Centre console / display / HVAC controls dead
 

Very bizarre thing happened today while I was driving: the majority of my centre display and console stopped working!

I noticed it first when I was looking at the display where the time, ambient temperature, and radio information usually go, and realized it was blank.

Then I noticed that most* of the buttons and toggles on the centre console and HVAC controls don't work anymore. It looks like fan speed and temperature are still doing things, and the emergency blinkers still work, but everything else doesn't: the different audio controls do nothing, the volume button/power button, I can't select different airflow types, I assume I can't turn the A/C off (it's currently on).

Interestingly, the radio IS still playing, and I can use the controls on the steering wheel to control it. Everything else is fubar.

Help!

This happened to me after I installed an AudioLink in my 8 and pulled out the HeadUnit. I installed the AudioLink, put everything back together, and it worked fine for two days and then I turned it on one morning and none of the lights on my HU, HVAC or time/temp display came on and my AC wasn't kicking in. Like you said, radio still worked and the steering wheel controls worked fine. At first I thought it must be a fuse, so I went through and looked at all of them that I thought it could be and didn't find anything bad. So finally I went back in and pulled out the Head Unit again and reconnected all of the connections and made sure that they were all firmly in place. I put it back in, turned my car to ACC and everything came on. I'm not sure if there was a pinched wire somewhere, a loose connection, or a loose fuse, but the troubleshooting fixed it and I haven't had any problems with it since. I'd probably check the fuse box first before go about taking your head unit out though. Getting to the back of the HU is a bit of a pain in the ass, but it isn't difficult taking everything out (this coming from one who has done zero mechanical mods to his car). Just be careful with the bolt that is in the side of the HU...I dropped it when I was taking it out and it was a BITCH to find, I was searching for like 30 minutes before I found it had rolled to the other side, luckily not down into the carpet.

Anyway, I tend to get a little long-winded in my answers, but I hope this helps.

I am having this same problem. Did you ever figure out the problem? I took my console apart and I think the problem is the connecters on the back of the faceplate. When I first put it back together it started working fine but after a few bumps on the road it stopped working again. If i push on the center of the faceplate where those connectors are located on the backside everything will turn back on.

Does this just mean those connectors are bad and I need to replace the whole system or what?

Hi
Im having similar problem.....

At random i loose power to all buttons on audio system and fan knobs and fan speed, it flickers on and off some time stay and all functions will work as normal then just goes off....

Its a intermitting problem.... Ive checked all fuses and cables and connecters?????

When its goes on and off i hear small tick noise coming i think from drivers side???

Can anyone please help

Pleassssssse
H

radio not working
 

i bought a used Rx8 but the radio was not working properly.. i can only change or increase the volume thru the steering...and also the hazard light switch is not working so is the ac, when i turn it on it only blow hot air..does anyone know whats wrong with it?

My 2005 did the same thing. I had a radio shop take it out 3 times. It would work for a couple days and quit again. I popped the bottom plate off and jiggled the control board on the left side. Everything came back on. It still happens at times and that fixes it every time.

that is not the only problem, the display screen is also not working...am planing on installing an indash monitor ..i was wondering if that would solve the problem..or should i also change the ac controller too?

Hey all. Just had this issue with my 2004 RX8 when I was adding an AUX port. The problem was the face plate connections, but I was the cause of the problem. While taking out the radio I forgot about the hidden bolt on the left side. I was being aggressive trying to get the thing out until I remembered it. :banghead: I discovered later (when nothing worked after reinstall) that I had bent the two metal tabs on the left where the screws go in to attach the face place. This was casuing the connector on that side not to seat properly. I straighted the tabs, benting them slightly back to give more pressure when attaching. This worked. All is right with the world and I have the AUX port that I wanted.

I fixed it!! :D

So I wanted to fix my heater and followed the tutorial that we all seem to have followed. This may sound familiar to all so when I put everything back the radio didn't work and the buttons didn't work. The only think I was able to do was eject the CD's. Also the display would only light up but did not display anything. The heater now worked but could now switch it off from coming in from outside. Funny I went 3yrs with no heater and now I couldn't turn it off!

Any ways after trying and trying all the suggestions on this thread and others I noticed that the screws that hold the radio to the faceplate have a little goldish tube inside the hole. The two at the bottom had been pulled out almost half way. This was preventing the metal pins from attaching to the faceplate. I didn't know there where supposed to be all the way in until one of those came off completely. Whe I tried to put it back in I noticed that it went all the way in so I pushed the other one in too! now the pins seem to have a better connection. I put everybing back and WALLAH!! Everything works!! I also noticed that my navigation was not switching to black when I turn the lights on. It would always stay on the other bright color. But now it's all good!!

Hope this helps y'all

Pieter RX8 console problem
 

Hi. I also had a similar problem on my 2003 RX8 with the centre console.
I was driving my RX8 and after I went over a bump on the road the whole console was dead. The air conditioner remembered the last setting but could not switch it off. The radio was not functioning at all and the display was off. The one thing I could do was to eject all the CD’s out of the radio. I have checked all the fuses and they were all fine. Even fiddled around with the cables but there was no luck at all.
My last option was to remove the battery terminal for a few minutes and that solved the problem. It is now working for the last 2 weeks already.
The only issue I had after disconnecting the battery was the DSC light flashing and the Traction control light was permanently on. I have solved the DSC light by driving a few meters and the traction control light by switching the ignition key on and off about 5 times.

steering
 

Can someone send me the link to this tutorial please.

Here is the link-----> https://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?t=158200

Note: that's the mobile link

sorry to bump this thread guys.... Im having this issue since last week, my fan controls and temp control works I had my aux adapter installed for months and working fine til one morning all the lights and info display went out I've research the forum and some people say that you to re seat everything and faceplate pins etc. I tried everything but nothing happens :( is it possible that the radio just died? or is it also possible that my battery voltage is not efficient enough to power my radio?

again sorry for the bump and too many questions ;) I just need some idea before I decide to buy the metra kit thanks in advance

Make sure that the screws that hold the radio to the faceplate are pushed all the way in. The screw holes have a goldish cylinder that sometimes stick out so make sure you push those in too! This should make the metal pins connect properly... That's how I fixed mine... Hope that works

thanks I also tried removing the PCB from faceplate and test fitted it into the radio while everything is connected same problem and also the screws that holds the faceplate :tear:

Center console and message center dead
 

There's screws that keep the faceplate of the radio up against the rest of the housing. One screw was stripped out and didn't keep the faceplate tight enough. I lost all my center console and message center after I hit a bump. I bought the car used and he added the iPhone interface. Upon disassembling my center console I noticed it was taken apart rough in the past and this might have been the issue.

I'm having a similar problem with my 06 GT for past week. It is an intermittent problem for me. Sometimes everything works, sometimes only fan speed, heat control, and CD eject works. About 50%. Also I have noticed that when it is not working, it will beep (like changing radio station beep if that setting is on), and when it beeps it resets the clock back to the nearest hour. For instance, if the clock says 3:15, it might beep and the clock is reset back to 3:00. This beeping happens from every 15 sec to every couple minutes.

Also, sometimes the buttons will have a delayed reaction, adjust the volume - nothing happens, then a minute later the volume changes. Is very strange.

This seems to be a problem that people experience if they have added something to or modified the radio assembly. I have installed a year ago a bluetooth module that plugs in via the FM radio antenna cable.

I haven't taken any action to fix it. Maybe in afternoon I will remove, disconnect, then reconnect and reseat the thing. I also have a Metra and a new radio head unit on the way. I'll post back if I am able to fix this.

Check this
 

Your face plate is grounded by some screws that hold it together. I noticed mine had a crack where the screws went into the main part. One test you can do is push on the corners of your fave plate and test your controls. The location where you pressed it is the source of the issue and a little super glue fixed it for me!

I fixed my problem by removing the head unit, unplugging all of the connectors, then replugging and reinstalling the unit. I had zero problems since I've done this a couple days ago, but now it's time to install the Metra kit with new head unit radio.

:banghead:Has anyone found similar symptoms but a different issue?

I have the same issue and I have read many forum replies stating that the issue is with the connections. I have triple checked these and changed the faceplate, but the issue persists. The screws are tight and the plastic is not cracked. It is certainly a lose connection because it will work on reassembly when outside my house. And sometime it drives for 1 mile, sometimes 10, but it always stops working at some point. It is driving me mad. I have tried adding an addition earth but it makes no difference. I have no stereo, heater controls or display, but I can eject CDs. :banghead:

LOL. I had the same issue; and had to drive without radio for almost a month. Until I decided it was enough.
Pay attention; even when screws are tight, the main connector (not plugs) is the hardest to be connected, and must be attached to it's 100% in order for ALL displays to appear. This is the connector that looks like an old disk attached to the back-side of the radio. I literally had to glue the fuck out of my radio and tape it up in order for it to work, and it has never gone bad since then.
Plugs and cables are harder to be disconnected when driving because of basic physic-laws; however, the radio, and the back connector of the radio are quite heavy and that's why most RX8 owners experience issues. Make sure when you check the display/radio/etc you deattach and open the WHOLE thing (including the gear-shifter, or you won't be able to see much). This is very uncomfortable and will take you hours, but I am sure with enough will-power (when you are sick and tired of no radio, heater, display, etc) you will do it.

Thanks, I will buy superglue and try that. It doesn't actually take long to get out, I am well practiced at it. ;-)

I have swapped the awkward bolt for a hex headed bolt, which makes it much easier and it doesn't fall off the end of the socket extension into the abyss. Also after you have pulled out the Stereo a couple of inches, then remove the heater vents (2 screws) you can then get your hand behind the Stereo to remove the plugs and aerial.

Do you put the glue on the 2 black connectors that protrude from the back of the faceplate and slot into the slots in the stereo?

I wouldn't recommend super-gluing the black connectors, unless it's your last option (but you will run the risk of ruining the radio). My recommendation would be to try to push both of them in as much as possible, yet carefully. Then check all other sides (and cables) to be connected. If pressure is the solution, that's when you need to superglue the fuck out of it, try to make screws VERY tight, and even tape it if necessary.
* Let me know if any of this works, otherwise there might be another problem.

Hopefully I have attached the picture with the 2 connectors circled in pink

ALRIGHT, QUICK IMPORTANT QUESTION: Is that the bottom part of the radio? If so, that's what you might be doing wrong. Those connectors might be fine, but I was referring to the middle (the inside) of the radio.

Matter of fact, connect everything, turn the car on. And if radio or display is still OFF, try applying hard pressure to the radio to see if something happens.