaves the shop. They need to eat another round of labor, to teach them not to cut corners. If they fall all over themselves to make it right, good for them...and stick with them. If they give you grief, find another dealer for your future service.

 

[JohnS_Rosamond]

Scotty, thank you for all of your feedback. Yes, my father pointed out that there is a rear passenger head set plug-in point. I guess that means that they did install the Entertainment harness. So, that either means that they didn't plug the CB unit to the radio unit at all, or we got a bad CB unit altogether. I can't help but think, though that even with a bad unit, the Spyder should sense that something is plugged in? Anyway, this is the end of this thread I guess. Saturday we'll send it back to the dealership. This was one of the selling points for my parents to buy here (rather than the dealership where I bought) because the sale guy said that they had so many more "trained" technicians. I guess he meant trained on the Goldwing! They evidentally didn't even trun the unit on to see if they could get static out of it.

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty, thank you for all of your feedback. Yes, my father pointed out that there is a rear passenger head set plug-in point. I guess that means that they did install the Entertainment harness. So, that either means that they didn't plug the CB unit to the radio unit at all, or we got a bad CB unit altogether. I can't help but think, though that even with a bad unit, the Spyder should sense that something is plugged in? Anyway, this is the end of this thread I guess. Saturday we'll send it back to the dealership. This was one of the selling points for my parents to buy here (rather than the dealership where I bought) because the sale guy said that they had so many more "trained" technicians. I guess he meant trained on the Goldwing! They evidentally didn't even trun the unit on to see if they could get static out of it.

Have your Dad embarrass them and make them feel real bad. Maybe he'll get a freebie out of them for his time and effort...or as a bribe to keep his mouth shut. :roflblack:

 

[Mr. White]

I have to comment on this post. I have ordered a 2011 RT-S with dealer installed CB/GPS and XM radio. I was over at the dealer last week to re ride their SE5 demo.

While there, the shop chief came over to visit. I asked who installed those items and he said "I do and I check them out so I don't have to do it over." With the new owners permission, he rides the new Spyder several miles and insures all accessories and standard equipment is working properly before delivered to the customer.

For the dealer to let a machine leave his plant with the CB not checked out is bad....just bad. No excuse whatsoever.

How do I find the You Tube on the CB installation? I am not very good at finding stuff...help an old guy...thanks.

 

[JohnS_Rosamond]

Link to the You Tube Video

Here's the Link

Ken and Dave install a CB in a RT. There are 3 parts