Radio changes stations when car goes over bumps

[Shel_B]

The subject basically says it all, except that it's not all bumps, but assorted, random bumps and the bump going into my parking lot. It doesn't happen frequently, but maybe once every week or so.​

Any thoughts? Anyone have a similar experience?

 

[mk378]

Does it have channel selector button(s) on the steering wheel?

If there aren't external controls, the problem would have to be inside the radio.

 

[Shel_B]

Yes, there are steering wheel controls for the radio.

 

[Warstud]

Yes, there are wheel controls for the steering radio.

Huh !

 

[Shel_B]

Huh !

See correction ... Mr. Fumble-Fingers strikes again!

 

[FT92]

this isn't a lot of help but i had a 93 taurus that did the same think. Changed radios, checked wiring etc., never did find out why other than it must be a ghost...lol

 

[K-Man]

Might not be the radio itself, but one of the steering wheel switches or the wiring between the switches and the radio. If a switch is worn internally or the wiring is nicked, a bump could cause unintended contact.

Here's what would make that more likely than the radio being the culprit: when the station changes, does it go to another preset station? If it does, and the buttons on the wheel can only choose among presets, then look at the switches/wiring. If the station changes to another one that isn't preset, then I'd suspect the radio.

 

[Shel_B]

Might not be the radio itself, but one of the steering wheel switches or the wiring between the switches and the radio. If a switch is worn internally or the wiring is nicked, a bump could cause unintended contact.

Here's what would make that more likely than the radio being the culprit: when the station changes, does it go to another preset station? If it does, and the buttons on the wheel can only choose among presets, then look at the switches/wiring. If the station changes to another one that isn't preset, then I'd suspect the radio.

Thanks. I'll pay attention to the stations that the bump selects.

 

[meep]

My ford sync3 changes display screens if I hit a bump while in a left turn. There’s no button or surface control to do this; only a finger swipe on the screen itself. I’ve yet to figure it out.

 

[eljefino]

My 95 saturn did this when it was getting up in age. Went to preset #3. Just made that my favorite station to cope.

 

[spasm3]

76 buick in HS would change tracks on the 8 track over bumps. Occasionally would play a bit of two tracks at once.

 

[Blinker]

It could be the clock spring is failing.