Steering wheel radio controls / problems

My 2001 GT has started in the last week having some issues with the stereo. It's a stock stereo and it started with the radio sounding "fuzzy." Then the volume went up and down on it's own. Then when I pressed the mute button on the steering wheel the horn started honking. I have no idea what the problem is or how i should go about fixing it. Any ideas?

sounds like a bad ground to the radio, and the anomalies are occurring as it tries to seek it's own ground.

sounds like a bad ground to the radio, and the anomalies are occurring as it tries to seek it's own ground.

:wtf: In over 30 years in electronics I've never heard of that one, it's a first. A radio or anything electrical/electronic seeking out it's own ground?????? Must be a floating ground. lol. :lol2:


http://www.photodump.com/direct/coolrex/gtp558.jpg

sounds like a bad ground to the radio, and the anomalies are occurring as it tries to seek it's own ground.

That's new to me. :uhoh:

I think he means that the buttons/radio was grounding through something other than their own wired ground...

Regardless of what anyone meant here's what I suggest the original poster do. The horn activates with an application of a ground from the button. The mute button for the radio is on the steering wheel/column so therefore he should concentrate in that specific area even if it requires pulling stuff apart. Based on his symptoms it is quite obvious that there is either a wiring or component short between the radio mute and horn circuit. The circuit board panel holding all the buttons on the steering wheel would be the most likely suspect. There are isolation diodes and one could be shorted or there could a shorted printed circuit run. BTW - A dead short to ground should pop a fuse someplace. Just my 2 cents. :2cents:

http://www.photodump.com/direct/coolrex/gtp558.jpg
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