Please HELP! '97 Alfa GTV Head Unit Problem

Hi Guys!

I was wondering if someone could help with a rather annoying problem I have.

I've replaced the Headunit to a Panasonic in my GTV and I'm getting a weird problem, the Headunit won't power up, instead it powers up and switches off powers up switches off etc. etc.

I thought maybe it was the Headunit so I went and purchased another at Halfords and paid extra to get them to fit it however they got the same problem with the New Sony Head Unit.

This is driving me Crazy!

Can someone help I NEED this done and dusted by the weekend!

Thanks!

Matt

hey guys I think I may have made another discovery

I just went out and tried somthing... to little effect.

but I did notice that the when the courtesy light switches on the l.e.d on the mobile phone charger in the cigarette lighter socket switches off and when the light is switched off the phone charger l.e.d comes on again.

Could this go somewhere towards explaining the stereo problem?

Weird. Have you got any other non-standard 'accessories' drawing power from the car?

nope just the mobile charger!

I suspect that it could be the earth for the dash wiring. No idea where it is on a GTV but check the front footwells on both sides. Might be a bit, ahem, rusty, or just loose, bad connection could be causing issues when one item pulls a lot of power. Like the stereo. Or a lightbulb.

got a multimeter? i would check voltages:
*cigarette lighter
*headunit main powerwire (yellow)
*headunit ACC powerwire (red): may be connected to same wire as yellow

they should obviously all be +12V or there-abouts. seems like yours are dropping down significantly.

possible causes include:
*fuses: check/replace all relevant fuses under the dash
*ground: as above

i presume all other electricals seem to work ok in the car? do the dashlights dim at all, or any issues with power windows/mirrors, etc?

Now I've got even more problems!

The brake lights won't work! when the foot brake is depressed the floor lights come on and the cigarette lighter switches off.

Its all on the same fuse circuit.

I don't know what to do!

I've actually sold the car and the and woman is now waiting for it to be sorted!

so it may not be related to the headunit. however, you could remove that as a potential cause by disconnecting it for testing purposes. then send the car to your alfa dealer to sort out.

good luck!

you have to ask, why now? either:
1. you've performed a recent modification which triggered it - yes/no?
2. no recent modification and car was perfect before - something has blown, like a main fuse or relay, etc, or a low voltage/power issue due to disconnected/faulty ground or dying battery or badly connected battery terminals, etc

like i said, knowing the voltages may be helpful.

time to pay a professional to fix it. doesn't sound like you can sort it out (can't blame you!) and you don't have the time to stuff around.

If your getting an all-over disco-show, perhaps you have a bad earth on the battery, or the chassis, sounds like loads are trying earth through other components.