Crackling/static in radio when moving any knob or button
 

I'm trying to figure this out - not a stereo system guy so amps and all that is alien to me. My GSL-SE has a horrid cracking/static whenever you mess with any button or knob (including the joystick), but the system still works minus one or two front speakers - power antenna included. My guess is corroded contacts in the radio itself, but I can't find any videos or info on tearing it down and cleaning everything (also don't want to break any trim trying to get it out lol). Also driving to work this morning with the radio, lights, and wipers on, the speakers went mute, works fine otherwise.

I'd prefer to keep the original unit in, but an aux port would be nice to have as well, so a new radio isn't completely off the table.

following for my own guilty pleasure

Since it's all knobs, I'd check the most common part which would be any connection from the joystick to the amps under the rear bins. My guess is the amps in the rear bin since they are the most susceptible to moisture or a bad connection.

Likely a cold solder joint in volume knob of radio. I took out radio,cassette player and equalizer,split the radio from the stack and sent it out to a radio repair shop where they resoldered several connections on volume knob. Cost me about $60 in 1993 money. Been good ever since.
I removed and cleaned contacts in joystick,not 100% but way better. Moving the stick around periodically has made it better.

Scratchy vs missing channels could be two different problems. The scratchy audio sounds to me like dirty potentiometers in the head unit and joy stick. The absolute first thing I would do is spray contact cleaner liberally into the pots, use the the little red tube to get right into them. It would be best to remove the head unit and expose the volume controls etc. Same with the joy-con. You want to use a cleaner, not a lube and NOT WD40. This is what I used and it has fixed scratchy pots for me in all sorts of old equipment.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rx7...f8ee48f8d0.jpg

THANK YOU, I didn't even know a "connector cleaner" existed. Picked up a can (CQC I think, quick dry like carb cleaner and not a lube), sprayed liberally in the volume and fader/bass knobs after taking them off (didn't remove the unit) and worked them back and forth, no more static when I adjust the volume or turn it off! Also sprayed the window switches and joystick and seems like a noticeable improvement in both. I think it's time for new speakers though, fronts are way too quiet.

Hey that's great news, so glad it worked out for you.