NEW Headunit Problem
05-18-2012, 05:23 PM
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NEW Headunit Problem
Ok so I'm having a serious problem with my factory bose 6 cd changer headunit...
A while back I pulled the unit to replace my iPod adapter since my brother found a way to rip the cable. Anyways, while I removed the headunit and ipod adapter, I went to put everything back together and noticed nothing worked, no LCD, no climate control, stereo, etc. I hit the corner of the unit since the two connectors on the faceplate are known to be the culprit of bad connections for the headunit combo. In the past, this fixes everyone's problem, except mine is different. I have even gone the distance of sourcing a new faceplate that works since I have the LCD display back where it'll say "mazda Rx-8" on startup, then just display the clock, nothing else. I have connected just the faceplate to ensure the connections are good, but oddly enough, I'm still getting nothing else, including functionality from the headunit at all. None of the stereo controls or steering wheel controls do anything, and the climate control only blows the fan. When I turn on the lights, everything on the faceplate illuminates, but that's it.
I have checked interior and engine bay fuses, and nothing is blown. The grom ipod adapter I just installed to test if I could get audio output through the RCA still doesn't output sound, but does charge my iphone, so the unit is definitely getting power. IDK what could be the problem though?
I'm about to order a whole new headunit from a forum member as my last resort because I feel something is still up with the headunit, IDK what though? Could it be the stereo wiring harness? How hard would this be to replace?
Any help would be greatly appreciated as driving around for almost a month now has been a nightmare!
Thanks.
A while back I pulled the unit to replace my iPod adapter since my brother found a way to rip the cable. Anyways, while I removed the headunit and ipod adapter, I went to put everything back together and noticed nothing worked, no LCD, no climate control, stereo, etc. I hit the corner of the unit since the two connectors on the faceplate are known to be the culprit of bad connections for the headunit combo. In the past, this fixes everyone's problem, except mine is different. I have even gone the distance of sourcing a new faceplate that works since I have the LCD display back where it'll say "mazda Rx-8" on startup, then just display the clock, nothing else. I have connected just the faceplate to ensure the connections are good, but oddly enough, I'm still getting nothing else, including functionality from the headunit at all. None of the stereo controls or steering wheel controls do anything, and the climate control only blows the fan. When I turn on the lights, everything on the faceplate illuminates, but that's it.
I have checked interior and engine bay fuses, and nothing is blown. The grom ipod adapter I just installed to test if I could get audio output through the RCA still doesn't output sound, but does charge my iphone, so the unit is definitely getting power. IDK what could be the problem though?
I'm about to order a whole new headunit from a forum member as my last resort because I feel something is still up with the headunit, IDK what though? Could it be the stereo wiring harness? How hard would this be to replace?
Any help would be greatly appreciated as driving around for almost a month now has been a nightmare!
Thanks.
05-18-2012, 07:06 PM
#2
Hmmmm.
First, I would check all the fuses with a multimeter. If you can set it to a continuity check with audible alarm, then touch the test leads to the test points on fuse (on each side of the fuse amperage rating) you can really blow through them all in about 60 seconds. If your meter doesn't have that, resistance will work fine, you'll just have to keep your eyes on the display. The reason being is that fuses can be blown, but look fine to the eye. Or they can even be partially blown. So while the headunit may be getting power, I don't know if the Bose amp has it's own fuse, how many fuses there are for the HVAC system, etc. It's just a quick double check. Due diligence.
It sounds like you've removed and re-installed the headunit several times, so I would assume all the connectors have been removed and reseated several times. Just to make sure they're all clicked in place.
Ensure there is voltage on the Bose amp turn-on wire. I can't remember which it is right off hand, but it's in the FAQ somewhere. If you have a tone generator, back probe the factory harness and send signal to one of the headunit outputs/Bose amp inputs. Whether you get your test tone out of a speaker should help you narrow down your problem.
Look over the exposed circuit board on the headunit assembly. Did you by chance bump one of them and break a solder? Some people have had problems with solder points on the HVAC portion, but that usually only affects the HVAC system...
Other than that my man.... I don't know. It's tough troubleshooting without actually being there. Your headunit is approaching 10 years old, and they're not exactly known for quality. It could have just taken a dive coincidentally when you installed your GROM.
First, I would check all the fuses with a multimeter. If you can set it to a continuity check with audible alarm, then touch the test leads to the test points on fuse (on each side of the fuse amperage rating) you can really blow through them all in about 60 seconds. If your meter doesn't have that, resistance will work fine, you'll just have to keep your eyes on the display. The reason being is that fuses can be blown, but look fine to the eye. Or they can even be partially blown. So while the headunit may be getting power, I don't know if the Bose amp has it's own fuse, how many fuses there are for the HVAC system, etc. It's just a quick double check. Due diligence.
It sounds like you've removed and re-installed the headunit several times, so I would assume all the connectors have been removed and reseated several times. Just to make sure they're all clicked in place.
Ensure there is voltage on the Bose amp turn-on wire. I can't remember which it is right off hand, but it's in the FAQ somewhere. If you have a tone generator, back probe the factory harness and send signal to one of the headunit outputs/Bose amp inputs. Whether you get your test tone out of a speaker should help you narrow down your problem.
Look over the exposed circuit board on the headunit assembly. Did you by chance bump one of them and break a solder? Some people have had problems with solder points on the HVAC portion, but that usually only affects the HVAC system...
Other than that my man.... I don't know. It's tough troubleshooting without actually being there. Your headunit is approaching 10 years old, and they're not exactly known for quality. It could have just taken a dive coincidentally when you installed your GROM.
05-19-2012, 01:06 AM
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Thanks. I actually got it replaced with a new one back in 08 under warranty, but it has been removed multiple times, so maybe I pulled on the wiring harness too hard over time and loosened it? The plug that powers the unit. When that plug is inserted into the unit, the cd changer makes the usual noise of the headunit receiving power, so this is really odd what's wrong.
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