What's the dealio? HELP!!!

[Gazord]

Alright, I finally spent some time fidgiting with my car after getting a feeling it isn't running quite right the radio crapped out leaving the ATL airport parking lot last night and I had to drive an hour in total silence...

I got in the car and drove about 3000 ft nice and easy in a smooth parking lot. The radio was going and all of a sudden it just kicked off and flipped half way down horizontal. I pushed in to make sure the face plate was all the way on (even though I have never taken it off) because I used to have a couple kenwoods that would do that sometimes if it wasn't on just right. The face plate was on just fine.

The face motor turns a bit when I turn the car on and off, but not normal. I finally got it to flip up tonight. The tunes came on for a second but no lights on the radio powered up. Then after about 2 seconds the music quit and it flipped horizontal again.

Has anyone had any problems like this? Am I just doing something wrong? I have even tried powering it up holding down the "SRC" button. This is my 3rd kenwood dec so I sort of thought I knew how to operate them, atleast turn them on. Looks like it is fubar!

I posted something a while back about a dead spot between 4500 and 5500 rpm's. I actually think it is sparatically happening throughout the entire rpm range just most noticeable over that 1000 range in second gear cause that is the meat of the power band and pulling the most. It seems very electrical.

It seems when I flip the switch for my internal Heating/AC fan to come on all the lights in the car dim, gauges, headlights, dome light, the idle drops down. ALMOST everytime I switch the the fan swith from the on to the off position the cooling fan up on the radiator would also kick on and off in sync.

I understand that the voltage may drop some with the cooling fan kicks on and cause some dimming, but this seems excesive... It isn't like the AC compressor is kicking on or anything... is it?

And why does the cooling fan come on when the heater fan is turned on... I would think it would turn off if anything. You are turning the heating fan on up at the heater-core and that will cool the coolant to some degree, why would they want to cool it even more with the other fan upfront when you are looking to get heat out of it?

Does this happen to anyone else? It seems like the wiring in my car is a little screwed up. Or maybe the voltage regulator is messed and causing some whacky things to happen. Any suggestions?

I really hate taking it back to the dealership because it is like a 2 hour drive... Maybe the regular dealership (non-mazdaspeed) locally can fix it? Do dealerships normally give people a hard time with warrentee work if you didn't buy your car from them? I would have if they sold them! I hope I didn't get an orange lemon!

 

[BoOsTiN]

Ive been having the same problem my radio. It has acted up 3 times now. Once , the screen just turned black and the radio kept playing then eventually it turned completly off. Second time I turned if off and it wouldnt turn back on. this last time I just turned the volume down and it turned off and folded the face down and there it stayed. Each time the only way to get it working again is to hit the RESET button. Its a very tiny button located next to the SRC button. Once you hit the reset button you'll be asked to enter the security code. Enter code and hold down the" >>" button for a couple seconds. "Approved" will read on the screen and then will operate normally. You will lose all settings but at least it plays. I am tired of having to do this and will be taking this up with my dealer soon.

 

[Grimace]

Discouraging. This is an expensive head-unit, and I've been reading all these threads about how it does stuff like this and you have to reset it.
I don't know about you guys, but I really tweek all the settings to suit my music juuuuuuuussssst right. Its like if someone moves the drivers seat; it takes me forever to get it back to the right spot. It would be disappointing to have to re-enter all my settings every time this happened, since it shouldn't happen in the first place!

 

[Newf]

this is scarey. too many people with this problem for my liking. I sill think they should have stuck with the Excelon unit in this car like they did with the MP3. I have never had an issue with mine.

 

[digi168]

I have never had an issue with mine either...

 

[JonnyMiata]

I had this happen to me once. I took the face off and made sure that the contacts were happening on the back of the faceplate. I must have tried it 15 times and then it all worked OK. It was discouraging. I hope it doesn't happen again. If it does, I may call Kenwood. This is a Kenwood question, not a deealer question. I think my dealer is afraid to even look at that headunit.

 

[Sir Nuke]

I understand that the voltage may drop some with the cooling fan kicks on and cause some dimming, but this seems excesive... It isn't like the AC compressor is kicking on or anything... is it?

IF you look at your selector switch as to WHERE the air is going to go....as in to the dash only...or to the windshield only...or the feet....etc....even if you have the A/C switch OFF....as in the little indicator light is NOT lit.....and if you select ANY position which you would use with the heater, and turn the fan on....the A/C compressor will automatically kick on....even though the little light doesn't come on....the compressor IS engaged.

 

[For_Mica]

The stereo shut off on my MSP a couple of nights ago too. I was driving down the highway and all of sudden the music stopped. I looked at the headunit and it was in the half-way position. It was as if the power was cut. When I pulled over, I tried a few things but I got nada. Once I hit the reset button it began to work again. It folded back into place but of course I had to reset everything. PAIN in the ASS! I hope Mazda/Kenwood will acknowledge the issue and make it right. It would stink to see this problem get swept underneath the rug like the infamous "clunk" issue. Perhaps everyone with a MSP should report these issues. There's strength in numbers.

 

[Newf]

Perhaps everyone with a MSP should report these issues


Agreed. Seems to be too many stereo problems for my liking.

 

[andr3w]

When mine went into the halfway position (on its own) I simply removed it, turned the car off, turn car on, put it back and it worked. No need to reset.

 

[Chojin]

Everyone -

If you have problems with your MSP, you must take it to a MAZDASPEED dealer for all warranty issues.

Regarding the radio: If they can't fix the radio problem on site, they'll get a new radio for you. If the problem happens with the new radio, Mazda will be notified and Kenwood will be contacted. In the warranty cases with the first MP3's, Kenwood ran out of the original radios so the replacement radios were a better model than the original.

Regarding the power loss: If it happens frequently, have the service advisor ride with you to feel what you're feeling. This will allow them to better explain it to their techs.

Regarding the A/C and Blower: The A/C should only come on when the A/C switch is on and the Blower switch is on a position other than 0. If it comes on any other time, have them check the Blower switch and the A/C switch as they may be faulty. This has been a problem with many 01-03 Proteges.

Regarding the cooling fans: Both the cooling and condenser fans will turn on after periods of extended or hard driving where the coolant temp. gets above the temp. allowed by the thermostat. If the A/C condenser fan comes on (without extended or hard driving) when you turn on the Blower and the A/C switch is off, there is a good possibility the A/C compressor is engaging (which goes back to the A/C switch and blower switch issue).

Since the car is brand new and still under warranty, <b>use the warranty</b>. If your MAZDASPEED dealer gives you the run around and cannot fix your problems, call MazdaUSA or MazdaCanada customer service and let them know. MAZDASPEED dealers must pass certain criteria to be chosen by Mazda, and Mazda would like to know how each chosen dealer handles their customer issues.

Hope this helps.

-Shawn

 

[Newf]

Regarding the radio: If they can't fix the radio problem on site, they'll get a new radio for you. If the problem happens with the new radio, Mazda will be notified and Kenwood will be contacted.

Nope, I posted something about this before. The poor guy here got his speed with the radio not working at all. He waited 3 weeks before Mazda even called the dealer back and told them what to do.

The deck was torn out of his car, and is being sent to Kenwood. Meantime, he has NO stereo. it's already been 2 weeks. When he gets his back, it'll either be his own fixed, or probably a refurbished one.

ain't Mazda wonderful.

 

[dafababa]

I dont think mazda has any choice with regaurds to the radios. I think that since they are kenwoods mazda has to do what kenwood says. incidentaly i have not had a problem with my radio at all.(knock on wood)

 

[Grimace]

Use a little leverage as a consumer. Don't let them jerk you around for 3 weeks, if thats the case.

 

[Newf]

Well, that was him. Myself, when one of my speakers rattled, I insisted they send me new ones. They did. It took 5 months, but I got em.

Nothing is the world is easy anymore.

 

[dpmmsp]

I'm up to over 4,000kms now and have had the radio act up only once. The face turned horizontal and I ended up having to reset it to get it working again. I assumed it was because I pushed too many buttons too quickly. I had just put in a cd and the unit had just closed. I was going to hold down the "8" button to adjust some settings when I hit a bump and my finger slipped down and hit two or three buttons at once including the eject button. The faceplate turned horizontal and I assumed it was going to spit the disc back out but it shut off and stayed that way. I tryed everything to get it going but it only worked after I pushed the reset. That was on about my first week with the car and it has never happened again.

 

[Gazord]

I have been MIA for a couple days, but made it back here finally.

I had tried pressing the reset button before and it didn't do anything, but I think maybe my fat fingers didn't get it pushed in all the way using my fingernail. I got a tooth pick today and pushed it in to reset it and it seemed to do the trick.

I am not really sure what caused it to need resetting. when it quit out it was smooth driving and I wasn't even touching the radio. Oh well hopefully it won't happen again. Now if I can just get that fan/switch thing fixed I will be golden!

 

[TonyMS]

Sorry to bring this one back from the dead but my radio did this and is asking for the code to which I have never set one and I got the car with 7 miles on it. Is there a default code as the dealers don't know anything and the Mazdaspeed tech cant ever seem to call me back. I tired all 0s and 1234 then hold down the >> button and i turns off flips all the way around in the dash.

Tony