MP3 Head Unit/Electrical Problem

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 11:08

I have a JVC MP3 head unit. I got it new for £65 and the model is a GD-401.

The unit itself is decent for the price and does what I need it to except for one thing. When I take the key out of the Ignition it instantly forgets it's settings, Radio presets, bass, treble etc etc. Whilst not a major issue, it's a little annoying.

I gather this probably isn't an issue with the Head Unit itself but more of a voltage/electrical problem, but I really want to know if there is an easy fix, or is it a job for an ICE specialist or auto electrics place??

To be honest I think the previous head unit (sony cassette, ugh) had the same problem before I took it out.

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 11:41

Thanks for the replies.

I will have a look to see if the HU came with any extra wires when I get home. You makemit sound like a simple fix but I still don't understand what it all means.

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 11:50

I've just had a word with a friend who has the same HU in his car. He said his came with extra wires but he didn't need them and his remembers the settings. Looks like I'll be having a fiddle when I get home assuming mine came with the same wires.

He has a problem with his electircs though too. He has a Vauxhall Corsa which has a tempreture and time readout on the dashboard. This has never worked since he bought the car. Is this also something simple to fix??

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 12:15

It's a 97 P Corsa CDX 16v and it came with an aftermarket Head Unit, which he swapped for the same as I have. The temp/time readout never worked before putting the new HU in. I think this would be a job for an auto elecetrics place but he'd like to know if it can be fixed easily, I suppose unless you know exactly what you're doing, it's not an easy job.

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 12:59

I have discovered the extra wires that came with my head unit are like this.

ISO connector > Loads of bare wires. I can't be more specific than that since I need to really take a pic later to show you. I don't know what colour wires there are on this but I do remeber that there are no yellow wires on the cars own ISO connector.

Any thoughts??

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 13:21

The cars ISO block connects directly to my head unit though? I don't have anything that has bullet connectors. Atleast I don't think so. :confused:

See, I knew tis would confuse me!

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 14:17

If I understand correctly, I move the fuse from the one poistion to the other and then plug the ISO connector back in as normal? This will allow it to keep it's settings? And no messing with red/yellow wires?

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 14:38

That almost sounds too easy, I'm not about to blow my car up am I lol?

I'll try it when I get back home and report back.

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 15:28

Firestar_3x said:
Perhaps i should post a disclaimer

Should be fine and if its not you know thats not how to fix the problem

If anything is wrong it will pop the fuse on the back of the HU and perhaps the cars corresponding audio fuse.

You're not filling me with confidence here!

Ok, so the fuse on the back of the headunit is easy to replace, what about the audio fuse, what is it and where is it?

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 17:22

Oh god I just know that's going to happen to me too.

R0B75 · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:46

I've just come back in from the car and after simply changing the position of the fuse as suggested, it now remembers it's settings. I can even use the player without the key in the ignition now. Whacked up the volume, bass and treble and it was fine. I can't believe it was that simple, I believe I owe Firestar a pint!