Car Audio Technical Frequently Asked Questions and their answers...
Fault Questions:
1) Having just installed my new radio, when I turn it off and back on again the preset radio stations and other settings reset and the CD ejects. Why is this? This is easy to correct. Basically 2 wires on the radio harness need swapping around. These are the 12V permanent live (yellow wire) and the 12V ignition live (red wire). Remove your radio and disconnect the bullet connectors found on the radio wiring harness and swap these 2 colours, so that yellow goes to red and red goes to yellow. Your radio was simply losing power to the memory feature.
2) My radio has just stopped working. Firstly check if your radio has a RESET button, either by checking your radio handbook or by actually looking on your fascia panel or behind your fascia panel for a small round button. Press this button in for approx 3 seconds and try your radio for correct operation. If there is no change red through the (Fault Diagnosis) guide found in the Technical Articles section of the Support Centre.
3) My speakers produce a noise that seems to increase when i rev the engine. How can i eliminate it? This is simply interference or commonly known as noise. Induced Noise can sound like clicking, popping, whirring, buzzing, whistling, or whining. This noise always has a source such as the alternator, car power wiring, or amplifier, etc. So this means that the problem can be tackled at the source now you just have to find it.
Powerline noise problems such as alternators can be fixed by adding a capacitor or powerline filter on the live source to the suspect component. Another area to investigate is the earth or also known as ground wire to the rear of the radio or head unit. Try running a new earth or ground wire from the rear of the radio to a new position (earth) on the cars chassis replacing the existing earth wire.
If you have installed an amplifier ensure that the RCA cables running from the head unit to the amplifier of good quality and are run along the car away from the cars existing wiring and run away from the amplifiers power cable. For the sake of testing, try running the RCA lead loosely between the head unit and the amplifier without actually running them under the carpet. Rev your engine with the radio on low volume and see if the noise has gone. If it has tried running the RCS's using a different route along the car.
Installation Questions: 1) Will I have to cut any wires when installing my new radio? I am concerned about jeopardising my car warranty? No! All new radios include wiring harnesses that have (ISO) connections. ISO is an international standard connection type. Once you have removed your original radio you will be able to install your new radio directly onto the radio wiring connector if it has an ISO connection as standard or you will need a Harness Adapter that will enable you to install it by push-fit connection.