Looking for guidance on repairing my LI - the tower doesn't fully work when connected unless I lean the whole unit back with a wedge. Must be a loose connection in one of the tower pieces or the base unit. Would something like WD-40 sprayed help, or is this a factory repair? Thanks!
This sounds like a mechanical problem -- the connector in the base of the L1 tower is not making full contact with the socket in the base?
visibly inspect the connectors in the tower units to see if a mechanically defective connector may be the issue.
DO NOT USE WD-40 or anything similar. It has some qualities such as a water replant and lubricant but it is also an insulator. It should never be used on sensitive electronic equipment. If it gets into connectors, switches, pots, faders anything like that it may cause major problems.
OK, will check when I get home, but how will I know if a connector is defective, and why does the system work when I lean it back. No WD-40!
Thanks.
A visual inspection may show that it's "tilted" instead of flush with the bottom of the pole and thus can't make contact unless gravity is used to force contact.
It's a pretty standard and sometimes flimsy 4 pole plastic connector that's held in place with little "ramps" on each of the 4 sides. The cause of your problem could be that one or more of the "ramps" has broken off or slipped out of place and allowed the connector to sink into the tower. I'm not sure how to fix that (dismantle the tower?) but maybe Bose support can tell you over the phone.
Brilliant, Chet. Thanks.
Hi Rob,
I'm sorry you have to lean your L1 system back to get sound.
Check the screws as shown below.
And inspect the white connector at the bottom of the well and the bottom of the Cylindrical Radiator®. The picture below is of an L1 Classic, but the connectors are the same for the L1 Model II.
After you've checked things out, please call Bose Support and they can help you troubleshoot and tell you about service options.
Bose® Product & Technical Support at (877) 335-2673
(U.S. and Canada only)
Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET
Other regions
ST
Looks to me like that connector is a standard type of Molex that is usually used in more permanent connections of fixed equipment wiring harnesses. If that is true, unless Bose had special pin/socket crimps designed the standard Molex crimps will not tolerate too many re-connections. They will stand some 100's of careful in-outs but not 10's of 100's. So it could be that any of the pins/sockets are worn out.
The other thing that can happen is an individual pin/socket crimp can push back out of the plastic housing. The crimps have 'barbs' that lock the crimp in place. Sometimes the barbs do not dog correctly into place such that only friction holds the crimp. Over time they can work their way out and hence fail to make proper connection. See that ALL of the crimp-sockets and their mating crimp-pins are in the forward position and none of them look withdrawn into the plastic housing.
Hi, Thanks for the troubleshooting ideas. I tightened all screws and I believe to plastic housing is in the right place.
It appears that only the top half of the tower doesn't work unless I tilt the unit back, then it's fine.
Hi . I have a Bose L1 Model 2 (20yr old , but very seldom used). Problem- The Power light (Blue turned on) will fault (RED) and shorten out the song being played. Can this be fixed or a time to replace. As you know this unit cost a lot. that would leave me with two(2) towers and two(2) bass and a Tone Match Unit. Help// - Calvin