Wipers switch radio off !
Discussion
I've just switched out the radio unit in my ancient Volvo V40, nothing fancy just a straight swap from a Pioneer to some Nikkai thing from Maplins (basically I needed something with SSD card and Bluetooth)
However now when I switch the wipers on or off the radio dies momentarily and comes back on a few seconds later. I've checked the connection at the plugs etc and everything seems tight so any ideas of what else I could look at or is it just going to be down to it being a cheap unit?
Cheers
However now when I switch the wipers on or off the radio dies momentarily and comes back on a few seconds later. I've checked the connection at the plugs etc and everything seems tight so any ideas of what else I could look at or is it just going to be down to it being a cheap unit?
Cheers
Does the radio turn on and off with the ignition as you expect (did the old one) ?
Usually bullet connectors on the red and yellow power wires which allow swapping of permanent and ignition live for cars that are wired with them in opposite terminals - check how your old radio was wired and compare.
Usually bullet connectors on the red and yellow power wires which allow swapping of permanent and ignition live for cars that are wired with them in opposite terminals - check how your old radio was wired and compare.
For the radio to switch off when operating something means that there is a momentary volt drop, there could be a volt drop on the earth or power leads
You will need to prove what wire the volt drop is on, do the following
1) Find the radio earth wire and run a wire from that directly to the battery earth cable - If the problem is solved you will know that the fault is a bad earth (find and fix)
If the fault is still there after doing the above test
2) Find the ignition supply wire at the radio and run a wire from it to a good heavy ignition supply at the fuse-box or ignition switch, make sure the fuse that comes with the radio is in this circuit so you cant damage anything - If the problem is solved you will know that the fault is a bad ignition supply (find and fix)
If the fault is still there after doing the above test
3) Find the permanent power supply at the radio and run a wire from it to the battery positive terminal, make sure the fuse that comes with the radio is in this circuit so you cant damage anything - If the problem is solved you will know that the fault is a bad battery positive supply (find and fix)
As you can see, it is all a process of elimination
I hope this helps
You will need to prove what wire the volt drop is on, do the following
1) Find the radio earth wire and run a wire from that directly to the battery earth cable - If the problem is solved you will know that the fault is a bad earth (find and fix)
If the fault is still there after doing the above test
2) Find the ignition supply wire at the radio and run a wire from it to a good heavy ignition supply at the fuse-box or ignition switch, make sure the fuse that comes with the radio is in this circuit so you cant damage anything - If the problem is solved you will know that the fault is a bad ignition supply (find and fix)
If the fault is still there after doing the above test
3) Find the permanent power supply at the radio and run a wire from it to the battery positive terminal, make sure the fuse that comes with the radio is in this circuit so you cant damage anything - If the problem is solved you will know that the fault is a bad battery positive supply (find and fix)
As you can see, it is all a process of elimination
I hope this helps
JimM169 said:
Hi, yes radio switches on/off with ignition as it should. All the wiring to the radio is straight into the moulded plugs on the loom ie I just unplugged the old unit and plugged the new one in, no wiring was modified.
It sounds like an ISO plug,not all these are wired the same,apart from perm and switched live,an earth and maybe signal to aerial or lights for dimming plus the 8 speaker wires(other plug)you may find that the original equipment had other signals going to it that are not needed on your new audio,can signals etc.
work out the minimum of what you need and snip back the remaining wires leaving enough to re join in future.
This will eliminate any interfere the the car may introduce.
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