Speakers crackling

[Skups]

Hello, I'm the proud new owner of a used 2018 F3 Limited. I've only had it about 1 week. I've noticed that as I turn up the radio loud enough to hear the music that the speakers start to crackle at about 3/4 volume. Even though I bought it used, from a dealer, I was told its still under factory warranty. I believe the 2 year warranty follows the bike and not the owner, is this true? Anyone else have speaker problems? I haven't contacted the dealer yet but plan to this weekend.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hello, I'm the proud new owner of a used 2018 F3 Limited. I've only had it about 1 week. I've noticed that as I turn up the radio loud enough to hear the music that the speakers start to crackle at about 3/4 volume. Even though I bought it used, from a dealer, I was told its still under factory warranty. I believe the 2 year warranty follows the bike and not the owner, is this true? Anyone else have speaker problems? I haven't contacted the dealer yet but plan to this weekend.

I would first - read the owners manual about warranty coverage …………….. unfortunately they may be OK as far as BRP is concerned.... after I purchased my 2014 RT I noticed the same thing …. I thought it was just poor reception ( common issue ) ...however even with a MP-3 with CD music on it ...it wasn't any better …. That same MP-3 could play extremely load in my TRK, so it wasn't the MP-3 ……….. I swapped out the OEM speakers for FOUR 5.25 JBL models ….now I'm very, very happy :yes::yes: ………...Another member " rattlebars " says this swap didn't work on His 2016 F-3..... that has me baffled …. the speakers BRP are using aren't made in some special way ( but they aren't top of the line speakers )……………...Mike hyea:

 

[Skups]

I will consult the manual and BRP website on the warranty to confirm. I'm not ready to upgrade my speakers, unless they're not covered under warranty. I will also pay a visit to a local dealer. Unfortunately, the dealer I purchased from is too far away to take it back there. Thanks for your advice. Besides the speaker issue, I freakin' love the motorcycle!

 

[JP58]

Mine does the same thing. Waiting for a fix. Haven't heard of any yet.

 

[ENFAMALE]

We purchased our F3T a few months ago and the speakers were cracking the 1st week of playing them. Maybe well go back up to the dealer to see.

 

[Easy Rider]

Something is overloaded.
Given the experience related here, it might be the speakers.
It also could be the final amp stage in the radio.

 

[safecracker]

On my 2011 RTS, SM5, I had 2 right side rear speakers and one left rear speaker replaced. Mine were all covered under warranty. My last speaker was covered under the BEST warranty. cost to me, $50.00. Bruce

 

[bandit3005]

Good luck, my 2018 RT LTD started crackling only when i turned left, then went to all the time. After a month at the dealer they isolated it to a bad main wire harness. Luckily it was all warranty work for me

 

[billybovine]

It's covered under warranty. If there is a problem with the speakers or anything else audio related. Mine did not have one of the rear speakers working. Bad connection in the main harness. Fixed under warranty.

Check your dash firmware level. Should be at 13.20. That update is covered under a Warranty Campaign from BRP and they will pay to updated it. There is talk of another update coming, 20.3. We will see.

Audio from FM radio on mine still sucks. The reception is horrible. But audio BT connected to my phone is great. No matter the speed. I can hear the music through my on board speakers. I am using an android phone, paired to the dash and do not use BRP Connect app. I find with the connect app running the audio is not as good. Lots of small dropouts of audio.

 

[Skups]

Thank you for all the responses! I plan on going to Tampa Bay Motorsports this Saturday and talk to them about it. I'm pretty sure the 2 year warranty follows the bike, not the owner.(I'm second owner) I'm going to talk to them about the extended warranty also. I bought from Broward Motorsports in Hobe Sound, East Coast. Too far to back for service. Other than the speakers, I LOVE the bike! Just got back from a Valentines dinner ride with my wife, beautiful weather!

 

[deer30084]

Get an F3. No speakers, no crackling.

 

[jerseyspyder]

You are correct, the warranty follows the bike.

 

[Skups]

Update on crackling speakers:

I went to my local Can Am dealer on Saturday, Tampa Bay Powersports, very helpful and friendly. They pulled the serial number, the bike is covered until 3/2020. I was also able to recreate the speaker crackle. I will be dropping it off this Saturday and they will tear into it. They also hooked it up to the computer and did a software update, the selling dealer should of done that before they sold it. The selling dealer also said they did a service on the bike but no record of such service was found through the serial number or software, which from what I understand should of been logged for the bike. Tampa Bay Powersports also is switching the warranty from previous owner to me, these people are great, even though I didn't buy the machine from them! I have almost 1K miles on the Spyder so I'll have them do the first service while it's in the shop. TB Powersports will be my "go to" place, I'm very impressed.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Glad to hear you found an honest dealer :clap::clap::clap: …………. and hopefully someone competent will address your problem :thumbup:..... Mike hyea:

 

[ARtraveler]

Have to agree. Sounds like a good customer friendly dealer. :yes:

 

[tmkimmes]

Hi, Just checking did anything come of the next trip to the dealer? I also have 2 2018 F3 Limited and they both crackle, mostly with the radio but anytime the volume gets above 3/4. I agree its quite annoying. Over all i am fine with the tunes but it would be nice to eliminate that.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hi, Just checking did anything come of the next trip to the dealer? I also have 2 2018 F3 Limited and they both crackle, mostly with the radio but anytime the volume gets above 3/4. I agree its quite annoying. Over all i am fine with the tunes but it would be nice to eliminate that.

Crackling when using the Radio function has more to do with the ability to get a good signal ….. however all the OEM speakers are LOW bidder items …. and you get what BRP paid for them …… Mike hyea:

 

[Seattle]

Has this been resolved? I've been dealing with this issue since the purchase of my F3L in April 2018. The latest software update was completed in July 2019, but there's been no change and my Spyder has been in four times trying to resolve it. Here's my video of the issue to see if what you heard is identical.

What I wrote initially:

After the latest software update was performed awhile ago, I've noticed in addition to the aforementioned issues that anytime the steering bar is turned left/right, static noise emanates from the speakers while in FM station is broadcasting. I brought in my '18 F3 Ltd to have the dealer service department take a look at this issue plus a few other things of concern. In the meantime I have a brand new '18 RT Ltd on loan which also makes the same identical staticky noise through the speakers when the steering is turned left/right. I've asked the dealer to relay this to BRP because I'm betting more '18 Spyders with the new digital dash cluster likely has this same issue.

>Has anyone specifically only with the '18 or newer model Spyder's (RT or F3's) that utilises the new digital display cluster notice if:
1) ALL their speakers clip on music's bass points, even while at low volume
2) the FM tuner signal seem is quite staticky and
3) volume output has to be turned up nearly 80%+ in order to hear it at speeds above 50mph/80kph?

I compared my '18 F3 LTD radio volume output against a 2017 F3-LTD. On the 2017 I set the volume output (tuned to the same radio station AND using a music streaming device playing the same song) at 30% and then adjusted the 2018 to an equal level output. My Spyder had to be set at 60% to be equal to the 2017. I've tried this also with the 2018 models with my dealer's new floor models against the 2017's and reproduced the same results.

Why would BRP reduce the volume output so significantly for the newly designed 2018 digital display Spyders' where we need to crank the volume output up so high? I've noticed even the bass and mid-range tones in the new models are no where as rich and deep as it was in the former Spyder model year sound systems. BRP has told my dealer they have no intentions of fixing this issue.

Update on crackling speakers:

I went to my local Can Am dealer on Saturday, Tampa Bay Powersports, very helpful and friendly. They pulled the serial number, the bike is covered until 3/2020. I was also able to recreate the speaker crackle. I will be dropping it off this Saturday and they will tear into it. They also hooked it up to the computer and did a software update, the selling dealer should of done that before they sold it. The selling dealer also said they did a service on the bike but no record of such service was found through the serial number or software, which from what I understand should of been logged for the bike. Tampa Bay Powersports also is switching the warranty from previous owner to me, these people are great, even though I didn't buy the machine from them! I have almost 1K miles on the Spyder so I'll have them do the first service while it's in the shop. TB Powersports will be my "go to" place, I'm very impressed.

 

[Seattle]

By any chance was your issue resolved for both your Spyders? I have been dealing with this issue for over a year with my '18 F3L. Dealer service has been trying to figure out the culprit. However, I wonder if this is a manufacturing defect. I'm reaching out to others to see how they fixed the issue if it's the same as I've been trying to find solutions to resolve. I've put together a video of the crackling to see if it's the same as what others are hearing.

Hi, Just checking did anything come of the next trip to the dealer? I also have 2 2018 F3 Limited and they both crackle, mostly with the radio but anytime the volume gets above 3/4. I agree its quite annoying. Over all i am fine with the tunes but it would be nice to eliminate that.

 

[Skups]

By any chance was your issue resolved for both your Spyders? I have been dealing with this issue for over a year with my '18 F3L. Dealer service has been trying to figure out the culprit. However, I wonder if this is a manufacturing defect. I'm reaching out to others to see how they fixed the issue if it's the same as I've been trying to find solutions to resolve. I've put together a video of the crackling to see if it's the same as what others are hearing.

The first dealer pulled off the speaker contacts and cleaned them, per BRP. The crackling came back almost immediately. I didn't have time to take my F3 back at the time. I did take it back in to a different dealer just last week and they looked into the problem. BRP told them to try a few other things and if that didn't work to order a new amp. I guess BRP knows there is a speaker crackling problem but it doesn't seem to be wide spread so it's more of case by case basis. My amp will be replaced under warranty and I'm waiting for a call from the dealer. Once they get the new amp in, I will take my Spyder back in. I would suggest keep complaining to your dealer about the issue until BRP authorizes an amp replacement.