Monday, I turned the volume down on the radio to listen in on a conference call on my way home from work. When the call was over, I tried to raise the volume but neither the steering wheel controls or the radio knob worked. The display still showed the channel. I tried to insert a cassette but the tape wouldn't engage - like it was stuck on perma-eject. I tried to shut the radio off - but nothing worked. Tuesday & Wednesday - nothing on the display other than the backlighting. Fuses all checked good. Kind of nice just listening to the dulcet tones of the V8 for a change

Today, on the way in to work, no display, nothing when any of the mode buttons or presets are depressed. Halfway into my drive - mysteriously I have audio and the display shows the channel information. Interesting, so decided to insert a tape - all good until I got to work and tried to eject the tape. Once again, the system seems frozen.

Is there a relay somewhere in the circuit that may be giving up the ghost?

 

There's the auxiliary power bus that's live with the ignition switch at (i) & (ii), but if that was out you'd lose other things like the cigar lighter. I guess you could pop one of those USB converter plugs with a LED tell-tale into the socket to confirm whether power is there when the fault manifests?

There are another two connections to permanent B+ but they route through the same fuse.

Of course, it could be the head unit itself playing up. Intermittents are a real PITA

 

Michael no power to the lighter for about 18months - haven't felt like taking the console apart to look at but think it may be on the horizon.

interestingly enough, on the way home from work, there was an unexpected explosion of sound as the head unit decided to start working. I adjusted volume and left it alone, stopped for a few errands and was still working each time on start up - so I will continue to monitor then start tearing things apart after the holidays

 

My guess is also a gradually-fading head unit. But I sure hope you trace the problem to something easier and inexpensive like a flaky fuse or a chaffed wiring harness....

 

Jon - I'm leaning that way too - nearing 185000 miles on her so have a feeling things are going to get interesting. Looking at the potential for an alternate driver so I can give the mistress a break every now and again

 

Steve,

Maybe worth checking the earth/ground point for the radio head unit. In my 99 XK8 it was easily accessible in the passenger footwell on the side of the centre console, under the carpet. Pic below.

 

^^ Good idea. Go for the freebie potential fixes first....

 

good idea David - thanks will look at this weekend

 

Hopefully it is bad grounding point,cable. If you have to replace the head unit, it would be a good project for the forum. I would like to see a replacement unit that would not look like a cheap 'Plug-In'.