Station Memory Loss and CD Eject in Cold Weather

[msntuttle]

My 2007 Legacy Sedan has had a problem with radio station memory loss and ejects its CD overnight in the bitter cold.

 

We've been down to -10f here in Madison the last few days, but have driven the car frequently. Always starts, just wondering if it's the first sign of a failing battery or if the memory and cd functions are independent of the car battery? Maybe it's a rechargeable battery in the stereo head unit that is getting too cold?

 

My concerns are, at less than 2 years old, it seems soon for car battery failure. If it is independent to the stereo, will warmer weather resolve the problem?

 

Thanks,

 

Msntuttle

[nipper]

I doubt its battery failure, but you never know. Have the battery load tested. or try staring the car at midnight .

 

My guess is its the radio terminal that feeds the memory power. Its just a little loose. In the really cold weather it shrinks enough to loose electrical contact.

 

nipper

[mwatt]

My 2007 Legacy Sedan has had a problem with radio station memory loss and ejects its CD overnight in the bitter cold.

 

We've been down to -10f here in Madison the last few days, but have driven the car frequently. Always starts, just wondering if it's the first sign of a failing battery or if the memory and cd functions are independent of the car battery? Maybe it's a rechargeable battery in the stereo head unit that is getting too cold?

 

My concerns are, at less than 2 years old, it seems soon for car battery failure. If it is independent to the stereo, will warmer weather resolve the problem?

 

Thanks,

 

Msntuttle

 

Did you check the owner's manual yet---specifically about CD player function in very low ambient temps? I know I'm comparing apples to oranges here, but besides our Subarus, we have a Dodge Caravan, and the owner's manual specifically states in temperatures below 20 degrees "CD player will not function and CD display will show "Cold" until vehicle interior warms up"

Our 1998 and 1999 Legacys do not have that feature to my knowledge, but I wonder if Subaru incorporated it into later model stereos?

[jamal]

My 02-03 wrx cd-changer doesn't play cds sometimes in the cold either.

[OB99W]

[...]we have a Dodge Caravan, and the owner's manual specifically states in temperatures below 20 degrees "CD player will not function and CD display will show "Cold" until vehicle interior warms up" [...]

The laser mechanism and other drive parts can have moisture condense on them (as can the CD itself), causing erratic operation. Even if the player doesn't have an automatic lockout, it's probably best to wait for the car's interior to warm up a bit. However, I doubt that's the OP's problem, since loosing the station presets isn't protective in any way I can think of.

[nipper]

However, I doubt that's the OP's problem, since loosing the station presets isn't protective in any way I can think of.

 

It is if the car really doesnt like his/her taste in music.

 

 

nipper

[mwatt]

The laser mechanism and other drive parts can have moisture condense on them (as can the CD itself), causing erratic operation. Even if the player doesn't have an automatic lockout, it's probably best to wait for the car's interior to warm up a bit. However, I doubt that's the OP's problem, since loosing the station presets isn't protective in any way I can think of.

 

You're right---I didn't pay attention to the "loosing the station presets" part of the concern.....