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TK-8180 No Audio

newsnick175

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I have a TK-8180 installed in my car. With the control head under the dashboard and the radio mounted in the trunk.
It turns on when I start the car. On start-up it no longer has any audio at any volume setting. It transmits and all functions
are unaffected. Should I be suspicious of the cable between the radio and the control head?
 

MTS2000des

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I would also check the speaker itself to verify that it hasn't gone open or the little connector come unplugged off the board inside the CH itself.
Would not hurt to connect the CH directly to the radio brick and see if the audio comes back, if so, then your cable might be pinched, damaged or hosed.
 

newsnick175

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I would also check the speaker itself to verify that it hasn't gone open or the little connector come unplugged off the board inside the CH itself.
Would not hurt to connect the CH directly to the radio brick and see if the audio comes back, if so, then your cable might be pinched, damaged or hosed.
I think there might be a speaker output on the back of the radio itself, if that works then it’s the cable.
 

wwhitby

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I have a TK-7180 that I need to look at because its doing the same thing. No audio through the internal speaker. I haven't cracked it open yet, so please let me know what you find out about yours.
 

AM909

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Note that phone jack on the back of the radio does switch the speaker audio through it, so it can be something as simple as corrosion or other damage in that jack.

There's also a connector (CN428) inside the radio right behind that jack, with a jumper between pins 2 and 3, that audio runs through.
I think I had to replace an audio chip (IC417) once.

I have (rarely) had to replace those internal speakers. They are pretty rugged, but failure is not unheard-of. They've also become insanely expensive, at current MSRP of ~$56. :eek: I'd probably go with an external speaker instead of replacing it if bad – they're not marked discontinued, but they are not in stock at PacParts or Kenwood, and may not get enough demand to get them to make more.
 

mmckenna

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Well I’ve connected an auxiliary speaker to the back of the radio and that’s how I’m hearing it now.
I’m not a tech so that’s the way it goes for now.

Nothing wrong with that. Probably means the internal speaker is disconnected or bad.
But honestly, an external speaker with a big cone will sound way better than the internal speaker.
 
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