ICE issues

[blackyb]

No, not the air con although it does need some attention.

In recent weeks the radio is loosing all yhe stored radio stations and settings.

It hasn't been removed since it was installed a few years back and has worked faultlessly till this year.

It still works on the ignition and illuminates along with the lighting system.

Is it time for a new unit or is there something I can look at.

I should maybe add that if I retune and store the channels and settings, the are all gone once I stop and then restart the car.

Thanks in advance.

[simes2000]

I am not an expert, however the issue is likely to be either the 'always on' power supply to the head unit (there will be two lives - one is via the accessories fuse and is clearly still OK - the other one is always on) - this is what gives the unit the poewr needed to remember the settings and things like the clock - or if that is OK then there is probably a capacitor in the head unit that acts like a short term 'battery' to preserve those settings if the main power supply is cut - that however would normally be a user serviceable part!

[blackyb]

Cheers for that.

When I get time take the unit out and check the wiring out for the power supplies fuse etc.

[blackyb]

Anyone got an easy to understand wiring diagram for the audio power supplies or are they easy to identify.

Yeah not my strong point

[Mazda Mender]

As above really you need a ignition live, permanent live, and dash lights live and an earth, and the speakers, electric aerial etc, your permanent live is lost somewhere/some how, thats the one you need to trace back, i'll have a look in the hong kong book of kung fu for the OE wires to the HU patch lead wire colours.

What year is your import Bry?
M-m

[GlennyGills]

Found this generic diagram.

MX5 1996_wiring 24.pdf

(145.27 KiB) Downloaded 181 times

[blackyb]

Cheers.

I can follow that which may surprise some people.

[blackyb]

Day off today so multimeter in hand set about the task at hand.

Firstly checked all the fuses just in case and after a bit of body contortion confirmed all fuses correct.

So took the removable head unit off and the red alarm light flashes away without the ignition which kind of told me that there is a permanent feed getting to the unit.

Next step was to remove the unit once I remembered where I had left the extraction pins for safe keeping.

Sterio out and the relevant wires identified.

I have a constant feed and a feed off the ignition.

Both wires have in line fuses which were checked and ok. Checked as much of the wireing as possible for any breaks or chaffing and all seems good.

So unit reinstalled, radio reprogrammed and all seems to be working fine and as it used to, so the test will be tomorrow to see of the settings have disappeared again.

If so then

If not then

[Mazda Mender]

Get a new unit, good ones can be bought off the bay of E now for £20,(which is no killer for even a yorkshire man LOL)as there is no moving parts, and to be honest it is rare that i bang a radio/HU on any way, i would rather listen to the engine and zorst, it just becomes back ground fuzz.
M-m

[blackyb]

Had to move the MX today to fix the wifes fiesta.

She seemed lazy on cranking but did fire up so he battery on my Ssntas list.

Surprise surprise, the radio had lost all the pre-programmed radio stations sndcsettings, so popped new unit into thr list as well.

Well you never know, I might not be on the naughty list this year.

[Mazda Mender]

Had to move the MX today to fix the wifes fiesta.

She seemed lazy on cranking but did fire up so he battery on my Ssntas list.

Surprise surprise, the radio had lost all the pre-programmed radio stations sndcsettings, so popped new unit into thr list as well.

Well you never know, I might not be on the naughty list this year.

The HU is fine, with the battery being so low ,it used all the cranking amps to start her so it would of had a live feed cut which would of cleared all pre sets, seen it loads of times, put the battery on a trickle charge and fit an earth cut off to the negative side of the battery so you can switch power off while she is being stored/left, all ours have them, so we know that they are not losing any dark currant while stood idle and will start when turned back on.
they are easy enough to fit and in keeping with the area your from....."cheap " enough ;0).

There is a guide on here ?
M-m

[blackyb]

I'll try that once I find the guide.

[blackyb]

Found the guide. Seems simple enough to fit but a question.

Wihen the earth is isolated will it not also interrupt the power to the HU resulting in a loss of settings.

Out of stock with Autolink but found one on the bay of all Es so it's on it's way.

[Mazda Mender]

Yes it will, but it is easy enough to reset the HU with a simple turn of the cut off switch than removing a flat battery ,revamp it ,re fit it and then reset the the HU , this is for when they are sat for a long periods to save the battery and still be able to start her at a turn of the key, than the battery being dead and flat.

M-m

[blackyb]

Reasoning understood.

The car sits plugged into a battery conditioner (optimate 4) but with not being too sure on the age of the battery think Santa is going to have to bring me a new one ready for next spring.

As I dont use her during the crappy winter months, think that the earth isolator idea is the way to go, that or just take the earth off the battery for the few months she doesn't get used, and leave to optimate fitted to the battery to maintain it while stood.

Many thanks.