Normal for the radio to be interrupted when latching/unlatching convertible top?
 

I've owned my 2017 Mustang Convertible for two weeks. I've been having a lot of fun with it, and drive with the top down any chance I get. I have noticed something interesting.

Once I get into the car, the radio is usually on. As soon as I release the top with the latch, or if I lock the top with the latch handle, the radio goes silent for a couple of seconds, then returns to normal. The radio isn't cycling on & off - everything remains active on the display. It's as if someone hit a mute button, and then unmuted it. I don't even have to physically put the top up or down - just locking & unlocking the top with the one-hand latch mechanism will trigger this phenomena each & every time.

Is this normal? Does this happen on your 2015-17 Mustang Convertible? Is there a reason for this? Would love to hear your input.

Thanks!

Not 100% sure, but almost sounds like some sort of safety feature ?? Just in case the radio's too loud and if the latch release is inadvertently un-latched, lets the driver know things have changed ? I'd take a quick look in the owners manual, maybe theres something in there.

Thanks - as I mentioned in my introductory post, I have yet to read the manual. :-) I fully intend to, but knowing I'm not the first to buy a Mustang, I figured someone out there might already know.

It definitely has something to do with the physical latching of the roof when the latches lock into the top of the windshield frame. If I tinker with the locking handle when the top is in the air, it doesn't happen. Knowing a little bit about electronics, it could be a safety mechanism for grounding. The top could potentially have static built up, and if there is discharge, a nasty amount of that discharge could create a rather loud & unpleasant experience through the speakers. Perhaps the radio isn't interrupted at all, & it's just the speakers being muted or turned off for a couple of seconds to allow for static discharge to occur. Just a guess, though.

There are some alerts that occur on the dash, and I recall a audible "dong" if I release the top with the engine running & in gear. It's almost idiot proof, but not quite.

Just an update to the "problem" I described. I finally took some time to read some parts of the manual (there's also an online version on the Ford Owner's site).


The manual very plainly has this statement:


"Note: When you latch or unlatch the convertible top, the audio system mutes briefly. This allows the vehicle to optimize the cabin’s sound quality depending on the position of the convertible top."


So there you have it. It's not a complicated reason, either. Extremely basic. Once again, just goes to prove that you'll learn things just to RTFM! ;-) And I should know better, too! Getting lazy as I age...