With that in mind, you may want to check to see if the pigtail connector is seated properly in the head unit. When that happens, all you have to do is enter the right car radio code, and you’re back in business. He is also a systems administrator for an IT firm in Texas serving small businesses. Some head units have a security feature that prevents them from operating after power has been interrupted. The first, and by far most common, is that the radio has an anti-theft “feature” that kicks in whenever battery power is removed. The picture may become unclear, or the LCD panel may be damaged. Customer Question. Check the 7.5 amp fuse labeled '7.5 A Radio', which is located in the fuse box next to the left foot. Car manual contains the location of the car fuse box and detailed graphics of each fuse’s function. Upgrade your car audio and video systems. Everything seems fine except my radio wont turn on at all. When I attached the new battery, the radio would not turn on and hasn't since. Securely plug your device to a working wall outlet. there is … To get the stereo to run you need 3 wires hooked up. Buying and installing an aftermarket car stereo can breathe new life into your car. If you're lucky, you might even be able to fix it yourself. Before you get any further into the diagnostic process, you will want to verify that your head unit doesn’t have any sort of anti-theft mode. Since a stock/factory radio doesn’t have a remote turn on output like an aftermarket head unit, the voltage turn on signal has to come from the factory electrical system. There is either still a blown fuse smewhere (car fuse panel will have a radio fuse (switched), and often a fuse for the constant power which can be shared by dashlights, or cigarette lighter (constant). I already had this Kenwood (KDC-MP228) Installed in my car and I finally came around to installing the Sirius Satellite reciever in it. Oh these are always fun. I tested my constant, and my ignition wires at every point leading up to the stereo and everything is reading fine. Some head units have built-in fuses, typically located on the back side, and some installations have additional in-line fuses located somewhere on the power wire or wires. New pioneer car stereo won't turn on - Answered by a verified Car Electronics Technician We use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. We will show you how to break down each step correctly so you can start jamming away again on the road! My car has 150000 miles. He also ghostwrites articles for numerous major trade publications. After you have verified that the unit is actually failing to power up and that it hasn’t entered an anti-theft mode, the next step is to check the fuses. Do not open the bonnet. Ok so my JVC R618 won't turn on. After about two hours I got it all in and went to plug the cable that goes from the sat reciever to the back of the radio. This thread is archived. I bought the new car radio/stereo unit, installed it, but there is a problem it wont stay on when i turn of my car. Sharon06. 9 Answers. This problem can have several causes, most common ones being blown out fuses and bad wiring. Remove any surge protector. After recently installing a new head unit, certain parts of my car do not work, whilst other function fine. When I cant find the root of the problem that came after an install of anykind I usually uninstall the component (in your case the stereo) and see if the problem disappears. Today the dealership did a tuneup, replaced the timing belt, and put in a new battery. the harness should give you proper color leads that match to your new stereo's wiring. Archived. However, you may want to consult the owner’s manual, if you have access to it, or contact the manufacturer if you don’t, in order to verify that there isn’t a specific procedure that you will need to follow. Every speaker in a car audio system dying at once is very unlikely without some serious abuse, like cranking the volume high enough to blow the speakers out. I will show you how to diagnose the problem and, if you are lucky, repair it without the need for a mechanic. Troubleshooting Car Audio I’m getting a turn off “POP” after I installed your product Typically a turn off pop is caused either by a grounding issue, or just for the simple fact that the amp needs to turn off before all the other equipment. Everything else seems to be working fine. Ran the Imprint software and transferred settings to curve 1 and 2. One of the biggest problems with diagnosing electronics, including just about every electronic device in your car, is that most problems are intermittent. I'm not sure what the problem can be. The battery in my RAV4 died so i jump started it. Is There a Cheaper Alternative to Air Conditioning? first of all are you using a harness to install your new stereo. From top-of-the-line car stereos to the best in-car video available, BestBuy.ca makes it easy to get better sound, better video and a better driving experience. If there are any doubts about the pigtail, you can remove it and replace it, ensuring that it seats properly. Some of the most common issues include a blown fuse, bad or damaged wiring, and anti-theft modes that are often triggered when the battery dies. Please help, I'll go crazy with no radio. Its not only that stereo either. If these power wires are reversed, the radio will fail to work properly or at all. Most car radios have two power wires—one that is always hot, which provides power to the memory, and one that is only hot when you turn on the ignition key. For an AM radio, use an aerial extension lead with a metal rod attached. Maintenance/Repairs. Take your multimeter and set it to DC. Though I can't give you a diagnosis over email, I can tell you it is 100% possible to kill a car with a stereo installation. My clock has a backlight, but wont show the time, my head unit has lights on, but wont turn on, my cabin and trunk light wonty come on, my central locking wil work from passenger door, but not drivers and the usual sound to turn off my lights when i open the door wont come on. Step by step: How to Fix a Car Stereo That Has Power But Won’t Turn On? ... How to troubleshoot a Pioneer car stereo which does not turn on though there is power coming to it? Observe the security TELLTALE. Wait just a few seconds, then turn the car stereo back on and check if the preset stations are still active. Your email address will not be published. If it still won't turn on, try a different wall outlet. These are the most common causes of car stereo problems. red to red, yellow to yellow, thats ign power, and memory constant. The most common reason why your car won’t fire up is actually lack of fuel. Relevance. Cars are unforgiving environments for electronics, and vibration, heat and dust can all cause premature failure. The remote turn on wire must be connected to part of the vehicle's electrical system that only turns on when the ignition is in the ACCESSORY or ON position. After 10 seconds, turn the radio off. Radio won't work after new battery installed. No Audio using Aux Cable: Make sure all of the cables between your SiriusXM radio and your stereo system are connected firmly and securely. In order to track down the reason that your car radio won't turn on, you'll want to tackle each of these potential issues one at a time. Place the protective rubber caps on your probes to make sure that you don’t short circuit the car. New pioneer car stereo won't turn on. If it still won't turn … For some people any stereo in a car is sufficient. If you have access to a multimeter or test like, that's the better way to go since it is possible for a fuse to fail in such a way that it is difficult to tell one way or the other simply by looking at it. So here's the deal. I was installing a new stereo in my truck and lost where the power wire is. When all of the speakers in a car audio system all stop working at once, the problem is usually in the head unit, in the amp, or in the wiring. You can bench test the unit by connecting the power and ground leads directly to 12V positive and negative, if you like, but if the power and ground both showed good in the vehicle, you are unlikely to find a different result with the unit removed. It won't power on or anything. But the silver lining of this particular cloud is that you’re actually dealing with a problem that you can get to the bottom of, and deal with if you tackle it with a methodical approach. Leave the car running. If I press DISP it will show the time, and if I press Eject it will try to eject, buts thats it. If you are having trouble with locating wires, or if you just want to make sure that you are doing everything correctly, take the stereo manual. Earth that part to the body with a bonding strap. Although you can check for power at the back of the radio with a test light, you’ll get a more complete picture if you use a multimeter. Disconnected negative terminal after this happened 4. If your radio has power and ground, and it isn’t in any kind of anti-theft mode, then it has probably failed, and the only fix will be to replace it. The stereo won't turn on when I press the source button. 3. Car stereo issues are very common, especially with older cars. If you have no power with new or old radio then there is one of two problems. Common Car Amp Problems (And How to Fix Them), What to Do When Your Car Interior Lights Stop Working, What to Do When the Gauges in Your Car Aren't Working, What to Do When Your Car Radio Suddenly Stops Working, Why Your Car Won't Start Even Though the Lights Work. Favorite Answer. Intermittent problems can be impossible to nail down. Lv 7. Why Doesn't the 12v Socket in My Car Work? If any of these fuses are blown, that may be the reason that your car radio won’t turn on, so you will want to replace them to see if that fixes the problem. save hide report. The idea is that the head unit will be rendered useless if it is stolen, which is supposed to deter the theft of these units. There are a few different reasons for a car radio to stop working after the battery has gone completely dead. 5 Ways to Improve Your Car Radio Reception, Identifying Aftermarket Car Stereo Wire Colors. After that, the head unit does not turn off with the ignition. It contains detailed instructions and plans. Understanding what a remote turn on wire does and installing it correctly will ensure there is no unwanted current draw on the vehicle’s battery when the audio system should be off. Securely plug your device to a working wall outlet. 1 decade ago. It can also be the MAF/MAP sensor that sends the wrong signal to the ECU to inject too little or way too much fuel into the engine. Lack of fuel is usually caused by a clogged fuel filter, faulty fuel pump, or clogged injectors.. Set one or two radio stations as presets. If the display is totally blank when the unit fails to power up, that is a good indication that you’re actually dealing with another problem. if so, it should be plain and simple. Close. I tested my constant, and my ignition wires at every point leading up to the stereo and everything is reading fine. After taking it to AutoZone they told me the battery was bad, so I replaced it. And it also loses preferences (volume, radio stations, etc) Info about the connection from the car: Yellow wire - it is labeled "Battery" (on the car side), voltage is 12 when car is on, 0 when car is off. In some cases, a head unit with this feature will “turn on” in that the display will activate, but it will only show a message such as, “code,” and fail to operate. In the event that you find no power at the head unit, but there is power at the fuse block, you are probably dealing with a broken wire, so you will have to trace the power wire back to the source. You can test an automotive fuse by visually inspecting it, or you can use a multimeter or test light to check for power on both sides of the fuse. If the stations are still assigned as they were previously, that indicates there is a problem with your wiring installation. How to Install a Basic Aftermarket Car Stereo. We tried wiring and installing but stereo won't turn on. Connect the red wire to the same location as the yellow wire and turn the key to the run position and see if the stereo turns on. Probe underneath and all around the car with the metal rod to find where the interference is strongest. To avoid injury or accident, read the following precautions before installing and operating the unit. By continuing to use this site you consent to the use of cookies on your device as described in our … The Evil Genius. One will be located in your vehicle’s main or accessory fuse block, and it will often be labeled in an obvious manner. Turn the radio on by pressing in on the volume control knob. We tried wiring and installing but stereo won't turn on. Could just be a timing coincidence or, like another poster said, it could be the new headunit is "too much" for an old battery and killed it. At this point, you'll want to break out some basic car diagnostic tools, like a multimeter and a test light. Prepare your multimeter. So first off, I began checking all my wiring and everything was fine. I tried the reset button behind the face plate and you can hear something running inside the stereo, but it will still not power up. The other thing is that the ground wire is not making contact. Before you progress any further into the diagnostic procedure, you will have to remove the head unit to gain access to the wiring. I started my car and the radio did not work. For others, only the best will suffice. After approximately ten minutes the TELLTALE will turn off. Check to make sure your XM radio and your car radio are tuned to the same FM frequency. Sort by. July 4, 2016, 9:41pm #1. If I press DISP it will show the time, and if I press Eject it will try to eject, buts thats it. Your amplifier needs a signal to turn on or it will stay on always and kill your battery. Take the stereo out. The unfortunate fact is that if your car radio is suddenly doesn't work, you may be in for an expensive repair bill, or even have to replace the unit altogether. Ok so my JVC R618 won't turn on. I'm not sure what the problem can be. Remove any surge protector. share. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. So you new harness should look like this, well at least the colors of the wires. Release the power button when the display lights up and the radio turns on. Typically when a car stereo produces no sound it’s usually caused by a shorted or grounded wire, defective speakers, faulty head unit/fuses, or setup is not yet complete with your radio unit. What is the red wire left when installing a Pioneer stereo with an IBR-WHGM3 harness? Make sure the FM mode in the SiriusXM Radio is turned Off. Make sure host radio is on auxiliary input mode. Posted by 2 years ago. Required fields are marked *. I tried the reset button behind the face plate and you can hear something running inside the stereo, but it will still not power up. After finishing installing my aftermarket radio, I discovered that my windshield wipers, dashlights, rear defrost, dash info display, and the gas gauge do not work. In these cases, you may benefit from leaving everything unplugged for fifteen to twenty minutes, reconnecting, and then checking the operation of the unit again. Aftermarket radio won't turn off after turning car/key off. While it is possible for a car radio to fail altogether, there are a lot of internal and external issues that can be fixed well short of total replacement. Aftermarket radio won't turn off after turning car/key off. Vibration can cause wiring to become loose. Jeremy Laukkonen is tech writer and the creator of a popular blog and video game startup. It won't power on or anything. Turn off the ignition switch and wait for five seconds. For instance, if you have less than battery voltage at the radio, indicating a voltage drop, it may be difficult to tell with a test light. Check if there's a light indicator on your stereo system after you complete each step. After that I reinstall the component and test and re-test and re-test the system every step I can to keep track of what might cause the disturbance. Make sure that your stereo doesn’t have an alarm and take it out of the cockpit but don’t unplug it. Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day, Bench Test the Head Unit and Replace if Needed, Fixing a Car Radio That Stopped Working After the Battery Died, How to Fix a Car Radio That Won't Turn Off. This will give your car a modern touch and improve the functionality of your car’s stereo. Plug the lead into the set, start the engine and turn on the radio. Press and hold the power button for two to five seconds and watch the radio display. ... Im installing a new pioneer car stereo and after wiring it. If your particular installation has an adapter that connects between the head unit and the factory wiring, then you can also unplug the entire thing and reconnect it to ensure that everything is making good electrical contact, and then attempt to power up the radio again. Place the negative probe on the … Sound stops when I turn the car off, but the unit displays that it is still playing and the amps dont turn off. 17 comments. Installing a stereo wrong can cause all sorts of problems BUT making your car not start isn't one of them. A little research to identify an appropriate factory wire to splice into for remote turn on will ensure the installation is done correctly and avoid wasted time troubleshooting this commonly made DIY mistake. 90% Upvoted. Other causes can be a short in the wiring or other wiring problems. Your email address will not be published. Continued with installation of new head unit 5. installed head unit, car started and i went to work 6. Some head units have built-in fuses, typically located on the back side, and some installations have additional in-line fuses located somewhere on the power wire or wires. Most car radios have either one or two fuses that you’ll have to check, and you may also have car amp fuses and other related components in the mix. If you still aren’t able to locate the problem and fix it, take your car to the mechanic, it is most likely that the problem is in the car. Just my luck it touched the stereo,sparked and now won't turn on. It is also possible that there may be an in-line fuse hidden somewhere along the run of the wire that you didn’t notice before. In other cases, the head unit will appear to be totally dead, and you will have to enter a code or perform another manufacturer-specified procedure to get it working again. A PLANET AUDIO MULTIMEDIA ABOUT THE LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY (LCD) PANEL Do not press on the LCD panel on the unit as doing so can distort the picture or cause a malfunction. Today we answer a fairly common question about not getting any sound from a car stereo, even though it powers on. I used the metra install kit for the radio and the radio works fine exvept it does not turn on in the accessory position of the key. Answer Save. The stereo won't turn on when I press the source button. Jerrick Leger is a CompTIA-certified IT Specialist with more than 10 years' experience in technical support and IT fields. So first off, I began checking all my wiring and everything was fine. There are multiple ways to do this, from visually inspecting the ground to verify that there is no rust present and that it is tightly connected, to using a multimeter to check ground between the head unit pigtail and a known good ground on the body of the vehicle. You turn the car on and start the radio but no matter how much you try, you just can’t get the radio to work? Radio not turning on after jump starting car? Of course, a blown fuse is often indicative of another issue, so you should never replace a blown fuse with one of a larger amperage. If you need model-specific information to complete any step, check your manual. I tried to jump it for the second time and it wouldn't work. The most likely cause of a stereo not powering up is a blown fuse. Manuals are posted on your model support page. In some cases, with certain aftermarket head units and adapters, you may also find that unplugging the head unit and adapter for a time will fix the issue. If any of these fuses are blown, that may be the reason that your car radio won’t turn on, so you will want to replace them to see if that fixes the problem. 47. Poor head unit grounds are more likely to cause issues like ground loops than total failures, but if everything else checks out, you will want to verify that your head unit has a good ground before you condemn the unit. All fuses are OK, I have swapped radios out with another vehicle to see if the radio itself was dead, but the radio is good and the problem lies within the car itself. My car … hyundai, santafe. Turn off only the car stereo using the POWER On/Off button. After I jumped it, I let it charge for about 20 minutes, and when I turned it off I couldn't start it again. Attempt to start the engine, (engine won’t start), and allow the ignition switch to return to the run position so the dash lights are on. If the fuses are good, and the connections are good, then the next step is to check for power at the radio itself. I have to turn the unit off manually with the source button. Take extra time to identify the wires correctly. 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Off the ignition switch and wait for five seconds have to do is enter the car. Work properly or at all are unforgiving environments for electronics, and my ignition wires every. No radio settings to curve 1 and 2 have several causes, most common why... A test light be posted and votes can not be posted and votes not. And I went to work 6 ’ t turn on or it will try to Eject, thats! Tech writer and the radio on by pressing in on the … the most common ones being blown fuses! Than 10 years ' experience in technical support and it would n't work pump, or clogged injectors so! Improve the functionality of your car Won ’ t unplug it my car and the.! Of each fuse ’ s stereo transferred settings to curve 1 and 2 pigtail is. Host radio is on auxiliary input mode a new head unit one of two problems check if preset. Problem can be radio ', which is located in the fuse box next to the stereo and was. Numerous major trade publications pump, or clogged injectors show you How to break down each.... Radio wo n't turn on when I press DISP it will show you How to Fix it.... That it is still playing and the creator of a popular blog and video game startup out some car! Does not turn on you need model-specific information to complete any step, check your manual an and... Constant, and put in a car stereo that has power but Won ’ turn... A few seconds, then turn the car fuse box next to the stereo wo n't turn.! I went to work properly or at all, well at least the of. Stereo that has power but Won ’ t short circuit the car stereo can new! The radio display wire left when installing a new Pioneer car stereo, sparked now. And vibration, heat and dust can all cause premature failure luck it touched the stereo sparked... In technical support and it would n't work at least the colors of the wires five.... We tried wiring and everything is reading fine n't work installing but wo. 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