Anyone electronically inclined??

Here's the deal. I purchased a double-din off ebay. It is a pretty cool unit so much so when my brother saw it he had me get him one and it's all good.

My problem is it appears the unit has a mind of it's own. The unit always powers up, it plays and all of the features are functional except the display screen. Sometimes it works sometimes it does not. So we snatched the unit out to see what was going on but when we just powered it up outside of the car the display comes on everytime. So then, I thought it was an install issue, so the unit was reinstalled with different power sources and guess what the same result.

Frustrated I contacted the seller and shipped it back to the company for a new unit claiming the one I have is defective. They sent me a different unit. Same problem. So then I was like what's the deal?? :mad:

The technical support told me that it has to be grounded properly. It can not just be hooking up to the ground wire but connected directly to the battery. Anyone heard of such a hook up? Again, my brother has the same unit and all he did was run the wires as normal and everything works properly for him everytime. We even took his out of his car and put it in mine and it worked as it suppose to every time.

I don't know why, mine displays sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. It's like if I power up the car and turn the radio on it works fine. But as soon as I turn the car off and back on again, the display doesn't illuminate.

Any ideas what's going on? Any suggestions? Anyone know how to properly run the ground wire to battery as the technical support told me to do? Because I have done everything else but that so far.

Help please and thank you!!

~Renee'

I have never heard of running a ground wire to a battery for a radio. Do you have the correct wiring harness? Its wierd cause you say when the car is running everything works fine!! Also did you hook up the illumination wire on the harness, its usually an orange wire on both the radio and wiring harness? If I understood you correctly you said you put your brothers in your car and it worked fine? If thats the case I would assume the head-unit is bad. Maybe when you sent it back they tested it off a battery charger or something and figured it worked and sent you the same unit back.

If you continue to have problems my guy owns a shop by 147th and Kedzie he could take a look for ya.

Shawn1112 wrote:

I have never heard of running a ground wire to a battery for a radio. Do you have the correct wiring harness? Its wierd cause you say when the car is running everything works fine!! Also did you hook up the illumination wire on the harness, its usually an orange wire on both the radio and wiring harness? If I understood you correctly you said you put your brothers in your car and it worked fine? If thats the case I would assume the head-unit is bad. Maybe when you sent it back they tested it off a battery charger or something and figured it worked and sent you the same unit back.

If you continue to have problems my guy owns a shop by 147th and Kedzie he could take a look for ya.

^^^ That's what I thought as well. It apppears to me that it is the same unit, but the company swear they switched it out for me. Anyway, again the stupid display works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. It's the weirdest I've ever seen. I can literally go out to the car right now and start the car and the radio display will come on with that beautiful picture. But as soon as I turn the car off, and restart the car the display doesn't come on. wth???

Other than that no complaints. Because not having usage of the screen doesn't effect the unit overall. I can still listen to the radio, I can still use the bluetooth function, I can still play dvds I just can't always see it. Now it does have a LCD button to turn off the display like when the cops come around or something but I don't use it. So, I'm thinking my problem is stemming from that little button.

As for the wiring harness, the one that was used came with the unit. I actually, had it professionally installed twice, once at a place in Richton Park and once at Best Buy.

I dunno. I have never had any problems with a unit like this before.

I'm at a loss myself, I have 1 other question is the parking brake wire hooked up. Usually you need to hook that up so you can watch dvd's or tv. I know best buy will not over-ride that wire so it will play when your driving. Also does your brothers unit work like its supposed to in your car. If so then the unit is screwed up. If thats the case take pics of both your unit not working and a pic of your brothers working in your car.
Like I said there should be no reason to run a ground to the battery.

I have to run to home depot to get supplies for my guys will check back in about 20 minutes.

what brand and model radio and what year is your car? most radios are different. normally need the parking, but they can vary.

Now don't laugh ... the name of my unit isn't one of the infamous brands ... its an Innovatek. The year of my magnum is 2006.

My brother's unit worked fine in my car. Powers right up, picture shows, when car is started and after it is shut off.

My unit works all but the screen. And that's not always which is weird. Like I said, when I first start the car the screen comes on no problem. It's only after I reach my destination and shut the car off, let's say to go to gas up. When I get to the station screen working. When I restart the car to leave the station,screen doesn't come on. Almost as if it needs a cool off period or something.

But when the same unit is out of the car, everytime it is turned on it powers up, screen comes on every single time I shut it off and back on again. That's what made me think it was an install issue. I don't know maybe I will just get rid of it and start over with Alpine or Pioneer which, I initially started to buy anyway!!

ok here are pics of the system both installed and out of the car ...


My unit and my brothers together

My unit after starting car.

Oh great. Now I want one.

I still think its something with the head unit, if your brothers works perfect in your car and yours doesnt it has to be the problem.

BTW how the hell are you watching BET on the screen?

Response to Madhatter - Well when I originally purchased mine a few months back, I paid just under $300.00 for it including shipping. But now it's selling direct from their website at $199.00 plus shipping. I was like wow. But they are always upgrading so I suppose that's the reason for the price drop. Here's a link to the site if anyone else is seriously interested.
http://www.mp3playerstore.com/stuff_you_need/dvd/index.html#2

Response to Shawn - Now for your question about how did I get BET, it's a disc of videos recorded from MTV, VH1 and BET.

Mad Hatter wrote:

Ok, i say right down the serial # & send it back again for another one or just take your brothers & have him send yours back for another 1!

Very good idea!

yeah i agree, send them the photo too to prove there is an issue.

Yeah I should, I had given up because of the expense of sending it back and forth plus the wait time. But it's paid for and I should have a properly working product. Will shoot them an email so they can reissue a return receipt. I've done business with them several times and never had a problem before like this. The last one I bought for my jeep had a detachable face and the only issue I had with it was the little clip that secures the face to the unit wore after awhile. I told them about it, they issued a return receipt and they sent me a brand spanking new one out in 2 days. I'm still using it now in my jeep. Nice unit. Nice picture, Great sound.

So I will give it a try one last time. If I'm not taken care of properly this time I will not purchase from them again and will certainly let them know this!!

Definitely sounds like a bad unit.. And if it happened again I'd say they probably tested it and sent it right back to you because they couldn't duplicate it on a bench test.. I'd send it in and make sure you get a different unit back this time.. If not, let them know and don't use them ever again..

Mad Hatter wrote:

Did you send it back?

What he said???

No not yet, waiting on the return receipt from the company. I was told I should have it no later than Monday, then I will send it back and it will have the proper tracking info for their internal records, I'm told.