Yes, it perplexed me as much as the thread title probably perplexed you So I was driving just fine for about an hour and then noticed that my tuner **** for my radio didn't work, so I tried scan and seek...neither of those worked, as well as the heater control (it wouldn't even let me select defrost or anything). After 30 min or so control came back and I continued on my way. Then 10 min after that, the entire center console, the time and music info, the illuminating lights for every button in the center, it all started flickering on and off, then the entire thing went out. Now the radio won't even turn on, the heater control will not work (however I can still adjust fan speed), nothing associated with the center controls will turn on/work. Is this an easy fix or is this something that I will (God forbid) need to take my car to the dealership to bend me over and charge me up the ***?

other info: factory stereo

 

that can be perplexing. i would start with the easy route. inspect the appropriate fuses and relays.

 

And the plugs in the back of the head unit....

 

you never know, they could have worked loose. its not too difficult to get the radio out. this may help:
http://whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/

thoug its focus is an ipod install, it still does show a lot of useful tips and step by steps on how to remove the panels and get the radio out!

 

check fuses ground and relays first def seems like a wiring problem

 

I had the same problem it went away by itself its just a cold weather gremlins

 

i'm planning on getting into there tomorrow and seeing what the issue is.
im hoping it's nothing serious i dont feel like paying to replace an entire unit

 

http://www.metraonline.com/
- Mazda, rx8, your year, audio system, kits, And a new radio of your choice

I'm an audio tech, and the usual case for that is a bad fuse, its an easy check, grab your manual and go to the index, find fuses, and see what the radio fuse it, pull it see if its still connected, if its not grab a new one and tada!

Otherwise something is seriously wrong, radios don't just freak out for no reason though so you should be fine!

 

mine resently got its AC panel changed and now im getting some wierd letters and lickering and all nonsense on the center control screen thing above my radio and AC vents. I went to the dealer and they told me it was my radio panel that must have gone bad when they changed the AC panel beacuse they are both a two part system or something like that. I hope this helped. mine is still under bumper to bumper warrenty so i cant tell u prices.

 

I have burned cd's only in my car and one day back when i had my at 8 my cd player died. Took the cd with it. Dealer had to replace it. I had no beat for a day and the rental car radio (Mazda 3) sucked.

 

Well I took a peek inside the other day, however i could not find the issue myself, all the connectors were just fine, no blown fuses, so i figured anything beyond that is beyond me. so i took it to the dealership this morning and the mechanic took off the face plate from the radio itself, and noticed someone had previously spilled something on it, and that might have caused it to short. a new face plate for the radio...$530 so the mechanic decided to take it into his own hands, used contact cleaner on the face plate circuit board, wiped up the dried spill, and put it back on. also apparently the last Mazda mechanic to remove the faceplate to install a new heater control unit did not put the faceplate back on properly, so the problem was either a dried spill that cause some electrical issues (resolved via contact cleaner) or from the last Mazda mechanic who didn't put the faceplate back on properly which could cause some connection issues between the faceplate and the actual radio unit (resolved by putting it on the correct way). that being said, viola...everything works like a charm. and it only cost me $90.

 

^i guess it's good it's fixed (guessing ur out of warranty) maybe it was a mazda mechanic drinking on the job and spilled haha

 

I hate when that happens

 

i might have saved myself $90 if i had actually seperated the faceplate from the radio unit and done it myself, but it never occurred to me when i was fooling with it myself

 

not too bad of a price, especially if you feel that the job was done correctly.

 

wow awsome!