RE: Bose blowups

["Buchholz, Steven" <Steven.Buchholz@kla-tencor.com>]

In my opinion it isn't really that big a deal, except that it has resulted
in the total loss of more than one car, and there is evidence that a similar
failure in Infinitis led to a recall.  Another unknown in the equation is
which cars are prone to the failure.  Hell, I've got no problem with a cap
going on a circuit board myself, but there's something about the thought of
a cap blowing and causing me to forfeit my car!  Since the wife is the one
who drives the car most ... and she's the one that actually tends to use the
radio ;-) so there's the issue of family safety for me as well.  I've told
her about what can happen and told her that the solution is to turn off the
radio as soon as any odd noises are heard in the rear speakers.  

>From my point of view we are still scraping for the sort of information that
the service guy you talked to apparently already has.  If he's talking about
the two large electrolytics, I would agree that it is something that could
probably be resolved ... but at least from what I've read posted about the
Infiniti recall the problem was leaking electrolyte from a bad cap that
caused some other failure which resulted in a fire.  Those electrolytics
sure looked a lot like the typical units I see used all over in automotive
and home electronics systems ... does this mean that simply replacing the
cap means that the threat is averted for a while?  I would like to know that
I have a final solution ...

Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)

> -----Original Message-----
> 
> I was in LA for Xmas and found myself having a look at the antenna
> on my mom's 94 Accord EX.  Ultimately we found ourselves at
> European Car Stereo on Artesia in Redondo Beach.
> 
> While a new mast was being installed, I happened to mention the failure of
> Bose speakers in Audi's.  He seemed familiar with Bose problems in many
> different makes of cars, but had never heard of one catching  fire or
> smoking.
> 
> He apparently has always become involved at the point where the
> speakers are hissing, popping, or otherwise sounding terrible.
> 
> He explained that they have integral amps which involves a capacitor
> etc. which was basically familiar to me due to list discussion.
> 
> He further explained that when the capacitor leaks it can damage the
> proprietary Bose circuit board which is not available separately.
> 
> His remedy is to replace the capacitor if caught in time.
> 
> I understand the motivation behind getting Audi or Bose to own up
> to this problem and take care of it, but if the remedy is as simple as
> it sounds (to me at least), aren't there bigger battles to win?
> 
> We do all kinds of proactive things to our cars, why not this?  If I lived

> in the area, I'd take my car to him and ask him to at least 
> have a look.