LeeWoo

Today I tore apart my interior to install the Mazda Genuine iPod Integration kit. I didn't want to follow the instructions of mounting it in the glove box, so I ended up putting the integration module under the ashtray compartment and then running the cord to the back of the car and out where the secondary cigar lighter is. It was a big pain because I originally tried to put the module under that rear console but could not clip the console back down and had to pull everything back out.

Everything is hooked up now and back together. When I turned my car on I got nothing from the radio console. No lights or anything. Searching our forum I found that the faceplate of the radio seems to have some magic connection to running everything (including like a/c controls and all that). So after a soft karate chop to the smooth part right in the middle of the radio I get display and a/c. There are however, two problems I can't seem to figure out here or find on our forums if anyone has some ideas?

1) My TCS light is flashing now and my slippery roads light it solid. I tried the button for obvious reasons and also let the car run for about 20 minutes since the battery was disconnected for quite awhile.

2) I get hardly any sound out of my stereo. At first, I thought I was getting no sound at all from radio, cd, or iPod. After turning the volume to MAX and turning off my A/C I could hear sound coming out of the speakers. The volume is maxed out and I had to close the doors and turn the A/C off to hear it. It's that quiet.

I tried searching for these issues but couldn't find anything. Let me know.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

1) Did you disconnect the battery. If so, page 5-25 of the Owner's Manual
2) Did you not disconnect the battery until you already started the install? The head unit and some other stuff is powered, even if the key is off. Many references in thes pages to destroying it during mods with battery connected.

My guess is that you didn't cut the battery power, got across something causing the voltage to drop enough to require a DSC reset and frying part of the stereo at the same time. If the battery was off for the entire time, try re-seating the connectors on the back of the HU.

LeeWoo

The battery was completely disconnected during the install. I removed the negative battery cable and double wrapped it in electrical tape before I did anything. Also, today I took the stereo back out (same situation on the battery) and checked that all wires were secure inside the white clips and then made sure all connectors were secure to the back of the stereo when I plugging them in and then once again once they were all plugged in. Any other ideas let me know. Thanks.

LeeWoo

I fixed the DSC light issue. Thank you HiFlite, it was the instructions listed on page 5-22 of the owner's manual (turn the steering wheel completely clockwise, then completely counterclockwise).

The sound is still an issue. I also found out there is no audio at all coming from any of the rear speakers.

LeeWoo

I also checked all interior fuses today and everything looks fine.

HiFlite999

iTrader: (2)

Barring other ideas, perhaps the best next course is to uninstall what you just did, checking at each step whether the problem goes away. Long runs of input-level wire are iffy anyway. Or perhaps the addon unit is defective and presents a dead short to the input stage of the HU. Dunno.

LeeWoo

An update here. I started my car the other day and the stereo worked fine, but the display wasn't on. I pushed on the faceplate and the display came on, but the sound went out. Pushed on the right side of the faceplate and the opposite happened, sound came back on but the display went out.

A friend of mine find a post that said there's some connections on the back of the faceplate that might have come loose. I took the stereo back out and re-sat the connections (small metal fins on both side of the stereo). Now my display stays on no matter where I push on the faceplate but I still have no sound.

Again when I mention I have no sound it means I can't hear it unless I turn it up all the way and even then I can barely hear it.

I was going to take it to Mazda to try and have the head unit replaced under my aftermarket warranty but I found out they don't cover that. So feeling pretty screwed at the moment.

ZoomZoom999

Could the lack of volume be an issue with the amp. i.e., you're hearing the unamplified output of the head unit?

LeeWoo

Alright, after all sorts of crazy business including soldering wires together behind my dash, it turned out to be a real bad case of RTFM. The jumper wires from the iPod harness only need connected if it is a CX-9 as shown here in the image. After disconnecting them everything works perfectly. Time for a beer.