Headunit won't work!!

[jonesy]

Hi all,

I'm trying to fit my trusty Sony XR-CA370 headunit with Sony CDX-656 multichanger into my not so trusty Stilo JTD. But... it won't light up! I've tried the various combinations of red and yellow wires as advised in the fitting instructions but to no avail. Can anyone point me in the right direction with this, PLEASE :bang: Do I need a special wiring adapter or something?

 

[Luke]

If the plugs fit then you shouldnt need an adapter..
Are you getting any power to it at all? Check with a voltmeter, and if not check your fuses as you may have blown one taking the old one out...

 

[jonesy]

Thanks for the quick reply, Luke1985 - I've refitted the original Fiat unit for now and that's still working OK. I'll have another go either when it stops raining or this weekend - whichever comes first. Not really the sort of job to attempt in the dark.

 

[Luke]

Nope i'll agree with you on that one.

Another thing that could be your problem that may need checking - The ignition power feed into the headunit may not be working, in which case run the constant 12v into it or trace the wire and reattach if broken/fallen off

A mate had the problem with his sony headunit not too long ago. That would cause it not to switch on. And perhaps your original HU doesnt rely on that feed.

 

[jonesy]

Thanks, mate - I'll try that first.

 

[purplemonday]

The problem is that the Stilo has no switched live feed due to the on/off functions of the original factory head unit being controlled by the CAN system.

In their infinite wisdom FIAT have decided to put the live feed on the ISO block in a position which works with most aftermarket head units once you swap the inline bullets on the red and yellow wires round - I say most as this isn't the case with the Sony looms.

Having fitted a CDX-CA900 head unit in my Stilo (now in my Mondeo) I quickly found that no combination of the bullet connectors powered the unit up and resorted to swapping the position of the red and yellow wires in the ISO end of the Sony loom and then connecting both the male bullets to the double female. Also did this on Bo~Select@'s Stilo a couple of weeks back when he swapped to a Sony MP3 unit.

It's an easy job to do - just poke something long and thin (I used a 12v test probe) up the side of the two blades you want to swap (this releases the retaining tabs) and then remove them from the ISO block. Before pushing the blades into their new locations you will need to gently bend the retaining tabs back out so they do their job. Once the blades are swapped, connect the ISO bloks and you have a working Sony head unit.

The other option is to obtain an ISO extension (i.e. a straight through cable), cut the red and yellow cables and crimp Male/Female bullets inline to avoid altering the Sony loom - this way you can cross the cables if needed depending on the requirements of the head unit.

 

[jonesy]

Thanks for all your help purplemonday and luke1985 - I had a feeling there was going to be some sort of strange wiring problem! Fiats, eh?