Hello all, brand new to this forum, first post. I did a search on this topic and found nothing, please forgive me if I missed something. My dilema is as follows. I recently purchase a o9 xB (pre owned-4k miles) with a premium head unit installed. I am in the process of upgrading the system adding 2 amps and a sub. I have used the pre-amp outputs and tied them to a four channel Alpine for the mains and a mono Alpine for the sub. When I listen to am/fm the system works fine. When I try a cd, there is no output on the preamps, basically no sound. I reconnected the rears to the radio amp and they work with the radio and cd. I have not found any setting on the radio that could control this. I believe the HU is defective somehow but if I am missing something please advise. The dealer was no help and refused to work on this stating that once I attached a non Scion part to the audio system any warrenty on the radio section was void. He wants me to spend almost 700 on a new radio and says that as soon as I plug it in the warrenty will be void on that unit as well. Please Help!

 

Have you enabled the subwoofer menu yet? I think you have to do that before it will output anything to the sub.

Source: https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=238290

Oh and you might want to contact Scion Corporate and talk to them about your dealer said, because they shouldn't just void you warranty because your hooked up an system to you car. After all, that's why the RCA jacks are back there, so that people can upgrade there stereos.

 

I have enabled the sub and with the radio it works fine, just no output on the cd. I also have changed the car profile to flat. I have put a call in to Scion to open up a case. I like you feel that selling a premium HU and advertising the preouts as one of the main reasons to upgrade and then voiding the warrenty if you try to use them sounds crazy. I will be sure to keep the post up to date for others that may run into this situation.

 

Not sure if this is it, but you may need to add a relay to the amps for the power turn on because you probably do not have enough voltage to trigger both amps at once. Try it with only one amp connected to see what you get. The CD player will cause a voltage drop on that circuit.

 

I'm just sitting around crying in a cold one! I will give it a try and post results. Thank you.

 

Ok, here's the update. I could not understand for the life of me how pre-amp outs would shut off when changing sources( radio to cd ). The suggestion about the cd player causing a voltage drop sounded possible although I was still scratching my head over that and thinking if so what a weak electrical system this car may have, and based on the incredible installs on this site, did I just have a lemon.

I detached one amp, same simtym. I do not have a working volt meter so I was dead to test the level. I installed a relay and still nothing.

Hear in FL it is now dark. What I noticed working in the dark was the amp turn on lights were on with the radio, not the cd. BIG CLUE. I rechecked my wiring schematic and traced my remote on to the orange pwr ant lead. No radio-no need for the pwr ant. When that output shuts off with the cd, so do the amps!

That leads me to another search for help. Does everyone here hook there amps to the ignition or am I missing another wire to tap into? Thanks for the help! although it is too dark to fix tonight, tommorow is another day! What a humbling experience for this guy!

 

The gray wire looks to be where you want to tap it (+12 switched). The orange lead will drop off the 12 volts when the antenna is not needed. Check out this thread.

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...um++amp+remote

and the link from rockthebeef in this post.

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...t=radio+wiring

 

x2


I had this radio and it was awsome, Def check the remote wires to the amp and make sure you used the gray like DXNOICS has said behinde the unit. This may be where the problems lie's.Def a great head unit, you will enjoy it once its 100%.

 

the gray wire is what you're looking for. how did you come up with using the antenna wire for a turn on switch?

 

I hate to say back in the day because it dates myself, but that is just the facts, on installs that I did it was very common to use the pwr ant connection. On older factory radios in particular it was the proper source for turning on amps. The antenna output was on whenever the radio was on, including cd(or cassette). The rule of thumb was not to hook up to the ignition because of possible noise problems. I will say that the last system intall that I did was on a 99 ford, my own and the pwr anenna worked just fine. Tonight I will tap into the grey wire and expect it to function properly. I will post the results. Thank you to all who replied!

 

Just to put this post to rest I did tap into the grey ignition and the problem has been solved. The install goes on as I just do a little here and there as time permits. So far the amps have been installed, a jl 6w3v3 under the front passenger seat. Nothing to fancy on the stock speaker replacement to come just some entry level Alpines. I do plan to use the storage bin locations in the c pillars for the rear fill. I will start another thread when the project is complete. Thanks for the advise from all who responded.