Radio head unit misbehaving and discovered a strange keypad

[skoff]

Hi all,

Just got my 05 CV8 going again after being sat for a while so flat battery. It started up fine but the head unit on the radio looks like this:



The radio works from the steering wheel controls, as does the CD player etc, but the head unit itself is none responsive. I have tried removing all the fuses related to the radio, and even disconnecting the battery, but it's the same - btw the picture was taken with the ignition off.

Any ideas?

Also, when I opened the panel under the steering wheel to get to the fuses (never had to do this before for the several years I have owned the car), I found this little keypad:



I assume it is some sort of aftermarket alarm thing as the button on the right flashes red in time with the led at the top of the picture. Has anybody seen one of these before? I am not overly happy to touch it in case it immobilises the car, but I'd like to know what it does and either use it or get it removed.

Thanks and Happy New Year to you all!

[vxr2010]

as you say that looks like an alarm key pad i take it you don't have a standard alarm , the stereo does not look happy is it worth a warm room for a while and see if its moisture related have you checked all the connections at the back of it ? a used one is relatively easy to find but they are all coded the codes seem to be the same depending on year of the car

[Mud_]

vxr2010 said:

as you say that looks like an alarm key pad i take it you don't have a standard alarm , the stereo does not look happy is it worth a warm room for a while and see if its moisture related have you checked all the connections at the back of it ? a used one is relatively easy to find but they are all coded the codes seem to be the same depending on year of the car

I don't think there's much harm posting the radio codes (who steals stereos any more and the information is out there anyway)...check the serial number on the radio against the list below, and your radio code is the last 4 digits.

258 0347693 3324
258 1317257 2426
258 1317659 3221
258 1318803 6652
258 1320819 2325
258 1329550 3132
258 1325361 2631
258 1325814 5442
258 2027167 1224
258 2027376 1334
258 2027957 3662
258 2029648 1656
258 2034098 1121
258 3010069 3222
258 3015911 6253
258 3012274 5413
250 5009210 6644
250 5010671 3533

[skoff]

Thank you both for the very quick replies.

I don't know if I have a non-standard alarm as I bought the car pre-loved. I assume it isn't standard, maybe a trip to the local alarm installer is in order.

Thanks for the radio codes, I will try to get hold of some head unit removal tools and pull it out to check the connections and see if warming it up inside the house helps.

If I have to go with a new head unit I am going to have to take the old one to pieces as it is full of my CDs. I assume ebay is the best place to look? Of course I could go after market as an alternative.

Thanks again

[vxr2010]

i think i posted on here looking for a head unit but they are on ebay too , or send yours off for repair ?

[skoff]

Well I got the radio out after a bit of a struggle, after it has been pulled out the screen does go blank. I tried putting it back in the slot and the 'noise' on the screen came back but with a different pattern, and the controls were still inoperative, so I will leave it in the house for a few days and try again, I'm not hopeful, I get the feeling that the electronics are up the spout, no doubt caused by me jump starting the car yesterday.

Are there any recommended repairers for these units, and what is the likely cost? It might end up being more cost effective just to replace the whole thing with an aftermarket unit that's a bit more up to date (though the original look appeals to me).

One other question - the serial number for the unit isn't on the list above, on mine it seems to be BP2257 4 134083 can anyone point me in the direction of a list in case I do get the thing going again?

[Glyn84]

It looks like you have an Autowatch aftermarket alarm. I have one fitted on mine (cat 2+1) and it has that exact same keypad! The keypad is for setting valet mode and various other things, but I've never needed to play with mine to be honest.

[skoff]

Glyn84 said:

It looks like you have an Autowatch aftermarket alarm. I have one fitted on mine (cat 2+1) and it has that exact same keypad! The keypad is for setting valet mode and various other things, but I've never needed to play with mine to be honest.

Ahh yes, thanks for the info I shall have a google and see if I can find any instructions, though I've not needed to touch it in the last three or four years, so no reason to now.

Thanks!

[Mud_]

skoff said:

Well I got the radio out after a bit of a struggle, after it has been pulled out the screen does go blank. I tried putting it back in the slot and the 'noise' on the screen came back but with a different pattern, and the controls were still inoperative, so I will leave it in the house for a few days and try again, I'm not hopeful, I get the feeling that the electronics are up the spout, no doubt caused by me jump starting the car yesterday.

Are there any recommended repairers for these units, and what is the likely cost? It might end up being more cost effective just to replace the whole thing with an aftermarket unit that's a bit more up to date (though the original look appeals to me).

One other question - the serial number for the unit isn't on the list above, on mine it seems to be BP2257 4 134083 can anyone point me in the direction of a list in case I do get the thing going again?

If it's different on GTOs then sorry

[SOCO]

These guys might be worth a go. They do pixelated lcd screen repairs.

http://www.clusterrepairsuk.co.uk/repairlist

[Topcat6.0]

Hi Skoff, I have one sitting in my garage doing nothing if you need a replacement.

Terry

[nitrosman]

Hi I think I still my old unit kicking around from my vxr ro

[skoff]

Sorry for the radio silence ( ) for the past week, I've had a short break with the family.

Whilst away I left the head unit in the house to warm up and see if it might have been moisture causing the problem as suggested earlier in the thread. Having just re-fitted it this morning - it works! It kept it's radio stations and didn't need a code, all it needs is the time resetting.

Thanks for all the advice and offers of help, really very much appreciated.