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2017 - Satellite XM radio getting stuck on XM channel/or not tuning to XM intermittently?

3270 Views 11 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  OutbackJon
It’s a 2017 2.5i premium. Past few months my factory radio has developed an intermittent problem where sometimes if I’m tuned to an XM channel it won’t let me tune to another XM - but will continue playing the current channel, or if I’m not tuned to XM it won’t let me tune off FM/AM to XM. Doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, only temporary “solution” I’ve found has been to turn off car completely and restart, and hope that it lets me use the XM radio again. But turning it off doesn’t always work. Sometimes this problem exists from when I start up the car, but other times I can have been tuning the radio normally and it will develop, at which point as I said I have to turn the car off. Anyone encountered this and know what the solution is? I’ve got the Subaru extended warranty so if it comes to that I’ll take it in, but would prefer to avoid driving to the dealer unless it’s necessary (and don’t want to drive there only to have the problem not solved). Thanks
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There's a new TSB out that addresses this and a WHOLE bunch of other possible issues. Basically for the XM thing, one or more of your presets are channels that SiriusXM has changed in their latest lineup. Delete your XM presets and start over with them. I just had to do the same thing. The default presets after a radio reset cause this problem as well.

Here's a link to the TSB if you want to read it for yourself. I think it's the last item in a very long list. (Item number 41 on page 39. The very last page.)
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There's a new TSB out that addresses this and a WHOLE bunch of other possible issues. Basically for the XM thing, one or more of your presets are channels that SiriusXM has changed in their latest lineup. Delete your XM presets and start over with them. I just had to do the same thing. The default presets after a radio reset cause this problem as well.

Here's a link to the TSB if you want to read it for yourself. I think it's the last item in a very long list. (Item number 41 on page 39. The very last page.)
Thanks, I will give that a try.
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Thanks, I will give that a try.
How do you delete presets? Also is there an update for the radio itself? Mine has done this exact thing 5 times already.
@Black Diamond Foz Just replace the presets with FM radio station presets. I guess "delete" was the wrong word to use. Doesn't even have to be a station that has any reception, just has to not be the XM channels that are there.

Also is there an update for the radio itself?
Yes, there is. I'm going to direct you over to the Legacy forums where there is an extensive thread about updates. I have the same handle over there, and I provide links to my Google Drive with all the current firmware (that I know about) on it. You don't have to read the whole thread, but the pages from the link below, where I came into the conversation, should help you out. Any questions, feel free to post here or PM me.

@Black Diamond Foz Possibly, if you're still under warranty. I'm not, and if I recall correctly, the dealer wanted at least $100 for the labor. :rolleyes:
What?! $100? How hard/easy is it to do the update yourself?
It's easy, if you've updated firmware on computers, etc. before. If you aren't comfortable doing that type of stuff, it can seem daunting. Knowing where to find the files and carefully reading the instructions is the only hard part.

And you have to be really patient. The first update file takes a long time to complete.
It's easy, if you've updated firmware on computers, etc. before. If you aren't comfortable doing that type of stuff, it can seem daunting. Knowing where to find the files and carefully reading the instructions is the only hard part.

And you have to be really patient. The first update file takes a long time to complete.
what exactly does the update do firmware?
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