Traffic Message Channel (TMC)

[adamski84]

I have given up on trying to fit my own stereo in my Stilo and have put the factory fitted stereo back into the car.

the problem that i have is when i turn the thing on all i get flashing on the screen is "TMC" and no sound at all. i know that it means Traffic Message Channel but have no idea what it does and no idea how to turn it off so i can listen to the radio.

does anyone know how to get rid of it so i can have sound back in my mute like!!!

 

[volxstu]

Did the person who fit the Aftermarket one swap the wires on the cars loom. I have forgotten the pics that you posted before.

 

[adamski84]

Yeah he cute the yellow one and attached it to the red one.

 

[volxstu]

And you have removed this from the car and just pluged the old head unit?

 

[adamski84]

yeah just want some sound in the car dont really car which unit i use.

the unit that came with the car has just been plugged back in as normal but i am having the same problem "TMC". this is the reason i took the unit out and tried to put another in.

i cant find any informaiton about how to turn the function off so that i can hear the raido, it just flashes on the screen and no sound comes out at all.

 

[adamski84]

This is what i get on the raido unit when its turned on...

 

[Davren]

The Stilo Visteon radio handbook doesn't mention any way of turning the TMC function on or off.

The pinout diagram of the rear panel connectors suggests you need an external TMC receiver for it to operate and that receiver sends a MUTE signal to the radio when traffic messages are received. It would appear that your radio has somehow gone into TMC MUTE mode.

I suspect that you've already tried every button on the front panel but if not, pressing the mute button may clear the TMC display and MUTE. Try a short press and if that doesn't work, a long press (over 2 seconds)

If that doesn't work, I'll post information of how you may be able to clear it from the rear panel connectors.

 

[adamski84]

Hi Davren, i tried the mute button approach and nothing!!

whats your other plans with the rear panel connectors to help me with my endless silnce!!! lol

 

[Davren]

This is not guaranteed to work, but if the radio isn't working anyway it's worth a try.

The mute signal to a car radio from a phone, GPS or in your case TMC reciever will be either an earth or 12v +ve signal fed to the correct pin of the radio. For the Stilo Visteon radio TMC, this will be pin C3.

Pull the radio out of the dash but leave the wiring connected. Unless you have an external amplifier, phone, CD changer or TMC receiver connected to the radio, all the pins of connector C should be empty.

With the radio switched on, connect a length of wire from pin C3 to earth. Pin A8 is earth or you could just use the radio case for test purposes. If that doesn't cancel the MUTE and TMC display, remove the end of the wire connected to earth and connect it to 12v +ve instead. Pin A7 is a permanent 12v +ve or pin A4 is an ignition switched 12v +ve.
.

 

[adamski84]

Daft question but does it matter what type of wire i use?

 

[Davren]

No... it doesn't matter. Will need to be quite thin though to fit into the connector pin. If it works by connecting pin C3 to 12v +ve then the wire will need to be insulated.

Also..... it may trip by just touching the wire from pin C3 to earth or 12v +ve temporarily. It may not need to be connected permanently.

 

[adamski84]

I will give this a go and let you know how i get on with it!

 

[adamski84]

I've just given this a go and it appears to have blown the fuse as the raido wont turn on and the interior lights dont work now.

i have located the fuse i need to check (F39 red 10amp) in the fuse box by the drivers side, its so hard to get out the fuse? is there a tool and does the car have any spares fuses?

 

[Davren]

Pin C3 is just a signal input so should not have blown a fuse whatever you do to it. If you accidently touched pin C6 next to C3, that may have blown the fuse.

There should be a plastic fuse puller tool clipped into the fuse box as shown in these diagrams, however, they often go missing. You could use a pair on long nose pliers to pull the fuse out with.

The line of 6 fuses shown on the right of this fuse box are spares.

May be an idea to put a 5 amp fuse in the wire you use to connect pin C3 next time.
.

 

[adamski84]

My little puller things have gone missing and i dont have any spare red ones, trip to halfords then i guess for spare fueses.

 

[adamski84]

Well been to halfords, replaced the fuse.... tried doing it all again but nothing has happened still have "TMC" flashing on the screen - beginning to think the car hates me and is now taunting me!!!! Starting to reside myself to never hearing sound in the car again!!!

Any recomendations on after market stereos that work in a fiat with little of no changes to the wiring needed?

 

[razvan186]

I have the same problem with the original audio system, TMC message, i never tried to change the audio system, but it seems that if i move i little the socket with the wires from the subwoofer and then turn on the audio begins to search the cd/mp3 tracks but then it gives me an error and again the tmc message appears. So i think it's a wire connection problem. I didn't yet disconect the subwoofer but i will do that to see what happens.