GPS killed the radio star?
#1
user and abuser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GPS killed the radio star?
Ok so some really off the wall **** has been happening in my car the past couple of days. It all began friday when i started up my car and the radio didnt power on as it normally always does. So i drive down the road a little bit.. turned off the car.. turned it back on again.. and presto, the radio came on. OK so i thought it was a fluke occurrence, but then again the next day the same thing happened... start car, no radio. But this time i decided to see if it came on by itself eventually, which it did.. about 5 minutes later. And it didnt appear to be 'impact triggered', meaning i didnt hit a bump or slap the dash board with my face to get it to come on.. it just sorta came on as soon as it felt like it. BUT, an hour or so later as i was cruising the freeway the radio just turned off and then back on again moments later, also not impact triggered.
( now keep in mind that the radio AND the display are BOTH cutting on and off together, like a short circuit.. but the fans/heater/temp control all still work and light up as they should. )
Well just a little while ago, as i left for lunch, i figured out where the problem was coming from... its my navigation unit plugged into the cigarette lighter below the radio! Funny thing is i have had this navi for quite some time, going on 4 or 5 months now without a problem. But all of a sudden if i unplug the nav, the radio comes on.. if i plug the power cord back into the cig lighter the radio turns back off again.. very interesting.
So, with that said, does anyone know why the hell this would be happening? Its obviously a result of too much current draw out of the acc outlet feeding the navigation, but why now? after all this time? has anyone else ever experienced something similar? o_O
( now keep in mind that the radio AND the display are BOTH cutting on and off together, like a short circuit.. but the fans/heater/temp control all still work and light up as they should. )
Well just a little while ago, as i left for lunch, i figured out where the problem was coming from... its my navigation unit plugged into the cigarette lighter below the radio! Funny thing is i have had this navi for quite some time, going on 4 or 5 months now without a problem. But all of a sudden if i unplug the nav, the radio comes on.. if i plug the power cord back into the cig lighter the radio turns back off again.. very interesting.
So, with that said, does anyone know why the hell this would be happening? Its obviously a result of too much current draw out of the acc outlet feeding the navigation, but why now? after all this time? has anyone else ever experienced something similar? o_O
#3
user and abuser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
replace fuses? well either a fuse is good or bad, so how could the problem be related to a fuse?
The cigarette light still works, as does the radio.. just not when my navigation is plugged into it. If fuses were blowing then things would stop working all together...
The cigarette light still works, as does the radio.. just not when my navigation is plugged into it. If fuses were blowing then things would stop working all together...
#4
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 166
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm betting there's a ground wire loose somewhere on the cigarette lighter. That, or possibly a wire between the cigarette lighter and the radio have rubbed and the radio is shorting out when juice is being pulled from the lighter plug. Real easy to figure out if it's really your GPS, or if it's your lighter plug... Turn on the radio and use the cigarette lighter (not the GPS, the actual lighter). If it still does this, then you've got a wire connection issue.
Could be anywhere in the harness, but I'd bet it's back at the fuse block, 'cause that's the only place where wires are free to move/rub a little bit.
edit: whoops! Just re-read your post. Looks like you've tried the cig. lighter already.
So, if it is really the GPS unit, then theres a possibility the wires in the power adapter are messed up a little bit or something, causing a short circuit, but I don't see how that's possible since the GPS still works. Do you have anything else that uses a cig. lighter adapter (try the air pump if you don't)? It may be a wire has frayed and is touching the wall of the lighter plug or something, causing a short, but the cigarette lighter itself doesn't come in contact with the walls to make it happen. I don't know how, but it's got to be something with the power adapter to the GPS unit.
Could be anywhere in the harness, but I'd bet it's back at the fuse block, 'cause that's the only place where wires are free to move/rub a little bit.
edit: whoops! Just re-read your post. Looks like you've tried the cig. lighter already.
So, if it is really the GPS unit, then theres a possibility the wires in the power adapter are messed up a little bit or something, causing a short circuit, but I don't see how that's possible since the GPS still works. Do you have anything else that uses a cig. lighter adapter (try the air pump if you don't)? It may be a wire has frayed and is touching the wall of the lighter plug or something, causing a short, but the cigarette lighter itself doesn't come in contact with the walls to make it happen. I don't know how, but it's got to be something with the power adapter to the GPS unit.
Last edited by RX8-Frontier; 11-26-2008 at 09:30 AM.
#6
user and abuser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm betting there's a ground wire loose somewhere on the cigarette lighter. That, or possibly a wire between the cigarette lighter and the radio have rubbed and the radio is shorting out when juice is being pulled from the lighter plug. Real easy to figure out if it's really your GPS, or if it's your lighter plug... Turn on the radio and use the cigarette lighter (not the GPS, the actual lighter). If it still does this, then you've got a wire connection issue.
Could be anywhere in the harness, but I'd bet it's back at the fuse block, 'cause that's the only place where wires are free to move/rub a little bit.
edit: whoops! Just re-read your post. Looks like you've tried the cig. lighter already.
So, if it is really the GPS unit, then theres a possibility the wires in the power adapter are messed up a little bit or something, causing a short circuit, but I don't see how that's possible since the GPS still works. Do you have anything else that uses a cig. lighter adapter (try the air pump if you don't)? It may be a wire has frayed and is touching the wall of the lighter plug or something, causing a short, but the cigarette lighter itself doesn't come in contact with the walls to make it happen. I don't know how, but it's got to be something with the power adapter to the GPS unit.
Could be anywhere in the harness, but I'd bet it's back at the fuse block, 'cause that's the only place where wires are free to move/rub a little bit.
edit: whoops! Just re-read your post. Looks like you've tried the cig. lighter already.
So, if it is really the GPS unit, then theres a possibility the wires in the power adapter are messed up a little bit or something, causing a short circuit, but I don't see how that's possible since the GPS still works. Do you have anything else that uses a cig. lighter adapter (try the air pump if you don't)? It may be a wire has frayed and is touching the wall of the lighter plug or something, causing a short, but the cigarette lighter itself doesn't come in contact with the walls to make it happen. I don't know how, but it's got to be something with the power adapter to the GPS unit.
#8
Zoom Zoom....
Another bump for a sweet thread title! Buggles f.t.w.!
Are you using those plastic quick connectors anywhere in your system? Ground?
I have had nothing but frustration working on cars where a prior owner has tapped wires with these.
Are you using those plastic quick connectors anywhere in your system? Ground?
I have had nothing but frustration working on cars where a prior owner has tapped wires with these.
#10
Zoom Zoom....
I don't think he did. Never can be sure....
If it is a stock stereo, then it ain't what I said.
O/P. What happens when you plug your Nav into the outlet in the rear console?
If it is a stock stereo, then it ain't what I said.
O/P. What happens when you plug your Nav into the outlet in the rear console?
#11
user and abuser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also, when the navi is plugged in the rear outlet everything works fine. The problem only seems to be associated with the front outlet under the radio there...
#12
Zoom Zoom....
Thanks for the update.
I'm still thinking some sort of connection problem with the stereo / HVAC plugins.
You don't say where you are located, or what year/mileage is your car, so no idea if you still have the bumper-to bumper warranty.
If you are out of warranty, there is a good DIY on the stock stereo RE/RE here: http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/
Perhaps if you unplug all the connectors, check for good contact, and reassemble with some silicone di-electric grease.
I'm still thinking some sort of connection problem with the stereo / HVAC plugins.
You don't say where you are located, or what year/mileage is your car, so no idea if you still have the bumper-to bumper warranty.
If you are out of warranty, there is a good DIY on the stock stereo RE/RE here: http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/
Perhaps if you unplug all the connectors, check for good contact, and reassemble with some silicone di-electric grease.
#13
user and abuser
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Greenville SC
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the update.
I'm still thinking some sort of connection problem with the stereo / HVAC plugins.
You don't say where you are located, or what year/mileage is your car, so no idea if you still have the bumper-to bumper warranty.
If you are out of warranty, there is a good DIY on the stock stereo RE/RE here: http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/
Perhaps if you unplug all the connectors, check for good contact, and reassemble with some silicone di-electric grease.
I'm still thinking some sort of connection problem with the stereo / HVAC plugins.
You don't say where you are located, or what year/mileage is your car, so no idea if you still have the bumper-to bumper warranty.
If you are out of warranty, there is a good DIY on the stock stereo RE/RE here: http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/
Perhaps if you unplug all the connectors, check for good contact, and reassemble with some silicone di-electric grease.
Location: Greenville SC
Its odd that it would be a connection problem due to the conditions that cause the issue. Its definitely not impact triggered, and if i just leave the Navi plugged in, the radio will eventually come back on in its own time.
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
replace fuses? well either a fuse is good or bad, so how could the problem be related to a fuse?
The cigarette light still works, as does the radio.. just not when my navigation is plugged into it. If fuses were blowing then things would stop working all together...
The cigarette light still works, as does the radio.. just not when my navigation is plugged into it. If fuses were blowing then things would stop working all together...
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Learners_Permit
Series I Interior, Audio, and Electronics
8
09-27-2015 07:38 PM