Rockin' and Rollin': Tips and Tricks for Restoring Your Car's Audio Systems

Cruising around in your favorite car to some legendary tunes is an experience that no one should be denied. Unfortunately, especially as they get older, many cars’ audio systems start playing up, and some stop working completely, putting an end to your driving soundtrack.

Fortunately, there are a few ways to restore your car’s audio system for more entertaining drives. Here are four to get you rockin’ and rollin’ on the road again.

Give it a good old reset

The good old turn it off and turn it on again fix. If your car’s audio system is just a little bit buggy due to age or lack of use, it may be fixed with a simple reset. In fact, this is the solution to many of the most common car audio issues. Here’s how you do it:

Without starting the engine, turn your car off
Turn the radio off
Press down/turn the radio power button off for 2-3 minutes

After turning the power back on, your audio system should have reset.

Replace it with a new one

Some cars have fairly easily replaceable stereo systems, especially if they’re the old-school radio/cassette tape combo or CD player with a clip-off face. If yours is one of them, you can replace it with a new system by simply removing the old head unit and inserting a working one.

However, this method isn’t recommended if you lack technical skills or experience in this area. You don’t want to do any further damage to the system or to your car’s interior.

Hire a professional to fix it

Some tasks are best left to the pros, especially if your car is a classic. If restoring your car’s audio system means removing any parts of the dash, replacing the interior door panels, or redoing the wiring, it’s a good idea to have someone with working knowledge of how to do it right.

If you’ve restored a few classics or done a few modifications before, you can give it a go, but it is a specialized job. In more modern cars, you may need special tools, so give it some thought before you start work.

Prevention is better than cure

If you want to keep your car audio system in tip-top condition, you need to follow these tips to ensure it’s functioning optimally:

Keep it clean – Don’t let dust, sand, and dirt clog up your audio system components. Use a clean microfiber cloth to regularly dust and polish your car’s system. Avoid harsh chemicals and sprays that can cause excess moisture in audio components.
Keep it cool – Heat can cause wires to melt, amplifiers to get brittle, and other components to degrade. Keep your car out of direct sun for long periods of time, and if possible, store it in a garage or under cover when not in use.

Use your system regularly – Lack of use can cause components to degrade, corrode, or seize.
Don’t expose it to the elements – Extreme heat, sand, and moisture can shorten the lifespan of your car audio system. Keep the inside cool and dry at all times.

If you look after your car’s audio system, you can keep it functioning at its best for years to come. Treat it with care (and crank it up often!), and any issues that do arise should be minimal.