Phantom Radio 9 Problem - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

Kidbyte · 05-23-2009, 09:56 PM

Smart Family,

I remember this problem being discussed last year, but was unable to find the threads. I need some help, Smart folks.

I have a 2008 Passion with the Radio 9. It has, what has been called, the "Phantom Radio 9 Problem". You cannot keep the radio turned off. If you have the car running, turn off the radio, then turn off the ignition key, everything appears normal. Next time you start the car, the radio ALWAYS is turned on! It's very aggravating. OK, I have been told in the past that this was a problem with the 2008 Radio 9 only.

I took my car in for its 10K checkup and oil change and asked them about the problem. The service manager repeatedly called it "a small glitch". She would never admit it was a full blown design error or defect. She said that they "could not replace it" and that the problem was experienced by 2008 AND 2009 Radio 9 AND 10 models.

Has anyone else had this problem with Radio 9 AND 10 models? Also, did you have it repaired, and if so, how was the repair handled?

I cannot imagine Dave Schembri just ignoring a quality issue of this magnitude and forcing his service managers to tell customers that it is just "a small glitch".

Thanks so much for all your information!

mvaldes · 05-23-2009, 09:59 PM

FWIW, I have an '08 with Radio 10 and have never had any problems with it.

cubefx · 05-23-2009, 10:10 PM

Just a question, why just not turn the sound all the way down before you turn your car off, if you do not want your radio blasting next time you start your car? It is as easy as turn it off.

cubefx · 05-23-2009, 10:13 PM

Here is what I found

If you do not want the radio to come on when you start up- heres what you have to do... Turn the key off, the radio is now silent, now push the on-off button-the radio is playing. Now push the on-off button again, radio is now silent and will not come on when you start the car. If you do not play the radio the next time you start it, the radio will stay off. If you play the radio while you drive, then you must repeat the process.

John_H · 05-23-2009, 10:23 PM

Maybe this post in a familiar-named thread will help:

Radio Problem - Please Help

Kidbyte · 05-23-2009, 10:53 PM

Believe me, I have all the "tricks" down pat. It's just that I have never had a stock car radio to behave this way. By the way it looks, no Smart car owners are complaining about it, so it will never be fixed. That's kinda how Detroit has worked for years, also.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cubefx

Just a question, why just not turn the sound all the way down before you turn your car off, if you do not want your radio blasting next time you start your car? It is as easy as turn it off.

Kidbyte · 05-23-2009, 10:56 PM

Good grief. You don't work for Smart USA, do you?

Quote:

Originally Posted by cubefx

Here is what I found

If you do not want the radio to come on when you start up- heres what you have to do... Turn the key off, the radio is now silent, now push the on-off button-the radio is playing. Now push the on-off button again, radio is now silent and will not come on when you start the car. If you do not play the radio the next time you start it, the radio will stay off. If you play the radio while you drive, then you must repeat the process.

ccbox · 03-30-2011, 11:28 AM

I have the opposite problem.
When I turn off the key, the radio keeps on and on and on... I have to turn it off manually.
How can i make the radio shut down with the key?

PerryA · 03-30-2011, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ccbox

I have the opposite problem.
When I turn off the key, the radio keeps on and on and on... I have to turn it off manually.
How can i make the radio shut down with the key?

I posted recently with an intermittent problem where the CD started running with no disk and didn't stop even when I turned off the key. Thought I had a major problem because I'd have to pull the fuse or something or the battery would run down. Turned the key back on and off and it stopped. After that it hasn't repeated. The radio off, key off, key on and radio comes on issue did seem to be a programming issue or something because it was pretty common. Hadn't heard the radio staying on after the key is off though - other than my one experinece with the CD motor

I hate intermittent electrical problems because they never seem to want to repeat for the mechanic to diagnose. Look for the thread on my earlier post and see if some of the discussion helps.