Audio Keeps Popping / Cutting Out Randomly

[Duox]

I hear YouTube do that from my laptop. I bet it isn't the car's "fault". But, of course, there could be a list of possible causes for cutting out, including being the car's fault. Does it do this with ClariFi OFF and listening to USB sourced music?

This isn't Youtube. And it will do this on ALL sources. I've tried several devices, USB, radio, and more. ClariFI and all other audio enhancements are off.

 

[Duox]

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[JBoss20]

Hi everyone,
I had the same problem on my Stinger GT 3.3L AWD canadian model. By the end , the sound could cut like 10 times in 1 min., I was about to get crazy. They tried to replace de radio, amplifier and everything that was connected to the radio, nothing worked. So the dealer contacted Kia technical assitance.

This issue is caused by an interference in the SPDIF wire signel between the amplifier and the Radio. SPIDF wire are very sensitive to interference. To fix this issue, the car was sent to Kia regional office, and they replace de SPIDF wire. The tech support that worked on my car told me, that the factory grounded the wire at two different places, so the shield that protect the signal from interference wasn't reliable.
He also told me that they had a few Stinger with this problem and they all replace the SPDIF wire signal too fix it.

From now on, everythings fine. I had this fixed 10 month ago.

Hope this will help you.

This is a HUGE help to me. I'm the shop foreman at a Kia dealership, and i'm dealing with a 2019 Stinger with this same issue in the audio clip. There Is no relevant information through Kias service information, or bulletins addressing this. Previous techs have replaced the amp, and head unit trying to fix this problem, and it didn't correct it. That's why i'm involved in the vehicle. i've been through nearly everything on this trying to track down this issue, from checking all ground lugs, and cleaning, removing components down the line trying to find what affects the concern, disconnected all the speakers one by one trying to isolate an intermittenly shorted speaker, disconnected, and bypassed both DC/DC converters, and have found myself at a loss. I'm currently on my lunch break researching this issue, and i ran across your post, and this makes perfect sense. I'm going to dig into this after lunch, but man, you have no idea how much this one post helped me. I knew this couldn't be a one off issue. Thank you so much for sharing this.

 

[Duox]

This is a HUGE help to me. I'm the shop foreman at a Kia dealership, and i'm dealing with a 2019 Stinger with this same issue in the audio clip. There Is no relevant information through Kias service information, or bulletins addressing this. Previous techs have replaced the amp, and head unit trying to fix this problem, and it didn't correct it. That's why i'm involved in the vehicle. i've been through nearly everything on this trying to track down this issue, from checking all ground lugs, and cleaning, removing components down the line trying to find what affects the concern, disconnected all the speakers one by one trying to isolate an intermittenly shorted speaker, disconnected, and bypassed both DC/DC converters, and have found myself at a loss. I'm currently on my lunch break researching this issue, and i ran across your post, and this makes perfect sense. I'm going to dig into this after lunch, but man, you have no idea how much this one post helped me. I knew this couldn't be a one off issue. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Let me know if it fixes it for you, the SPDIF wire not being properly grounded. I haven't had the chance to get mine looked at, due to COVID-19.

 

[JBoss20]

Let me know if it fixes it for you, the SPDIF wire not being properly grounded. I haven't had the chance to get mine looked at, due to COVID-19.

I have a game plan when i return from lunch that i'm going to test. I'm planning on tapping into the SPDIF ground wire at the passenger kick panel, and run it temporarily to chassis ground. If this is an issue of the SPDIF shielding not being properly grounded, then theoretically this should show promise.

 

[JBoss20]

I have a game plan when i return from lunch that i'm going to test. I'm planning on tapping into the SPDIF ground wire at the passenger kick panel, and run it temporarily to chassis ground. If this is an issue of the SPDIF shielding not being properly grounded, then theoretically this should show promise.

Audio/video clip of the Stinger i'm dealing with for comparison. If it'll upload.

 

[jfol]

Hello everyone,

I just picked up a 2018 Stinger GT1 that has this same audio issue as above and it is driving me absolutely wild. I've reset to factory settings, shut it down, turned back on, unpaired and repaired the phone, tried car play. As far as I am aware I have exhausted all recourses besides bringing back to the dealer to solve this issue. Did anyone finally figure out what the true culprit is? The sound system is too good to just not listen to music in this car.

Thanks in advance!

 

[MerlintheMad]

Hello everyone,

I just picked up a 2018 Stinger GT1 that has this same audio issue as above and it is driving me absolutely wild. I've reset to factory settings, shut it down, turned back on, unpaired and repaired the phone, tried car play. As far as I am aware I have exhausted all recourses besides bringing back to the dealer to solve this issue. Did anyone finally figure out what the true culprit is? The sound system is too good to just not listen to music in this car.

Thanks in advance!

Welcome. This thread is one of the most frustrating on the forum; I remember it now; no closure, at all. It's as if cyberspace ate the tech who was trying to solve the same problem that you're having (the post just above yours, and two before that) ...

 

[ebbebb91]

So my problem with the sound issue was one of my coil packs was going bad. Dealership changed it out under warranty and I haven't had the audio popping issue since then.

 

[87and66]

So my problem with the sound issue was one of my coil packs was going bad. Dealership changed it out under warranty and I haven't had the audio popping issue since then.

That is.... interesting. Very interesting. That’s for letting us know!

 

[jfol]

Extremely interesting. My car has been at the dealer for a few days now and they can’t seem to figure it out. They’ve sent their findings to Kia engineers for some help/guidance. I told them about this thread and the tech seemed certain it was the head unit or amplifier causing the issue.

 

[TWaid]

Hello - I’m new to the forum. I’m having the exact same issues as the original poster is/has had. I’ve had the head unit replaced last year - did not fix it. Just had the amp replaced last week - do not fix it. The dealer is a joke about fixing this. They have no clue. Has anyone got any resolution to this problem? I’m at my wits end.

 

[Ace Deprave]

I'm having the same issue on my G70. I couldn't find any threads on the Genesis board about it and decided to look here. I dropped it off at the dealership last week, haven't heard anything since. I'll post an update here once I have resolution.

 

[jfol]

As an update to a previous post, my dealership has been very unhelpful regarding the issue. The sound system in this car was used as a selling point from the dealer to me. I make weekly calls inquiring about the issue and am met with the same bullshit sorry and that they are not willing to try things without warranty authorization from Kia. Dealership told me to contact Kia Corporate and open a case to speed up the process with the field tech who has been looking into the issue since November 20th. I opened a case with Kia Corporate on Dec 16th. On Dec 29th, I got a call from corporate apologizing and saying there was nothing that could be done while the field service tech looks into the issue. It’s been 49 days since the car was brought back to the dealer with this issue and nothing has been resolved.

If this issue could be figured out and fixed, I’d enjoy my purchase a ton more. In the mean time, I’m driving around a car with a unusable sound system, the same one they used as a selling point. I’m extremely angered towards the dealer/corporate. I had a WRX blow up on me and had an entire engine put into a car within 2.5 weeks under warranty. This is getting ridiculous and this feeling of helplessness in fixing this issue and making the car whole is making me consider trading it in and steering clear of Kia forever.

 

[Dueller]

Let me add a little tid bit here. we opened a claim against KIA about this pop/cutout in April of 2020. The dealership replaced the amp but that didn't fix it. That's when corporate jumped in and after 3 months decided to replace the fuel pump.....huh? anyway no surprise it didn't fix it. The person I deal with at corporate, Jessica, is basically worthless. Same BS every time I call for 9 months!!!!!! they haven't offered to pick up a payment or cash back or anything except dead air. The dealership is fine, it's the "field tech" Alex and the supposed engineers from Kia that I feel aren't doing anything. I asked for some email proof that something is being done and was told no. Now we are going to go to the BBB direction that is outlined in the warranty book. I have tracked all my time, phone calls, visits to dealer and paperwork. This will come into play during arbitration.
Anybody know if this issue happens on the 2021 models? Might try to push for a new model.

 

[jfol]

The last I had any useful info from my dealer was them asking me to put the car in accessory mode and see if the popping/cutting out exists while music is playing. It doesn’t. Only exists when the engine is running. I’ve been doing research and like someone else above said, it could be coil packs going bad and creating electric interference somewhere in the radio/speakers. It’s not every time a cylinder fires, but my sound system is now completely unusable as it happens so often. I’m thinking of trying one last ditch effort and replacing the coil packs myself before ditching the car and buying a Honda. I’m humbled I’m not the only one experiencing this circle jerk but I feel bad that nobody is getting any answers as of late. My dealer won’t even experiment and try testing issues that were found to work on this site. What good is a warranty that doesn’t actually perform warranty work on broken equipment?

 

[Pandru]

I haven't read through the beginning of this thread, are these issues all pertaining to the Harmon Kardon system? Maybe I don't regret not getting a GT1 too much now lol

 

[jfol]

So my problem with the sound issue was one of my coil packs was going bad. Dealership changed it out under warranty and I haven't had the audio popping issue since then.

Did you have any CELs or misfiring happening as a result of your faulty coil pack? It would make sense for this to also be the issue in my case as the audio system works perfect with the car in accessory mode. As soon as the car is in ignition, the popping and cutting out starts up. I’m getting ready to order coils and replace them all to see if this could potentially solve my issue, but just want to know if you experienced any other issues prior to your fix. Thanks!

 

[Duox]

Hey all, I never got the issue fixed. It's less prevalent now, but happens from time to time still. Just have given up on solving this cars multiple issues with nonexistent customer care at the dealership.

 

[Duox]

Hey all, found a new dealership, taking it in to get the sunroof fixed. Then if they are successful, I will have them look at audio. This new location is much more promising that they try.

 

[Justin B]

Really feel like they're waiting until warranty runs out for these kind of issues...