Stange HU Problem...

Phil W · 6 Sep 2007 at 11:57

Hi all,

My head unit seems to spontaniously (sp?) turn itself off.

It seems to do it when the volume is higher up, it cuts off, then comes back on again. It will then keep doing this.

When the music is playing, you can see the screen "dimming" to the beat of the music.

I'm putting it down to a knackered head unit, but wanted opinions first?

Phil

KaHn · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:13

Could be a dodgy connection?

KaHn

Phil W · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:15

Checked all the connections (that u could see/get to) and all seemed fine?

Firestar_3x · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:15

Low voltage or current, the rest of your car alright, as in the lights don't dim with the HU?

Could simply be a bad earth.

Phil W · 6 Sep 2007 at 12:25

Nothing else dims, just the HU!

-westy- · 6 Sep 2007 at 13:10

What setup do you have? amp/sub?

Confused · 6 Sep 2007 at 13:22

If it's a more higher-powered, modern head unit, it's probably drawing too much current over the standard radio loom. This is why it dims, and cuts out at high volume, where it's drawing the most power.

You will need to run a fused wire direct from the battery to the permanent 12v of the head unit.

InvaderGIR · 6 Sep 2007 at 13:25

ConfusedTA said:
If it's a more higher-powered, modern head unit, it's probably drawing too much current over the standard radio loom. This is why it dims, and cuts out at high volume, where it's drawing the most power.

You will need to run a fused wire direct from the battery to the permanent 12v of the head unit.

What I was going to say.

I had this on a my mate's Suzi, was an old rust bucket and the thing wasn't designed with a high power HU and speakers in mind so it'd cut out at higher volumes due to not having the correct power.

InvG

MikeHunt79 · 6 Sep 2007 at 13:33

ConfusedTA said:
If it's a more higher-powered, modern head unit, it's probably drawing too much current over the standard radio loom. This is why it dims, and cuts out at high volume, where it's drawing the most power.

You will need to run a fused wire direct from the battery to the permanent 12v of the head unit.

Yep, check the fuse rating of your radio loom - it's probably 5 amps, which probably won't be enough.

Also, old wires can degrade over time (especially pug 205 ones

) which causes higher resistance and voltage drop.

I noticed this when my bulbs were giving out a yellowey light, but now every electical thing I install (including headunit), I run fresh wiring (with fuse) directly from the battery, and I have had no problems. :cool:

Phil W · 6 Sep 2007 at 13:54

It was the same head unit that was on my previous Astra, and that experienced no problems with cutting out!

Seems a little strange that it does it in 1 Astra and not the other?

MikeHunt79 · 6 Sep 2007 at 14:18

Phil W said:
It was the same head unit that was on my previous Astra, and that experienced no problems with cutting out!

Seems a little strange that it does it in 1 Astra and not the other?

Probably a corroded or dodgy connection then.

Do you have a multimeter?