Radio won't turn on/ LCD wont light up/ AC won't work
 

Hey All,
I just got a 2005 Mazda RX8 today, and proceeded to install a ipod integration kit into the car. I unplugged the battery completely from the car before starting, and completed every step. Once everything was plugged back in, i turned the car on, but nothing shows up on the LCD no matter what buttons I press, the radio won't turn on, and the middle nob where you turn AC on or off won't light up no matter how many times I press it. The fan nob works perfectly however, and i can hear the cd player when the car is turned on. Can somebody please help me solve this problem? I spent 3 hours figuring out how to dissasemble everything properly, now my whole front console seems dead...on the first day of me having the car :icon_no2:

Did you check the fuses?

I will later on today. Is this a common problem after installing the ipod integration? Funny thing is when the car is on, and the ipod is plugged in, the ipod announces that the accesory isn't optimized for the ipod, and doesn't charge.

push

Okay, I've checked all the fuses..and they're all fine. What other things could I do to fix this problem? I went through the process of removing the radio again today, and made sure all connections are good..still the same problem :( Having no radio and AC absolutely sucks!

I second this, I had a similar or perhaps the same problem when installing an Ipod integration kit. Make sure the face of the stereo(part that wont light up) is making complete contact with the rest of the unit. When pulling out :yesnod: the unit the front face may lose contact.

Push on the radio?

All this to fix the lcd not coming on, the ac and radio? O.o

If you have the unit removed or at least pulled out by a good amount, either remove the face and put it back on or see if its loose somewhere and try to push on it see if its helps.

Kinda noobish, but how do I remove the face? :P

I believe its only a few screw as shown here

http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/6.php

ohhh so take the whole radio out and put it back in? :P ugh i'm kinda regretting even attempting this

I had the same problem when I pulled my radio out to do the DIY fix for no heat. Push near the top of the radio face. I believe the connections are just above(or below) the part you put the CDs in.

okay I will try that.

okay, pushing on the radio at any point didn't help anything.

Then you''ll have to pull the whole unit out (at least a little) like cfm251 suggests. The problem with the radio is, that face plate and the radio are two seperate units. The face has little connections (almost like pins) that connect directly the the radio. If the radio isn't sucured properly, it can actually side back and disconnect from the face. You'd be surprised how little movement it takes for them to loose contact. Honestly, it seems like more of a hassel then it actually is to pull the radio.

I feel your frustration tho, it took me more than 2 hours to find the problem, but only took 10 mins to fix.

allright, i will try that tomorrow. is there by any chance some tutorial on how this is done, or at least some direction? sorry i'm kinda new to this DIY thing :P

btw another question...the antenna cable...is it disconnected by unscrewing it...or just plain tugging it out? I don't want another problem to happen

The same DIY http://www.whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/1.php Page 4 shows you where the screw are. In regards to the antenna cable, I not sure. I dont remember how I got it loose. But you dont have to disconnect the radio completely from the car to check if those pins are the problem. As long as you can pull the radio out a little, you can gradb the back of the radio and push ont the face plate. Try seeing if you have power to the radio before you put everthing back together.

Aslo, with the radio pulled out, it shouldn't take much force at all to see if those pins are the problem.

Has anyone had an issue with the electronics in the faceplate going bad and causing just the stereo and LCD to go out but not the heating/ac controls?

For the antenna cable, just tug it out.
I had the same problem when i tried to connect the auxmod. Only the a/c controls were working. It turns out that i had blown up the headunit. The lcd, cd player and faceplate, they take power from the head unit. If the head unit is blown up then all the above are not working except the a/c controls. I changed only the headunit and everything is perfect now!!
If you want more help just ask me!!

ok thank you all! I shall try that then. I now the head unit is probably fine because everytime i start the car, i hear as if a cd is stuck in the cd player...which brings another question o.O is it possible there is a cd jammed in there? cause i can't put in a new cd...

Well, i took the whole radio out, checked the 4 main screws, checked all connections...everything seemed good. I plugged the radio back in, still won't turn on! >:(

Is there anything else I could try? :( having no AC and no radio absolutely sucks!