"memory" problem - hu and clock keep resetting!

[redphoenix 10+ year member]

It all happened when I put my Headunit back in the slot, the hu shut off. I took it out, I saw no signs of any pinched, cut, ripped wires etc. I took a wire, put it on the ACC (red) and put it on the 12v (battery / yellow) wire and the headunit turned on. It does not stay on when the car is off thouhg ( I thought it would though?) Now the only problem is that my settings get reset soon as the car shuts off.

Any suggestions, easy work around etc?

Also, I used a meter on my yellow wire @ the headunit, I got a constant 12v reading, but nothing on the red when the ignition is on. But what would make my clock reset too?

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[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

Was that reading you took on the constant lead (yellow) with the ignition on or off? That one needs to have constant 12v regardless of the ignition being on or off.

If you have no power to the red lead with the ignition on then it's pretty likely you have none with it off, either.

The red needs to have switched power connected to it so the unit will turn on and off with your key.

The constant needs to have fulltime power to retain your clock, memory, EQ settings, and such.

I can't pinpoint exactly what the problem is from your description but something sounds wired incorrectly, to be sure.

 

[redphoenix 10+ year member]

Was that reading you took on the constant lead (yellow) with the ignition on or off? That one needs to have constant 12v regardless of the ignition being on or off.
If you have no power to the red lead with the ignition on then it's pretty likely you have none with it off, either.

The red needs to have switched power connected to it so the unit will turn on and off with your key.

The constant needs to have fulltime power to retain your clock, memory, EQ settings, and such.

I can't pinpoint exactly what the problem is from your description but something sounds wired incorrectly, to be sure.

Sorry, its late, my typing is suffering.

Okay.

The yellow wire on my HU read 12v with the key it and not in. ( i THINK i got this reading from the key out, i dont remeber)

The red wire didnt read anything at all, key in or not.

[ also no door chime came ]

I took the red wire, put it on the yellow wire, it now the HU will turn on with the key in [ door chimes too ]

but now when i shut off the car, the headunit turns off ( like normal ) but all my settings get reset inlcluding my indash clock (not the one on my HU)

So what should I start to check for tommorow?

 

[redphoenix 10+ year member]

You more-than-likely have it wired so both the power and constant wires from the head unit are hooked up to a switching power (ignition off = 0 Volts, iginition on/acc = 12 Volts)

I had it wired correctly until I put the headunit back in the dash, while doing that it just stopped working.

 

[Rattlebrain 10+ year member]

Check your radio fuse. You may have popped it when you were taking it out or hooking it back up.

 

[Rattlebrain 10+ year member]

I mean the one in your cars fuse box.

 

[redphoenix 10+ year member]

ill check that in the morning, but could that cause my clock settings to reset all the time? What cause just the clock to reset?

 

[chinny 5,000+ posts]

my hu settings and clock reset too.. whats the deal i got a p770mp

 

[Rattlebrain 10+ year member]

ill check that in the morning, but could that cause my clock settings to reset all the time? What cause just the clock to reset?

If the way you have it hooked up now for it to work... You are most likely killing the power to your memory (includes the clock) everytime you turn off the key. Like it has been said, the Yellow goes to a CONSTANT 12v source and the red goes to a switched 12v source.

 

[Prowler573 5,000+ posts]

ill check that in the morning, but could that cause my clock settings to reset all the time? What cause just the clock to reset?

It will depend on your specific vehicle. Each different manufacturer does things a bit differently.

I know on older GM products the factory clock, the dash lights, the exterior parking lights, and the dome light are all on the same circuit. Whenever I see an old Chevy truck with headlights on but no parking/license plate/side marker lights showing and a dark interior at night I try and tell 'em they probably have a blown fuse so they don't get ticketed.

On the '87 Crown Vic I once had the A/C, the clock, the fuel gauge, and the power windows were all on the same circuit. My air con went berserk one afternoon and blew the fuse. All of a sudden I had no clock, the car was telling me I was out of gas (complete with low fuel dummy light shining bright) and I couldn't roll the windows down. Sucked real bad being in a car with a chocolate-brown leather interior when it was 100 degrees out until I figured out what had happened.

 

[redphoenix 10+ year member]

If the way you have it hooked up now for it to work... You are most likely killing the power to your memory (includes the clock) everytime you turn off the key. Like it has been said, the Yellow goes to a CONSTANT 12v source and the red goes to a switched 12v source.

Right. but thats how I had it before and then that stopped working. Do you think something might of gotten picnhed in my harness or something?

 

[Rattlebrain 10+ year member]

Right. but thats how I had it before and then that stopped working. Do you think something might of gotten picnhed in my harness or something?

Well Like is said earlier, You need to check your fuse. It has happened to me before. accidentally touched the wire to ground and popped the "radio" fuse in my cars fuse box. If that isn't it....few other things it could be. Start with the simple stuff first. GL //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[redphoenix 10+ year member]

Well Like is said earlier, You need to check your fuse. It has happened to me before. accidentally touched the wire to ground and popped the "radio" fuse in my cars fuse box. If that isn't it....few other things it could be. Start with the simple stuff first. GL //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

The "Dome" Fuse! lol Thanks //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[Rattlebrain 10+ year member]

Odd. but hey if it fixed it, thats great!!!

 

[yz_gt69 10+ year member]

That happened on my g/f's car when I installed her system. She has an 01 Grand Am. Same situation, turns out her car has THREE fuse boxes, all of which are littered throughout the car... I actually pinched the constant tho that time, as well as the fuse blowin.