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Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: big_G_622 on 16 January 2011, 21:48

Title: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: big_G_622 on 16 January 2011, 21:48
just putting a new(ish) sony xplod Head unit in my valver to replace the piece of sh*t goodmans one that was in there previously.
at first all seemed good - as in a straight forward swap of the iso connectors and when i turned the power the stereo she fired up first time!

The problem i had was when i turned the ignition on - the head unit went dead and would not come on for love nor money until i switched the ignition off again.

after a bit of messing about and further inspection i came to the conclusion that the permanent live and ignition live on the cars harness were round the wrong way (the red/white and red/brown cables).   - these obviously go to the yellow and red iso wires on the stereo!

After i changed them over - exactly the same??? didnt make any sense to me - any one else come accross this problem before? should i just leave out the ignition live or maybe bridge the permnanent live to the ignition cable as well??  :undecided:

any help greatly appreciated!!!!  :cool:

Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: crazy_e on 16 January 2011, 21:50
are you able to get a meter on to the wires so you can check to see if your getting a good possitive negative and trigger?
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: big_G_622 on 16 January 2011, 21:59
not as yet - it was getting dark as i was messing about with it - was only thinking it would be a quick 5 minute job  :wink:
what sort of readings should i expect on these as first time ive done a stereo on a golf!!
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: crazy_e on 16 January 2011, 23:16
live feed -12volts
trigger(ignition) feed 12volts
and and earth
if you have all 3 of them and speekers are conectedit will work unless the stereo is fooked
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: big_G_622 on 17 January 2011, 13:46
ok will try that - stereo has been tested in another car and works fine - plus the one i had in before worked with no problems. just found it a bit confusing!!!
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: javalin on 17 January 2011, 16:14
popped the fuse?
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: big_G_622 on 17 January 2011, 16:51
fuse is ok - would it not work at all if the fuse had gone?  :undecided:
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: Ruji on 17 January 2011, 18:00
I've come across this with someones car before. Nuthin much to do with the radio...as if you was to experiment and tap the red n yellow feeds temporarily to the permanent live of the vehicle...you should notice a working radio without issues...of course it wont shut down with the key as yet...but an indicator that there is nuthin wrong with the radio.
It appears you MAY have an issue with the ignition barrel that feeds current to ignition based feeds on the vehicle. You could cheat and leav it and just run a new ignition feed and tap into somethin else that switches off...e.g. back of fuse box or back of heater control panels..fuse box wud probly b easier. Unless of course you want to investigate the barrel issue further. of course this is a possible diagnosis...not guarateed....but it appeared to b the issue on the vehicle i was playin with...that person ended up goin away happy to hav it permanently wired for the radio n never looked bak..but that choice is yours.

Regards
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: thai-wronghorse on 18 January 2011, 08:03
This could well be a sign of the ignition switch about to give up the ghost. A very common issue on mk3's.
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: Noof on 18 January 2011, 08:48
i had this problem with a stereo once, found out it had a mute on the stereo when the ignition was on!, failing that maybe test that the ignition live and the main live r correctly and not turned round?
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: big_G_622 on 18 January 2011, 09:31
ok guy thanks for the heads up, however 99.9% sure its not the stereo as it works fine in other cars.
Dont think it would be the ignition switch - last year a dodgy headlight fried my whole wiring loom - i went through the painstaking task of checking all the electrics as i went along, ignition was fine - i will bare it in mind if all else fails.
to be honest im not too worried if it comes on only with the ignition - more concerned about having music while im driving!!!!

Can someone please confirm that if i connect both the yellow and red wires to the cars permanent live - that i will be able to turn the stereo on and off with the ignition on?
i remove the face of the stereo everytime im out the car so hopefully that will stop the battery from being drained?

cheers for your help so far!!!  :smiley:
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: rubjonny on 18 January 2011, 10:40
its the ignition switch. the feed to the red/brown wire should be live the whole time the key is in the ignition, if it works then goes off when you turn the key, thats the problem. could be a wiring fault but im not convinced. might be the ignition lock though, theres a wee pin that should pop out the back. if worn this could stop it pushing in the ign switch properly

if you connect both wires to the permanent live feed it could drain the battery, depending on the stereo. id assume it would power off without the face in there but some stereos may not
Title: Re: Any audio geeks out there?
Post by: big_G_622 on 18 January 2011, 11:52
Cheers mate, i'm going to pin the wires out at the weekend see what i get. still a bit confused though as to why the original stereo works ok?  think for now i'll just connect both up to the permanent and see what happens, keep my fingers crossed the battery dosnt die on me eh?? :grin: