Car electrics? (grr and sigh)

[ooger]

<begin sigh>

The missus has recently installed a new FM transmitter / iPod player into her car in the cigarette lighter. It worked and played the iPod through FM radio. To cut a long story short, one day when she pulled it out, the whole ciggy assembly, wires and all came out. :D (clap clap) <more sighing>

Needless to say that pretty much broke the lighter.

Unsurprisingly, the LED clock / radio / courtesy light all went off at the same time. Same fuse, same circuit me thought. Easy fixed.

Now, having removed enough of the console plastics to get behind said lighter (this is no mean feat), I've disconnected the clip-in plug for the lighter, and checked the fusebox in the engine bay and the fuse on the radio (its a Sony one with a 10A inline blade on the back). All seems well. No broken fuse wires.

Now, the courtesy light works again. That is all.

Still, the radio does not work, nor does the clock come on.

BUT

The radio head unit is powered, it spits out and accepts cd's. No lights, no nothing.

What the hell is going on, and how can I fix the radio and clock? (I dont care about the lighter, its well broken). I severely doubt that the clock AND the radio both failed at the same time?

What other explanation could there be?

</sigh>


Thanks
Kev

[markmoto]

what car is it?

[ooger]

Minor detail: Its a rather fetching S-plate Toyota Starlet

;-)

[Reckless Rat]

1. Usually radios have two live feeds to check... one permanent for preset memory etc plus an ign switched one.

2. Do you need to punch in a security code after disconnection?

RR

[ooger]

Its a standard Sony CDX changer thing, with one chunky black connector for power (and speakers all in one). If theres 2 feeds they both must come from the same block?

There is no display at all, so even if you do have to put a code in theres nothing showing up to let/ask you.....

Thanks

[markmoto]

Sounds like the backlight bulb on the display may have blown so it looks like the display isnt working.

[ooger]

....but surely if that was the case, by pressing "source" you'd get some sound? (assuming you know the controls enough to operate it without seeing the display? - I do)

Its all too coincidental, is there something I've missed? Basically, if theres power to the unit to chuck the disc in/out, then it should work, agreed?

What would you try next? Another head unit?

[Steve_God]

Is it possible that other wires that 'appeared' to be in place, may actually be loose due to them being pulled at when the socket was pulled out?
Worth double checking!

[ooger]

yep, double checked everything was connected properly and nice and tight - even without the main plug for the lighter assembly connected to the actual lighter socket, the circuit should still power the radio. I think.

[yorkie_chris]

Some of them, as mentioned above take a live to keep the memory and stuff, which in your case sounds like it powers the head unit too, and an ignition live to actually play the thing.

[markmoto]

if the disc eject and various functions are working and all the wires are connected then id be suspecting that something have blown inside the radio the easiest way to find this out would be to try another head unit in it!