Radio/ Display screen problem
 

Hey everyone,

I recently bought a 2006 RX-8 GT. I love my RX-8 to death, brand new to the forum also, but my radio only half of it lights up and it only works when it wants to unless i have a CD in then it will play but cant use any controls on the head unit only the steering wheel controls, The display screen works but doesn't light up, I can shine a light on it and see it is working, just wont light up. I also have a HVAC problem i can control fan speed but not temp or turn on a/c or use any of the buttons. Is there anyway some of this is related?

Where'd you buy the 8 from? I suspect there is a faulty connection to the back of the radio, I would check that first (if you can reach that 10mm around the side :lol:). I'd put my money on a prior owner trying to take it out for some reason, probably left something disconnected or clipped a wire by accident.

I'm pretty sure the guy i got it off of the guy before him put a after market radio in but took it out when he sold it, I've taken the radio out every thing is connected, one wire was spliced but i reconnected it, didnt make a difference, im putting a aftermarket radio in it any way was just curious if i needed to but another display screen or not

If you're having problems with the HVAC too I don't think your display is the underlying problem. It's not uncommon to have these kinds of issues when you install a Metra kit either, so expect the problems to continue with a new kit until you can diagnose & fix the problem.

If I were you I'd check the integrity of each of the wires connected to the unit, just because they're connected at the ends doesn't mean they havent been tampered with out of sight. I say that because spliced wire makes me wonder if they tried the iPod mod on the unit, and also what else they could have done.

There are plenty of threads already started about this problem that will give you some insight into what's going on here, I recommend looking around a little bit just for some more background info.

Okay, will do, thanks for your help

problem display unit
 

I to have just bought an rx8 and the display unit only lights up sometimes. The garage i bought it of told me it work fine untill they changed the battery. Has anybody got any ideas before i start pulling the dash apart.

My problem was half my radio was fried. I changed my radio to a touch screen stereo, (aftermarket of course), as soon asni changed it I have the display and controls

not sure if its worth beating a dead horse but i too have a faulty display. it comes on and off and looks like it isn't getting enough power. any links to similar problems or solutions to this problem?? thanks

hello i have had the same issue, took the center console out to remove the ash tray and un-clipped the power cable(s) for the heater controls then removed the bolt on the drivers side (if RHD), or passengers side under the dash/footwell area (if LHD) pulled the radio out.

so i then proceeded to pull the radio out as it clips in at the top and bottom so requires pulling under the heater controls. i did notice the faceplate screws x4 had one slightly pulled out of the plastic faceplate recess. so you sometimes need to glue the gromet back in for the screw to go into from the radio/cd chassis into the face plate as there are little connectors that must sit flush with the faceplate.

i have done all of this and had to remove the air vents above the radio and the center dash cover for the speaker on the dash to get room to unclip the display on the back of the radio unit. so took it out and ensured the connections on the wire were all ok and connected it again. put everything back and switched on and just a red display, no text.

driving on the road the display showed some vertical pixels but no proper display. so to me it does sound like a power issue, but i am going to buy a 2nd hand working display and plug it in. after that then it must be a connection in the radio faceplate so will take the face plate off and check it all out.

pain in the butt removing and putting back in but there is a rubber screw on the back of the radio and unless the whole radio is back in then no power i have been told.

you can try pressing on your face plate around the half moon cover under the CD load area as some people have reported fixing the display doing this, which would mean a loose connection between the faceplate and the CD/radio metal part.

anyway see how you get on.

I think its just subliminal asian messages to buy more mazdas or something. Mine wigs out displaying constantly changing digits. I just give the radio a little push under the volume knob and im golden, or atleast until I run over another small bump in the road.

Just annoyed with it...

lol it could be. Mazda has been known to make shitty parts that you must replace over and over (tail lights and sun visors).

But I removed my dashboard also and couldn't find anything wrong with the connection. It probably the display that has been fried by the sun hitting it. I live in Miami and on a regular day, its about 88-90 degrees here.

No center console power FIX
 

Check it RX8 owners, who are experiencing the good ole "no radio power, no display, no AC" etc... Problem. This is what I have concluded and it should help all those who are experiencing the same issue. Youtube how to remove an rx8 head unit or center console, whatever. Learn how to remove the entire center dash. DO IT CORRECTLY! Otherwise you'll find yourself super gluing shit for awhile. Alright let's jump ahead to yhe point where you are on the verge or removing the center dash unit. DO NOT** just pull away at the black faceplate hoping it does something. Be a normal patient humanoid and gradually slide that bitch out. Once you SLIDE the entire unit out, black face plate connected and all. (If you disconnect the black face plate, unscrew the four connection screws, place the cylinder ends back into the black tubes connected to the plate and super glue them bitches!) back to the real shit, once you got the giant, heavy, inconvenient center unit out, disconnect all wires in the back and take that puppy inside where you got some bomb ass AC rockin' and sweat isn't pourin' off your nuts and you don't have swamp ass. Alright, you're inside, take a screw driver and unscrew the faceplate via those four connector screws. BE CAREFUL you reckless mother fuckers. Now, those little pieces of metal that the screws go through, which connect it to the entire radio itself. Yeah, the same four that the screws and faceplate connect to. BEND THOSE BITCHES BACK. AWAY FROM THE FACEPLATE, so that it is forced to draw the plate close and establish a better connection. This is what is causing you all this pain and suffering. Trust me I went though the same shit but fixed it all on my own, now I'm here to drop some knowledge on you. Reinsert the head unit after verifying you've created a better connection. Reattach all wires, screw the shit back in and it should work fine