Hi you find out problem with radio?
Pioneer FH-X700BT radio loses memory - intermittent
- Thread starter blkprj80
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Hi did you find out problem with radio? Mine has the same
Hi did you find out what problem is with that radio? Thanks tomasRKFZ80: How did you ground your radio? Through the harness, or a separate wire?
I just did a set of tests to make sure something else wasn't goofy. I was using the min/max feature of the DMM and current probe.
The battery is about 12.5V after running the headlights only for a bit. Sounds good.
The voltage at the battery dips to 10.4 when the starter is cranked. Sounds okay.
I measured a dip to 10.0 volts at the middle dome light, which should be a good representative of the voltage the radio gets. But, during all of this, the radio remembered everything like it should, so...
The starter draws 231.4A when cranking a warm engine briefly. It's the higher wattage starter, but the current sounds about right.
The dome fuse looks "different" than the others. I believe I've read threads where people had problems with "cheap" fuses. I'm still looking for my spare fuses...
I posted before I'm having no issue with my radio installed in a Ford truck. My wife drives it about half the time and she mentioned it's turned completely off about 4 times in the last 2 months. I don't have presets or use the clock, but the back ground color has never changed since I first set it. Don't know if it matters, but we both only use the unit set to BT audio with iPhone 4.
Update: driving home tonight, the radio shut off and came back on 2-3 times after I tried to skip a song with the right arrow on the unit. I asked my wife if that's when it turned off for her, and she said no. So who knows, sounds like to me the head unit has issues, not necessarily the type of vehicle it's installed in.
Update: driving home tonight, the radio shut off and came back on 2-3 times after I tried to skip a song with the right arrow on the unit. I asked my wife if that's when it turned off for her, and she said no. So who knows, sounds like to me the head unit has issues, not necessarily the type of vehicle it's installed in.
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I am sorry to say but I believe that it is a design flaw (my opinion only) because it happens to me as well (along with many other folks apparently). If I start my car quickly (meaning I don't hesitate too long in the Key On Engine Off position (right before the starter will crank) - it seems to not loose it's memory. However, if I move my key over to Key On Engine Off and sit there for..oh...10 seconds or so, then it will have the issue (loose its memory and reset).
I can only assume that the always hot line is dipping for some reason - current draw inside other radio circuitry perhaps. What I am going to do is wire in a beefy 330 micro farad cap, with 1K ohm resistor in series. My thought is if the line is dipping in voltage, this cap will supply any needed current while I get the engine cranked and started.
What is the resistor for?? Well, two things: 1. To allow any charge / discharge to be more 'gentle' to the cap (extend it's life hopefully) and 2. Gives me about 1 second for 5 tao (five time constants - complete charge / discharge).
If this makes it worse I will let you know. By the way - for those who read this and want play with caps like I do - and you aren't that experienced with electronics - PLEASE be careful of the caps polarity when you wire it in. Putting one in backwards (the negative lead on the +12V line) will ruin your day - and maybe your undershorts.
I can only assume that the always hot line is dipping for some reason - current draw inside other radio circuitry perhaps. What I am going to do is wire in a beefy 330 micro farad cap, with 1K ohm resistor in series. My thought is if the line is dipping in voltage, this cap will supply any needed current while I get the engine cranked and started.
What is the resistor for?? Well, two things: 1. To allow any charge / discharge to be more 'gentle' to the cap (extend it's life hopefully) and 2. Gives me about 1 second for 5 tao (five time constants - complete charge / discharge).
If this makes it worse I will let you know. By the way - for those who read this and want play with caps like I do - and you aren't that experienced with electronics - PLEASE be careful of the caps polarity when you wire it in. Putting one in backwards (the negative lead on the +12V line) will ruin your day - and maybe your undershorts.
Could this be a bad connection or to little of a wire to handle the load on the memory wire?
you either have a bad ground or memory wire has bad connection. only two things unless head unit has a problem.
- Thread starter
- #28
I spoke with Crutchfield and they said it sounded like a defective head unit. Of course, mine was 1 year and 1 month old, therefore out of warranty. And, unfortunately, I hadn't bought it from Crutchfield.
I checked all the grounds and watched the power wires with my oscilloscope. Nothing abnormal. I'm still trying to figure out the exact sequence of events that causes it. Several weeks of no fail now, but it could take a s*** tomorrow.
I checked all the grounds and watched the power wires with my oscilloscope. Nothing abnormal. I'm still trying to figure out the exact sequence of events that causes it. Several weeks of no fail now, but it could take a s*** tomorrow.
Perhaps a long shot but double check that screws holding aftermarket speakers in your door panels are completely isolated from the steel on your doors themselves. I spent the better part of three months (not a DD, occasional use) trying to troubleshoot an intermittent "check wiring" message on my brand new aftermarket HU (different than your Pioneer). My issue was related to one of the steel screws used to hold my 6.5" Pioneer speakers in the rear door panel just lightly, and only occasionally, touching the steel of the door itself (manifested itself months after running with no issues, probably the result of some occasional and light offroading which simply pushed that point further thru the panel and contacting the steel). Once I got that contact isolated and insulated, problem gone. Worth a look if you're still having problems...
Hey gang. I am sorry my reply to see if my fix worked took a while but I wanted some time to pass to be extra sure. If you noted my other comment - where I wired in a rather large capacitor and a resistor to essentially keep the radio memory powered if there was a momentary power interruption / glitch - well - IT WORKED.
It has been approx. 1 and 1/2 months since any incident occurred and with the cap in place I haven't had it reset once.
Also - just so folks know - I drive a 2004 Corolla. I say this because I think some folks think it may be their car / truck / SUV.
I did inquire with Pioneer why they don't use Flash memory or EEPROM (non-volatile memory - memory that can loose power and still retain it's correct contents). They said they would consider it. Non-volatile memory has been around for quite some time now - c'mon Pioneer!!!
Take Care Everybody.
It has been approx. 1 and 1/2 months since any incident occurred and with the cap in place I haven't had it reset once.
Also - just so folks know - I drive a 2004 Corolla. I say this because I think some folks think it may be their car / truck / SUV.
I did inquire with Pioneer why they don't use Flash memory or EEPROM (non-volatile memory - memory that can loose power and still retain it's correct contents). They said they would consider it. Non-volatile memory has been around for quite some time now - c'mon Pioneer!!!
Take Care Everybody.
I have that same head unit. It's done it to me twice when I had just disconnected to battery in recent days. Hasn't happened since. That being said I HATE this head unit and will be replacing it soon. The most complicated radio I've ever worked.
Oh and I had a bare spot in my drivers door speaker wire that would short the whole system out if I opened the door completely up. Fixed that too so It may have contributed.
Oh and I had a bare spot in my drivers door speaker wire that would short the whole system out if I opened the door completely up. Fixed that too so It may have contributed.
Greetings to all. It is with a bruised ego that I must recant my previous comment of my "fix" working. The other day, I lingered too long in the KEY-ON ENGINE-OFF section of my start switch and - DARN if my stupid radio didn't reset! The capacitor / resistor combination MAY have cut down on the number of occurrences but I cannot say that I 100% fixed it.
Sorry for the misleading information.
Sorry for the misleading information.
- Thread starter
- #33
Yeah, I have spent waay too much time on this myself.
I put a diode in line with the batt feed to see if that was causing problems. No luck.
I did find that I could disconnect the entire power connector for about 1/2 second and it wouldn't forget stations. About 1 full second or more and it went stupid.
I like the cap idea. I think I'll get rid of the stupid radio though. It will be very satisfying sending copper jacketed lead through it at high velocities.
Funny thing is that I bought a lesser optioned version (no BT) for my sis-in-law. She loves it, and it has never failed (in a GMC truck).
I put a diode in line with the batt feed to see if that was causing problems. No luck.
I did find that I could disconnect the entire power connector for about 1/2 second and it wouldn't forget stations. About 1 full second or more and it went stupid.
I like the cap idea. I think I'll get rid of the stupid radio though. It will be very satisfying sending copper jacketed lead through it at high velocities.
Funny thing is that I bought a lesser optioned version (no BT) for my sis-in-law. She loves it, and it has never failed (in a GMC truck).
Hhhmmmm.... methinks this has potential (sending a, or several, copper jacketed lead hole punchers through it). I wonder if using a portable power source (fused) to have the thing playing it's last song would be satisfying. May make for a fun fireworks show anyway!
But seriously - I am still flummoxed as to why / how this was able to hit the market. I am sure there are radios out there with non-volatile memory as standard issue.
I'm confident I found the problem with my head unit. It was intermittent loosing power, esp when I touched the faceplate.... So naturally in thought it was the head unit failing. After taking the head unit apart and no improvement, I hooked up my old radio and had no power. I eventually tracked down a bad fuse, I guess the fuse link was just partially broken. Seems to be working fine now.
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- #37
I pulled the radio and put in a different one. I bought an Alpine and it has been working for the last several years without fail.
I still think it's some sort of manufacturer problem, especially since others are having the same thing. I just couldn't stand the stupid "look at me, look at me!!" light show, and no way to kill it except removing power or doing the initial setup, which was impossible while driving.
I still think it's some sort of manufacturer problem, especially since others are having the same thing. I just couldn't stand the stupid "look at me, look at me!!" light show, and no way to kill it except removing power or doing the initial setup, which was impossible while driving.
I've been having the same issue in two different cars with this stereo. Its been a pain for a couple of years until now. I've found a video which said to try swapping the red power lead and the yellow memory lead round. I've done this and I've had no problems since. Its worked for me and mine was resetting all the time. Just thought I'd share
