Radio changing station and volume by itself

It is not clear from the manual if you have steering wheel controls for the radio but it is a safe assumption that you do. If you do, I am not sure how they can say this is not related.

A clock spring is the electrical connection for all the switches in the steering wheel and the air bag. So the fact that you have any issues with these switches when you turn the steering wheel points directly to the clock spring.

Here are some guides that explain this a little more:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/symptoms-of-a-bad-airbag-clock-spring

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/steering-wheel-clock-spring-removal

If it were me, I would call the service manager and explain what is happening and as they look at it again as I am not sure what else this would be.

Let us know what happens.

Thank you for replying to me. I explain that my car radio was working perfect prior of them changing the abs clock-spring, therefore it has to be something they did. They ask me to wait until the mechanic look further. It has been a hassle to say the least. My car is a pre own certified and I didn’t understand how the clock-spring went bad at just 59,000. I finally got the factory to cover the new part, it took a week and a half to get the car back and now I’m dealing with this issue with the radio. Also the Bluetooth is failing, since it disconnects out of nowhere. I do believe the mechanic maybe didn’t install the clock-spring correctly or maybe is a defect on the piece the installed. I will let you know once they find out the problem, but I’m honestly fearing they won’t be able to and I don’t know what to do from there. I’m still paying for this car and they haven’t listening much to my concerns.

Totally understand. Thanks for the update. Let us know what ends up happening. Thanks and I am sure they will work it out. Sounds like they are just trying to save face so as long as they work it out they can save whatever face they want. :)

The dealership service got back to me and say he believes the problem is being caused by the coins my autistic son put inside the CD player. I’m a bit surprised because the coins have been there for a while and this wasn’t happening. Do you believe that? Is there even a service such a coin removal from radio?

Nope. How does the CD player effect volume and channel? That is not a question for you, they should be ashamed. Are you dealing with the service manager or owner of the dealership?

If not, I would call them first thing. If you had no issue before the replaced the clock-spring and now the radio changes channel and volume changes when you turn the wheel, I can't justify anything but the clock-spring.

Unfortunately, you are going to have to push this over the head of the people you are dealing with because they are just trying to find anything to blame but their work.

The other avenue you could take is to tell them to replace the CD player but if it doesn't fix it, you are not paying for it. In other words, if they are so confident in this seemingly ridiculous theory, then they can back up their thought with their money if it doesn't fix it. My guess is they won't agree to it.

I would just call the service manager or owner of the dealer tomorrow and tell them the full story.

I left a message for the service manager, never got a call back. The person in charge of service was the service adviser. I’m stuck in this situation, because if I take the car somewhere else it will void the warranty, and they already charge me around $600.00 for the work of putting the new clock-spring on. It was supposed to be $1,100.00 with the piece but after a full week I got the factory to give me for free. He say he won’t be opening the car again because they are convinced the weight of the coins is what it’s causing the problem. He said: you can get the coins removed but I don’t know if that’s going to fix it unless with get a new radio. I said; and if the new radio is not the problem? I honestly don’t have this kind of money laying around those days, I have two kids and I had spend an awful amount of money with Uber to send my husband to work, since they never offer me a rental while I wait for service to be performed. I don’t know what to do at this point. My car is preowned certified, 60,000 and I only got it for 2 years, still paying for it. I was very surprised when they say the clock-spring needed to be replace since I have taken such good care with my vehicle.

I thought I just give an update... they sent the car back and the radio broke in flames and the whole car is compromised. He offer to drop off the car to me and say it’s drivable and I just to use a screwdriver to switch shift... I meant, is that a joke? I’m filling claims now and most likely going to get a lawyer because I’m very stressed dealing with this whole thing, this shouldn’t have happened at all.

Not only consult an attorney but I would put another call into the OEM first because while the dealer is their own business, they have local reps that can intervene because they don't want to see this go to court. The dealer is not as involved in that because a lot of times the dealer is indemnified by the OEM. That means the OEM takes on the defense of the lawsuit rather then the dealer. I am not sure they would do that in this case as it sounds like a dealer issue but the OEM may tell the dealer to fix this and that will avoid the need for the lawyer. At the end of the day, we just want it fixed and if they will do that once the OEM tells them too then that is the best and easiest way.

If nothing with them happens, tell them you are getting an attorney. I know this is the process because I am an area rep for another OEM and that is pretty standard across all of them. Sorry this is happening. It sounds like this dealer is just a rudderless ship if the advisor is in charge. You may also want to just call the dealer and ask the receptionist who is in charge of the entire dealer. Either the owner or managing GM and then speak with them.

The sales manager call me yesterday after I filed a claim with my insurance. He say one of the coins got between the wires and cause the radio to catch on fire. As a result of the fire, it damage the car computer what won’t allow me to charge shift once it always will get stuck on neutral. He say they would once more run diagnostic. My insurance will send someone out to investigate the fire and if it’s caused by electrical rather than wear and tear, they will cover all. I consult a lawyer but he say the first thing I would need is to send a private mechanic to look and give a second opinion but nobody wanna get involved. I will defined look into what you told me in case this doesn’t get resolved. I wasn’t caring as much for the radio, but now other pieces got damage while they had my car at their care, I wanna things taking care of for once and for all, my only transportation is there stuck while I’m paying for the car and Uber rides I didn’t need to take. Thank you for all your help, it has been a huge help giving me insight on what to do and proceed. My thanksgiving is ruined for sure, what comfort me is that the fire didn’t happened while I was driving with my two kids in the car. Happy thanksgiving and God bless you for all the knowledge you provide me on this matter.

Thank you for the update. We are here if you need to bounce something else off of us.

Thank you for the kind words. We have our health and in a time like this, that is pretty important. So this is just a car. It will work out, I know that it will. It is not easy as a car is pretty important but God provides and while it is tough in the short term, it will work out.

Thanks again and let us know what else you need if anything.