P38A Alpine radio not working

[Andy_J]

Hi All

The Apline head unit on my p38 has decided it does not want to switch on. I have checked the connector and have 12v permanent live and 12v with ignition on. I have also tried a second alpine head unit and that didn't power up. Fuses on back of radio are fine.

Anyone got any ideas why the head unit is not powering up?

thanks

 

[Mark Piercy]

Did you check the earth wire as well?

 

[Datatek]

Did you check the earth wire as well?

+1^^^^^^^^ Also, if you checked for voltage with a DVM it may be misleading, the voltage may disappear under load. Better checked with a 21 watt bulb.

 

[Andy_J]

thanks for the replies.
I checked both continuity on the earth to the battery -ve and checked the earth to permanent live and ignition wires to get the voltages.
I am using a DVM so will give the 21 watt bulb a go at the weekend

 

[Andy_J]

more testing done today.

tried the 21 watt bulb across the 12v and earth and looked to have a healthy glow.

as the connectors are ISO I plugged the grey power connector into an after market unit I had spare and the aftermarket unit powered up no problem.

does the alpine unit get a signal from the BCEM? or something that an after market unit does not require?

or do I have 2 duff head units?

 

[Datatek]

more testing done today.

tried the 21 watt bulb across the 12v and earth and looked to have a healthy glow.

as the connectors are ISO I plugged the grey power connector into an after market unit I had spare and the aftermarket unit powered up no problem.

does the alpine unit get a signal from the BCEM? or something that an after market unit does not require?

or do I have 2 duff head units?

Sounds like 2 duff head units, the BECM is not involved except to turn off the radio after a set period of time if the engine is not running.
If the fuses on the back of the radio are OK, it sounds like an internal problem, maybe just a dry solder joint.
You could check fuses F1 & F8.
Do the interior lights operate?

 

[Andy_J]

Fuses F1 and F8 are both fine and interior lights work fine so going to have to fork out for a new head unit by the looks of it.

Thanks for the advice

 

[Datatek]

Fuses F1 and F8 are both fine and interior lights work fine so going to have to fork out for a new head unit by the looks of it.

Thanks for the advice

Have you removed the fuses from the back of the radio to test them? Corrosion in the fuse holders is a possibility.
With the vehicle lights on, does the radio light up?

 

[Datatek]

I now have the same fault as the OP. Unusually, the radio came on when I switched the ignition on and played normally but none of the buttons worked and it could not be turned off on the button. It would go off with the ignition turned off and then back on with the ignition. In the end I disconnected the battery for 5 minutes. That stopped the radio coming on with the ignition but now it will not come on at all. I hate trying to repair car radios, access is so difficult. As with the OP, I have a spare radio with an adapter loom that works fine so it's not a power supply problem.
I wonder if Alpine still do repairs?

 

[Mark Piercy]

I now have the same fault as the OP. Unusually, the radio came on when I switched the ignition on and played normally but none of the buttons worked and it could not be turned off on the button. It would go off with the ignition turned off and then back on with the ignition. In the end I disconnected the battery for 5 minutes. That stopped the radio coming on with the ignition but now it will not come on at all. I hate trying to repair car radios, access is so difficult. As with the OP, I have a spare radio with an adapter loom that works fine so it's not a power supply problem.
I wonder if Alpine still do repairs?

It sounds as if the face plate has a connection issue inside?

 

[Datatek]

It sounds as if the face plate has a connection issue inside?

Possibly except it came on on it's own initially when the ignition was switched on which shouldn't happen if the radio was left on the "off state" and when it was on the buttons were inactive. I'll get around to looking at it some time, we rarely use the radio so it's not important other than the fact I don't like things that don't work and I want to sell the car.

 

[pwood999]

Google "alpine radio repair". There seems to be quite a few places that do repairs, even on old models..

https://www.alpine.co.uk/info/contactsworldwide00.html
http://revivecaraudio.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/OldSchoolAlpineRepairEurope/

 

[Datatek]

Google "alpine radio repair". There seems to be quite a few places that do repairs, even on old models..

https://www.alpine.co.uk/info/contactsworldwide00.html
http://revivecaraudio.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/OldSchoolAlpineRepairEurope/

Already done that thanks. I plan to do a bit of investigation first. If I could get a new surround to match in I would just fit a cheap new radio.

 

[pwood999]

Already done that thanks. I plan to do a bit of investigation first. If I could get a new surround to match in I would just fit a cheap new radio.

Keith,
I got two trim bits off eBay for mine, and used a Pioneer DAB+ unit. (they were definitely a lot cheaper when I bought them a few years ago)

Works really well, and I think it looks ok. Screen colour set to green only, rather than the silly multi-colour modes.

 

[Mark Piercy]

Keith,
I got two trim bits off eBay for mine, and used a Pioneer DAB+ unit. (they were definitely a lot cheaper when I bought them a few years ago)

Works really well, and I think it looks ok. Screen colour set to green only, rather than the silly multi-colour modes.

View attachment 315341

That's what I did, along with a jvc Bluetooth stereo. The radio stations are rubbish here

 

[Mark Piercy]

 

[Datatek]

Keith,
I got two trim bits off eBay for mine, and used a Pioneer DAB+ unit. (they were definitely a lot cheaper when I bought them a few years ago)

Works really well, and I think it looks ok. Screen colour set to green only, rather than the silly multi-colour modes.

View attachment 315341

I will have a look thanks. I have a good radio from my Jag that I could fit, it's only 35 years old LOL.

 

[Datatek]

That's what I did, along with a jvc Bluetooth stereo. The radio stations are rubbish here

We really only use it for traffic reports on the autoroute.

 

[pwood999]

One thing I have noticed, is the bluetooth works really well both for calls & streaming music (or internet radio) from my phone, plus phone satnav & Pioneer combo seem to get the bluetooth delay just right for direction accouncements.

The Pioneer phone app is ok too.

 

[Datatek]

One thing I have noticed, is the bluetooth works really well both for calls & streaming music (or internet radio) from my phone, plus phone satnav & Pioneer combo seem to get the bluetooth delay just right for direction accouncements.

The Pioneer phone app is ok too.

Apart from playing my store of music via an FM transmitter, I never use my phone in the car, I use a tablet on the rare occasion I need navigation. I have honestly never found a use for Bluetooth.