Honda Accord: Sound Quality Diagnosis

Special Tools Required

Diagnostic CD 07AAZ-SDBA100

Use the following tests to check sound quality.

NOTE: Before beginning the following tests, write down the customer's bass, treble, fader and balance settings, then set them to their center positions for the testing.

Left/Right Channel ID

Do this test to confirm proper channel routing.

1. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

2. Play track No. 1 (left, both, right channel ID) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

3. The voice should be audiblo  only from the channel or channels when indicated.

• If the channel ID is correct for each side, go to phase test.

• Ifthe channel ID is not correct, check for

- Shorted speaker wire

- Faulty stereo amplifier

- Faulty audio unit

Phase Test

Do this test to confirm proper speaker phasing.

1. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

2. Play track No. 2 (phase) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

3. The voice should sound centered and focused when it is in-phase.

4. The voice should sound diffused, and have less bass when it is out of phase.

• If the voice changes from in-phase to out of phase as indicated by the prompt, the phasing is correct.

Go to electrical noise test.

• If the voice always sounds out of phase, phasing is not correct. Check for:

- Crossed speaker wire

- Faulty stereo amplifier

- Faulty audio unit

Electrical Noise Test

Do this test to check for electrical noise being induced into the audio system.

NOTE: Electrical noise may be caused by outside sources that cannot be handled by the audio system.

Make sure you remove any cell phones and/or turn off any aftermarket devices before beginning this test.

1. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

2. Play track No. 4 (digital zero) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

3. Operate any electrical device that may create electrical noise in the audio system, including starting the engine.

4. Play track No. 5 (near digital zero) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

5. Operate any electrical device that may create electrical noise in the audio system, including starting the engine.

6. Play track No. 6 (SNR) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

7. Operate any electrical device that may create electrical noise in the audio system, including starting the engine.

• If no abnormal noise is heard, go to the individual speaker test.

• If the noise is present only during the SNR track, replace the audio unit.

• If the noise is heard during the digital zero or near digital zero track, check for:

- Poor ground at the audio unit, amplifier, engine, or battery cable

- Pinched or shorted speaker or amplifier wire

- Faulty stereo amplifier

- Faulty audio unit

- Other faulty components causing excessive electrical noise (ignition coils, alternator, door lock actuators, etc.). Disconnect any suspect components, and then replay the tracks that were originally noisy. If the noise is gone, check the component's circuit and the component.

Individual Speaker Test

Do this test to identify a faulty speaker.

1. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

2. Play track No. 30 (steady 300 Hz tone) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

3. Listen to each speaker for poor sound compared to the other channels. Use the audio unit's fader and balance settings to help isolate the channel with the problem.

• Ifthe sound quality produced by a specific speaker is poor, substitute it with a known-good speaker. If the poor sound quality continues, go to the sound balance test.

• Ifthe sound quality is OK, go to the sound balance test.

Sound Balance Test

Do this test to identify a faulty channel or speaker.

1. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

2. Confirm the bass and treble are set to the center positions.

3. Play track No. 3 (pink noise) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

4. A static type sound should be heard through all speakers.

5. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit of a known-good vehicle.

6. Set the bass and treble to the center positions.

7. Play track No. 3 (pink noise) all the same level as was played in step 3.

8. Compare the sounds made by the two vehicles.

• Ifthe sound does not have as much bass, check the subwoofer and circuit.

• Ifthe sound does not have enough hiss, check the tweeters and their circuits.

Frequency Sweep

Do this test to find rattles or reverberations that may cause a perception of poor sound quality.

1. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

2. Play track No. 13 (sweep from 500 Hz to 35 Hz) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

3. Listen to each speaker for poor sound quality or reverberations caused by specific frequencies. Use the voice-over to estimate the frequency that causes the vibration. Use the audio unit's fader and balance settings to help isolate the channel with the problem.

• If vibrations or poor sound quality are heard, go to step 4.

• If no vibrations or poor sound quality are heard, go to sound judging.

4. Choose the appropriate track from No. 14 to 25 (small range frequency sweep) or 26 to 53 (single frequencies) to recreate the frequency that caused the poor sound quality or vibration witnessed in step 3; this aids in diagnosis of the cause.

NOTE: When you get to the track that recreates the problem, select the repeat function on the audio unit, this will help you isolate the cause.

5. Replace or insulate the source of the vibration or, if the speaker is the source of the poor sound quality, replace it.

Sound Judging

Do this test to compare overall sound quality, imaging, and dynamics between the customer's vehicle and a known-good vehicle. Only use a vehicle of the same model and trim level for this test.

1. In the customer's vehicle, set the bass, treble, fader, and balance settings to the customer's normal settings that were written down before beginning the test.

2. Insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

3. Play tracks No. 7 to 12 (sound quality, midland, dynamics, and imaging demonstration tracks) at a normal, or slightly higher than normal, volume level.

Write down the volume setting being used.

4. Listen to areas of the track that stand out as being either very clear or poorer than other areas of the track.

5. In a known-good vehicle, insert the audio diagnostic CD (T/N 07AAZ-SDBA100) into the audio unit.

6. Play the tracks at the same volume level and the same bass, treble, balance, and fader settings as used in step 3 in the customer's vehicle.

7. Listen to the same area of the track that stood out as being either very clear or poorer than other areas of the track.

8. Compare the customer's vehicle's sound quality results the known-good vehicle's results.

• Ifthe sound quality in the customer's vehicle is comparable to the sound quality in the known-good vehicle, then the customer's vehicle is operating as designed.

• If the sound quality is not comparable, check these items in order.

- Loose or improperly installed speakers or other hardware that may create interference from the vibrations generated by the speakers

- Poor power or ground to the stereo amplifier

- Damaged speaker(s)

- Faulty stereo amplifier

- Faulty audio unit

Seek Stop Test

Do this test to check the performance of the audio unit's AM and FM reception. Refer to symptom troubleshooting: audio sound weak or distorted, or no sound is heard from speaker(s) (display is normal) (see page 23-70) before continuing with this test.

NOTE: • Window tint, aftermarket theftVrecovery devices and other aftermarket devices may affect reception.

• Changes in cloud cover and other atmospheric conditions will affect the ability of the audio unit to receive radio signals.

1. Park the customer's vehicle in an open area away from buildings or other obstructions.

2. Park a known-good vehicle (same year, model, and trim level) next to the customer's vehicle, facing the same direction.

3. Start the engine in the customer's vehicle, and turn on the radio.

4. Set the FM receiver to 87.7 MHz.

5. Press the Seek + button, and record the first station that the audio unit locks onto.

6. Press the Seek 4- button repeatedly, and write down each station that the audio unit locks onto until the station recorded in step 5 is reached again.

7. Set the AM receiver to 530 kHz.

8. Press the Seek + button, and record the first station that the audio unit locks onto.

9. Press the Seek 4- button repeatedly, and write down each station that the audio unit locks onto until the station recorded in step 8 is reached again.

10. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0).

11. Start the engine in the known-good vehicle, and then do steps 4 thru 10 on the known-good vehicle.

12. Compare the number of stations received in steps 6 and 9 in the customer's vehicle with the number of stations received in the known-good vehicle.

• If the number of stations received is the same, or within 10 %, the audio unit's tuner performance is OK. The problem may be atmospheric conditions, multi-path interference, or other obstructions to the radio signal.

• If the customer's vehicle receives fewer stations by at least 10 %, go to step 2 of poor AM or FM radio reception or interference (see page 23-66).