Radio/Stereo: Description and Operation
INTRODUCTIONOperating instructions for the factory installed audio systems can be found in the Sound Systems Operating Instructions in the Owners Manual supplied with the vehicle.
The antenna is located in the windshield. The vehicles are shipped with fuse 4 removed from the fuse block. The fuse replaces the ignition-off draw (IOD) connector. Fuse 4 is a fifteen amp fuse. When removed it prevents the battery from discharging during storage.
The vehicle has an Infinity amplified speaker systems.
Infinity Amplified Speaker System
- Amplifier mounted under the passenger seat
- Two instrument panel speakers
- Two door speakers
- Three rear speakers in the audio system box
Remote Compact Disc Player
The Remote CD player is located behind the passenger seat back.
SYSTEM OPERATION
Interference Elimination
Some components used on the vehicles are equipped with a capacitor to suppress radio frequency interference/static.
Capacitors are mounted in various locations internal to the generator, instrument cluster and windshield wiper motor.
To eliminate radio interference, ground straps are used in different areas of the vehicle. These ground circuits should be securely tightened to assure good metal to metal contact. The ground straps conduct very small high frequency electrical signals to ground and require clean surface contact area. The radio ground is supplied from instrument panel and is attached to the rear of the radio.
Radio resistance type spark plug cables in the high tension circuit of the ignition system complete the interference suppression. Faulty or deteriorated spark plug wires should be replaced.
Remote Amplifier
The amplifier is located under the passenger seat. When the radio system is ON, and all or some speakers are not operating or have a noise distortion, refer to the diagnostic tests.
Remote CD Changer
The remote CD changer is located on the rear bulkhead behind the passenger seat back. The magazine is capable of holding up to six discs. The magazine can be ejected at anytime that the ignition switch is in the ON position. After the ignition switch is turned OFF, the magazine can only be ejected within one minute. After that period, the magazine will be locked in the CD changer.
Remote Radio Switch Operational View:
[1][2]Remote Radio Switches
Remote radio control switches are available on Prowler. Two rocker-type switches are mounted on the back (instrument panel side) of the steering wheel spokes. The switch on the left spoke is the seek switch and has seek up, seek down, and preset station advance functions. The switch on the right spoke is the volume control switch and has volume up, and volume down functions.
These switches are resistor multiplexed units that are hard wired to the Body Control Module (BCM) through the clockspring. The BCM sends the proper messages on the Chrysler Collision Detection (CCD) data bus network to the radio receiver. For diagnosis of the BCM or the CCD data bus, the use of a DRB scan tool and the proper Body Diagnostic Procedures are recommended. For more information on the operation of the [1][2]remote radio switch controls, refer to the Owner's Manual in the vehicle glove box.
AUDIO SYSTEM
There is one audio system available on Prowler. It consists of a corporate RBN radio with a 5 band equalizer and an external six disc CD changer mounted behind the passenger seat back. The system also incorporates an amplifier located under the passenger seat. The amplifier drives all the speakers. The speaker locations are: one in each corner of the instrument panel and one in each door. The rear speaker enclosure which is mounted behind the seats contains 2-3(1/2) inch full range speakers, one on each side of the rear speaker enclosure, and one centrally mounted dual coil subwoofer.
The speaker enclosure is made of a very thick roto-cast plastic. The enclosure is a two-piece design, it is the housing for a 6 1/2 inch dual voice coil subwoofer and 2-3 1/2 inch full range speakers. The dual coil feature allows one speaker to handle the left and right channels of a stereo signal. The subwoofer handles frequencies from approximately 60 to 80 hertz. It is electronically crossed over by circuitry in the amplifier and also acoustically by the design of the enclosure. The subwoofer is located in a ducted port style of enclosure. The subwoofer is mounted and sealed into the back part of the enclosure while, the front of the speaker cone works into a ducted port that effectively extends the low range of the speaker and also increases the efficiency of the system. When completely assembled, the subwoofer is not visible from the outside of the housing. All of the bass from the woofer exits through the ducted port located at approximately the passengers left shoulder area. Bass is characteristically non-directional so the physical location of the port is not critical for good bass reproduction. The housing assembly with speakers weighs approximately 14 pounds.
The amplifier, located under the passenger seat, is an 8 x 40 system. That is, 8 channels at 40 watts each for a total of 320 watts. It is built by Infinity/Harman audio system. It is turned on with an on/off signal from the radio and is responsible for driving all speakers and handling the cross over internally. Internal electronic crossovers allow more efficient splitting of the frequencies without losses associated with passive crossover systems. The amplifier also has short circuit protection in case of a speaker failure.
There are remote control switches on the back of the steering wheel for volume up/down, seek up, seek down, and preset station selections. For this reason, the radio will be connected to the CCD bus and will allow some diagnostics of the system with the DRBIII.
The antenna is sandwiched between two layers of the windshield. To provide better range, it uses an amplifier that is located under the I/P top cover on the passenger side. The antenna amplifier is turned on with the on/off signal from the radio.