Car Audio Plus - Product Advisor - Fault Diagnostic Guide

If you think your product you sourced at Car Audio Plus has developed a fault or you believe has totally failed, please follow these simple diagnostic instructions below to correct the problem or to confirm if your product has in fact failed. As discussed on the Faulty Products & Returns page if your product is faulty we will arrange collection under our FREE: Arrange, Collect & Return service.  Warning!  If you arrange for us to collect a product you believe to be faulty, and it turns out that it is NOT faulty, you will be asked to absorb the cost to have the goods returned to you. If you need help during these diagnostic checks please email us Click these links to learn more... In-Dash Radio, Head unit - will not power up In-Dash Radio, Head unit - will not play discs or they skip  CD Changer will not play discs or they skip CD Changer & Interface General Errors & Fault Checks In-Dash Radios, Head units - (Incl. Cassette, CD, MD and MP3 Players) Radio will not power up: 1) Firstly check that your ignition is switched on and that your radio fascia is attached correctly. 2) Ensure that the fascia contacts/connections aren't worn and that the fascia is making good, solid contact. Because the fascia is removable, over time the contacts on the fascia and the contacts on the back of the radio can become dirty or worn. Ro best results use Cleaning Alchohol or to find out more info on how to clean your contacts, consult your radio handbook. 3) Press the 'Reset Button' if your radio has one, and then check for correct operation. Consult your radio hand book for details. 4) Check you car fuse (see No.6 & 8). 5) If your radio doesn't have a Reset button release your radio from your dash and physically disconnect the power connector and then re-connect and test for correct operation. 6) Release your radio and visibly check that the fuse that is built into the rear of your radio (where available) hasn't blown and ensure that the wiring connections are secure and correct. Especially check the integrity of the Earth, 12V Ignition and 12v Permanent Live wire connections. These will be black, yellow and red respectively when checking an ISO wiring fitment as used on all new radios. 7) If using a harness adaptor ensure that the pins have lined up with the cars existing radio connectors and the radio ISO connectors and that some haven't been slightly bent. Inspect very closely. 8) Check that power is getting to the radio. You may need to use a test light or power probe for this but first visibly check the radio fuse that is built into your cars fuse box. Consult your car handbook for location of the radio fuse. If the problem is still present after following the above please Contact us for further help. In-Dash CD or MP3 Player The player will not play discs or they skip: 1) First of all ensure that your discs are clean and not damaged and have been inserted into the In-Dash player the correct way up. Try other discs including original CD's to see if they will play, especially if you are using CD-R or CD/RW (copied discs) as these can often be the culprit if a cheap CD-R is used or if it has been burned at too fast a speed or if the copier hasn't finalised the disc completely. 2) Use a CD laser cleaner disc. These are available from any music store and when played in your CD player will clean the laser and will correct any symptoms of a dirty CD laser such as discs not playing or skipping. 3) Ensure that the fascia contacts/connections aren't worn and that the fascia is making good, solid contact. Because the fascia is removable, over time the contacts can become dirty or worn. To find out how to clean your contacts consult your radio handbook. 4) Press the 'Reset Button' if your radio has one, and then check for correct operation. Consult your radio hand book for details. 5) If your radio doesn't have a Reset button release your radio from your dash and physically disconnect the power connector and then re-connect and test for correct operation. If the problem is still present after following the above please Contact us for further help. CD Changers CD Changer will not play discs or they skip: 1) Before installing your CD Changer ensure, you have removed the transportation screws, (where fitted). These will be highly visible on the exterior of the CD Changer. 2) Ensure the angle mounting adjustment screws found at either side of the CD Changer have been set correctly according to the angle at which the CD changer has been mounted. Consult your handbook for details. 3) Check to ensure that your discs are clean and not damaged. Try other discs in the position of the disc that will not play. For example if your CD changer is failing to play (disc 1) try a different CD (preferably an original CD) in slot No.1, especially if you are using CD-R or CD/RW copied discs as these can often be the culprit if a cheap CD-R is used, or if it has been burned at too fast a speed or if the copier has not finalised the disc completely. 4) If you have used Velcro to mount your CD changer please ensure that you have mounted it horizontally so that a larger surface area makes contact to provide optimum stability preventing your discs skipping. The CD Changer manufactuers recommend using the included brackets but we have never experienced problems using Velcro if you mount the CD Changer horizontally ensuring that it is solid.  5) Use a CD laser cleaner, disc. These are available from any music store and when played in your CD changer will clean the laser and will correct any symptoms of a dirty CD laser such as discs not playing or skipping. 6) If the changer magazine will eject, then power is getting to your CD changer, so this is not an issue. So now disconnect the CD changer data lead from the CD changer and leave disconnected for 1 minute, then reconnect and test for correct operation. This can often reset your CD changer. 7) If you are using a CD changer that has an in-line fuse such as a Pioneer check that this fuse hasn't blown and if the CD changer has an earth fly-lead, check this has a clean, tight contact with the car chassis. The majority of CD changers have the live and earth wires built into the CD data lead. 8) If you are using an Alpine CHM-A634 CD Changer in conjunction with a KCA-130B (Ai-NET to M-Bus convertor) ensure the small switch found next to the (Eject Button) has been set to position No. 2. The CD changer leads must be disconnected when moving this switch. Please consult your manual for more details. 9) If you are using a Kenwood CD Changer ensure the small switch found next to the (Eject Button) on some models, has been set to the correct position for the Kenwood radio model you have connected it to. Consult your handbook for more details. 10) There are now 3 suspects. A faulty radio, CD data lead or the CD Changer itself. The only way to rule out the changer and CD lead is by trying replacements one at a time, but please ensure you have followed 1 to 9 above. *If you have an interface and CD changer Package, please follow the instructions below. If the problem is still present after following the above please Contact us for further help. CD Changer when using a CD Interface General Errors & Fault Checks If you are using a CD Changer and Interface Package, ensure that you have followed the interface installation instructions to the letter and read through the above checks before starting here. 1) Ensure that your keys are completely removed from your ignition when installing the interface. This is a common mistake as the result is that your CD changer will not initialise (link-up) with your radio. This means the 2 units are not talking to one another! 2) Check the connections where the interface connects to the radio or pre-installed CD lead (where fitted as standard) and the CD Changer. Also check that the pins in the connectors have not been bent or pushed out when the connectors were pushed together. This is a common fault! 3) Try disconnecting the interface from the CD changer and then disconnect the interface from the radio or Pre-installed CD lead. Leave disconnected for 5 minutes. Then, with your keys removed from the ignition try connecting the interface to the CD changer before connecting the interface to the radio or pre-installed lead (dependent upon your cars set-up). Then check to see if the problem has been resolved. Ensure once more that you have followed the interface instructions in the exact order in which they are displayed when installing. 4) Ensure that if your interface has any extra fly-leads or wires attached such as an (Earth, 12V Ignition or 12V Permanent live) that need to be connected to the cars wiring system or chassis, are in fact connected correctly and securely. 5) Ensure that the earth connection is connected to the body (chassis) of the car securely and that the surface of contact is a good, clean solid earth. If there is any paint on the earth pick-up point, clean the area with abrasive paper (sand paper, etc) that is in contact with the interface earth ring terminal. 6) If you are using an Alpine CHM-A634 CD Changer in conjunction with a KCA-130B (Ai-NET to M-Bus convertor) ensure the small switch found next to the (Eject Button) has been set to position No. 2. The CD changer leads must be disconnected when moving this switch. Please consult your manual for more details. 7) If you are using a Kenwood CD Changer ensure the small switch found next to the (Eject Button) on some models, has been set to the correct position for the Kenwood radio model you have connected it to. Consult your handbook for more details. If the problem is still present after following the above please Contact us for further help.

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