Hi there,

We picked up our first scooby today, a 54 plate WRX Wagon!

It's in mint condition...except for one thing! ...and I can't believe I didn't check this before buying it...!

Basically, there is no volume coming out of the factory head unit, even though I'm turning the volume up to maximum and it's definitely not on Mute, we still hear nothing. The head unit is a Type A unit, which is a CD/Tape/Radio model, and I've got the same problem with all three modes.

I'm not an expert in ICE, so just wondered if there's anything I could check to get to the root of the problem?

I'm not aware of what the previous owner used, but it is possible he used an after-market head unit and simply forgot to connect the factory unit back properly. If this is the case, how does it pull out again in order for me to check this? Being a newby, I'm scared to force anything too hard in the wrong place in case I break it!

Thanks,

Ste

 

It's not hard to remove, Have a look in FAQ's especially at GaryCats post #7
some very good info there.

Should take no more than 10 mins to whip out and check the connections.

Criss

 

Ahhh, you mean the FAQ's that say 'Read before posting' in big bold letters?!

Have just read through the post in question so will try removing the unit tomorrow and check the wiring. It's a shame the instructions for the 01-onwards facias don't have pictures like the 05 instructions, especially for a cluts like me!

I'm sure my local subaru dealer will be getting orders for snapped interior items tomorrow!

Thanks,

Ste

 

Hi there,

We've followed the instructions in the FAQ to get the head unit out of our 2004 Impreza WRX.

There were two sets of wires connected to the head unit. One was the aerial. The other was a bit wiring loom with a white connecter plug, and this plug went stright into the back ot the head unit.

The only other socket on the head unit which has nothing going into it is a round socked in the corner which is about 1cm in diameter. This has three lines of 4 pins, with another pin on one side, and a square hole on the other.

My old aftermarket Kenwood unit has exactly the same type of connection, and if I recall correctly, this was definitely plugged into my old Ford Fiesta.

If this round connector is for the speakers, then that's the problem, but I'm not sure if it is - any ideas?

The only 'spare' wire in the car available to plug into the head unit is a small black rectangular plug which says 'Amp' on the back, and the source of this wire is actually from the main wiring loom (the one that presents itself in the large white plug).

Do you think I just need to get a plug/connector which connects this small rectangular plug to the big round socket on the head unit?

Thanks for any help.

Ste

 

IMO the socket on the back of the h/u is for an autochanger or other additional doofer.

If the previous owner had an aftermarket h/u, then it's likely he also had aftermarket speakers. First off, I'd check that the speakers are actually installed (shine a torch through the grilles) and then lever off the door cards to check that they're wired up.

Check the FAQ sticky post at the top of the ICE section for details on removing door cards etc.

J.

 

Hi there,

Got an autoleads adapter today so we could fit our old Kenwood head unit to the car and guess what, it works fine, and we have sound in the speakers now!

I'd like to get to the bottom of what's wrong with the factory headunit though - any ideas? Are there any particular connectors on the head unit that I should test? How much do these things cost to repair?

Thanks,

Ste

 

ste
have you contacted the garage you got it from? that would be my first port of call!
ste

 

Hi Ste,

I wanted to find out exactly where the problem was first, and now I've found out that it is the headunit (as opposed to the speaker wires), I'll be giving them a call soon!

Thanks,

Ste

 

Hi there,

Called the dealer about the faulty head unit on Saturday but was told to call their service department today - they also said it would be covered by the 3 year Subaru warranty. They reckon it was working, and that something has possibly gone faulty after they had jump started the car?

Anyway, I went to my nearest Subaru main dealer today, Holdcroft Merseyside (sorry, Holdcroft Cheshire... ), in Widnes. I had the stereo in a carrier bag to leave it with them, but the guy there said he needed it in the car, and as we never had any screw drivers with us to remove the trim and fit it again (we've currently got a single DIN CD player in there), and it looked like he was itching to get out to lunch, we said we'd bring it back another time.

He said the Subaru warranty was 3 years or 60k miles, and that the stereo is covered, depending on what's wrong with it. He said if it's the sound card (?), then that wouldn't be covered! Does anyone know what the official warranty situation is with this factory head unit, i.e. is he correct or is he trying to pull a fast one? If everything with the headunit looks to work fine, apart from the sound, then what would you guess the problem was and is this likely to be a warranty repair?

Also got the black single DIN pocket flap today - it was a bit of a pain fitting this and the single DIN headunit into the double-din frame, but it's in there now. I'm particularly frustrated that the single DIN headunit is pushed back about 1cm further than it should be to sit flush with the pocket flap. I'm also frustrated that the outside 'rim' of the headunit won't fit as it makes it look a bit scruffier than it should.

Thanks,

Ste

 

<blushes> actually head unit removal is better explained here
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showpost....2&postcount=14

but I think you have already found that.

 

Sound card? It isn't a PC!!! These things aren't taken apart, tested and fixed, they are just replaced as a complete unit and the old one binned.

Make sure you get a working replacement and then ebay it, should fetch £80 - £100.

The 2 DIN hole left by the original unit is slightly less wide than a 1DIN unit so unfortunately you have to set your replacement back about 10mm. Live with it. Watch the road not your stereo

 

I thought exactly the same thing myself! But then I thought, 'nahh, maybe it's an ICE term that I'm just not familiar with so I won't question it in case I sound stupid!' When it gets fixed, I'll probably just put it in a box and put it away until the day I sell the car.

As for the 1 din stereo, I'm staring at it quite a lot as I've got a broken leg at the moment so can't drive, so I'm a passenger in my brand new car whilst my girlfriend gets to enjoy driving it everything (even though we're normally 50/50 anyway)! Imagine the frustration of moving from a 1.4 Fiesta to a Impreza WRX, yet not being able to drive it for at least another month! Anyway, give it a month, and I'll not even notice the stereo being 1cm back, or the surround being missing...

Thanks,

Ste