[CivicRacerX]

First of all, you can turn the bass/volume up too high on a song with serious base and overload the stock speakers. However, in my 99 EX, I usually had the volume at max because the stock stereo sucked so bad, and I'd just compensate by turning the bass down a little if a song was causing the speakers to "bottom out". I'm sure you've experienced that: it's when the speaker basically cuts off because it can't handle the signal it's receiving, usually too much bass. However, it should only last as long as it's getting that signal. For instance, if your speakers were cutting out during a song and you turned the bass down, they should immediately respond and stop cutting out. You shouldn't have to turn the stereo off to keep them from doing that.

Now, if the problem you're describing is actually what you say it is, where the only way to get the sound back to normal is to turn the stereo off and wait a minute or two, that is not normal, no matter what the dealer says. The stock head unit, while it is a piece of junk, is still not supposed to overheat, regardless of the song you're playing through it. Now, if you were driving around with your windows up through death valley with the volume maxed out in 140 degree sun then maybe, just maybe I could see the argument for the circuitry overheating, but under normal conditions, it should never happen.

That said, Honda should issue a replacement head unit to you, assuming you're still under warranty. I don't know if adding your aftermarket speakers voided the warranty (in many cases a simple thing like that will), but you could try anyway. If the dealer gets testy, I would tell them you're going to complain to Honda about how they tried to tell you the problem was normal.

Good Luck :argue:

C