Offering advice - Car Electronics

Charles

Charles

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Dec 16, 2016
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Burlington, NC
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I’m an MECP certified Car Electronics installer/technician with 19 years experience. If any of you ever need advice on what to buy, what to stay away from, or simply what an issue could be, feel free to shoot me a message or post here. Anything from stereos to speakers, amplifiers, cameras, lighting, remote starts, keyless entry, etc etc etc. I have access to wiring data for nearly every vehicle manufactured since the 60’s.

This is not an advertisement for service, simply offering any expertise free of charge for this forum.
 
2004 GMC Envoy with a cd stuck inside. :(
 
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Unfortunately a very common issue with the earlier GM Data stereos (2003 first year). No hard reset available for that model, unfortunately will need to be replaced. But do not get suckered into the $130 RP4-GM11 harness. A standard Metra 70-2003 harness with an accessory wire run to your ignition harness (brown or orange accessory wire) will work just fine so long as you don’t want to retain OnStar if equipped, or your door chime.
 
Charles said:
@Jeppo looks like you’re in my neck of the woods. I uninstall many many of those stereos for replacement. Next one I pull, I’ll hang onto it for you if you’d like to stay factory. I may even have access to one now, will let you know.
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That would be amazingly cool!!!!!!!! :D
 
Would you happen to have something with all the locations of the computer modules in a 2006 Dodge Dakota, 4.7L Magnum engine? I'm tracking down grounding points and making sure they're all good. No bus type issue.
 
2000 Silverado with radio and cd player in top of dash and cassette deck lower down. Will play am stations but no sound on fm and cd gives error message when one is installed and will not play that either.
 
Oneofsix said:
Would you happen to have something with all the locations of the computer modules in a 2006 Dodge Dakota, 4.7L Magnum engine? I'm tracking down grounding points and making sure they're all good. No bus type issue.
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Unfortunately, no diagram of exact grounding points, just locations of bus and 12v runs.. what’s the issue?
 
F
Schattenreiter said:
2000 Silverado with radio and cd player in top of dash and cassette deck lower down. Will play am stations but no sound on fm and cd gives error message when one is installed and will not play that either.
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Like an issue with the internals of the stereo, FM receiver out and CD mechanism jammed. Easy replacement, can either go aftermarket or factory for cheap. Non-data, can see if I can hunt down a factory replacement or recommend Pioneer for aftermarket.
 
I have a 2014 Honda Pilot with an intermittent rear camera. Sometimes it works fine, sometimes it’s shows no image at all. No in-between. Google has been no help. Know anything about this issue?
 
Grits said:
2012 Honda Accord. Power drain. Intermittent. Taking battery cable off when sitting for 8 or more hours.

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As asked above, any aftermarket accessories installed? Could be a low amperage draw related to something installed, or could be something as simple as a glove box light trigger not breaking contact when closed fully.
 
Catfish said:
I have a 2014 Honda Pilot with an intermittent rear camera. Sometimes it works fine, sometimes it’s shows no image at all. No in-between. Google has been no help. Know anything about this issue?
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Factory head unit and camera? Sounds as though the reverse trigger wire is activating the head unit each time (if it just shows with a blank black screen), but not the camera so it doesn’t send the image. Will look at a schematic to see if the camera receives the signal from the lights or the head unit..
 
Charles said:
Unfortunately, no diagram of exact grounding points, just locations of bus and 12v runs.. what’s the issue?
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"Performance issues" was the phrase- feels like surging or skipping under acceleration, erratic shifting- feels worse between 45-50 ish mph, but not very noticeable while coasting or at a stop.
Location of the bus would be a good start for me...I had it checked yesterday by a shop I trust. The mechanic showed me how his diagnostic machine could not access the bus- several modules it can't communicate with.
He said I needed a Dodge specialist, not a Dodge dealer, lol. Doing a bit of googling and reading, seemed like poor grounds could cause this so I'd like to try what I can before trying to find a specialist.
I checked 3 ground points last night, 2 were sketchy. Main ground next to the battery was ok, but I cleaned with the dremel anyway.
Opposite side of the engine bay is another ground point, this is where the PCM/TCU? is grounded- body side was still painted under the ground washers-exposed bare metal and tightened all down.
PCM side of the ground strap looks crappy/corroded, but the Mrs had somewhere to be this morning so I added a temp secondary ground from the body of the PCM to the ground point. Seemed to help for about 10 minutes, lol.
When SWMBO gets back, I'll brave the heat and try to get to the PCM out to clean up the ground point at the bottom.
 
Oneofsix said:
"Performance issues" was the phrase- feels like surging or skipping under acceleration, erratic shifting- feels worse between 45-50 ish mph, but not very noticeable while coasting or at a stop.
Location of the bus would be a good start for me...I had it checked yesterday by a shop I trust. The mechanic showed me how his diagnostic machine could not access the bus- several modules it can't communicate with.
He said I needed a Dodge specialist, not a Dodge dealer, lol. Doing a bit of googling and reading, seemed like poor grounds could cause this so I'd like to try what I can before trying to find a specialist.
I checked 3 ground points last night, 2 were sketchy. Main ground next to the battery was ok, but I cleaned with the dremel anyway.
Opposite side of the engine bay is another ground point, this is where the PCM/TCU? is grounded- body side was still painted under the ground washers-exposed bare metal and tightened all down.
PCM side of the ground strap looks crappy/corroded, but the Mrs had somewhere to be this morning so I added a temp secondary ground from the body of the PCM to the ground point. Seemed to help for about 10 minutes, lol.
When SWMBO gets back, I'll brave the heat and try to get to the PCM out to clean up the ground point at the bottom.
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Let me see what I can dig up..
 
Charles said:
F

Like an issue with the internals of the stereo, FM receiver out and CD mechanism jammed. Easy replacement, can either go aftermarket or factory for cheap. Non-data, can see if I can hunt down a factory replacement or recommend Pioneer for aftermarket.
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Thanks. I think i have one that will work.
 
I’m looking to add a dash cam and rear back up camera that lets me use the rear camera all the time. What’s a good unit for both of these.
 
BlackGun said:
I’m looking to add a dash cam and rear back up camera that lets me use the rear camera all the time. What’s a good unit for both of these.
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Kenwood makes a nice setup for this exact purpose. Stereo, dash, and back up camera. Just put one in a Hummer H2 today. Can switch from rear to dash camera on command.
 
Here’s a challenge for ya. 1990 Mercedes 500sl
Has an aftermarket Pioneer head unit. Only getting sound out of the driver door main (bass) speaker
On the HU if I set the sound to left or front, I lose all sound
Also if I turn the volume above 22 (can’t even hear it when driving) the sound cuts out and I have to power reset the radio to get sound back.

The HU is wired in like the bride of Frankenstein
I know I need speakers
Not sure if the amp is failed or not
Crutchfield has a wiring harness but it’s the wrong one

Do you have any info on amp location or wiring diagram for radio power/speakers/power antenna etc?
 
Charles said:
I’m an MECP certified Car Electronics installer/technician with 19 years experience. If any of you ever need advice on what to buy, what to stay away from, or simply what an issue could be, feel free to shoot me a message or post here. Anything from stereos to speakers, amplifiers, cameras, lighting, remote starts, keyless entry, etc etc etc. I have access to wiring data for nearly every vehicle manufactured since the 60’s.

This is not an advertisement for service, simply offering any expertise free of charge for this forum.
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Hi Charles,
Appreciate you offering your expertise. We have an older 04 Volvo S60 and are having issues with the head unit. Completely stock base model but it does have the steering wheel controls. Just about everyday if you are listening to the radio the stations change randomly. From one present to the next. It might be fine one day and then next it goes crazy switching from one station to next.

It does it when tuning to a CD as well. I’m thinking it has something to do with the steering wheel controls. It doesn’t seem like anything is stuck or pressed down more than it needs to be. Every heard of something like this


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NC Boy Scout said:
Here’s a challenge for ya. 1990 Mercedes 500sl
Has an aftermarket Pioneer head unit. Only getting sound out of the driver door main (bass) speaker
On the HU if I set the sound to left or front, I lose all sound
Also if I turn the volume above 22 (can’t even hear it when driving) the sound cuts out and I have to power reset the radio to get sound back.

The HU is wired in like the bride of Frankenstein
I know I need speakers
Not sure if the amp is failed or not
Crutchfield has a wiring harness but it’s the wrong one

Do you have any info on amp location or wiring diagram for radio power/speakers/power antenna etc?
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The factory amp on the older models, 1988 and back, was behind the glovebox. Metal box that says made in Mexico on it. The only way I was able to bypass the amp in it in 1993 was to cut each harness and mate the wires. The only use the reverse harness had was for power.

Sounds like your empidence from your HU is in conflict with that of the factory amp causing your HU's output stage to go into protect mode.
 
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Charles said:
Factory head unit and camera? Sounds as though the reverse trigger wire is activating the head unit each time (if it just shows with a blank black screen), but not the camera so it doesn’t send the image. Will look at a schematic to see if the camera receives the signal from the lights or the head unit..
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Yes the Pilot has all factory equipment. Thanks for looking at it for me.
 
Looking to replace a stock 2010 Tundra Crew Max Base with cd and no controls on steering wheel with something that will pair up up cell phones for phone and GPS. Suggestions?
 
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