C5 Radio Kaput!

wizzer59 · Post by **wizzer59** » 07 Feb 2011, 00:24

Hi Guys

Have a strange problem with the radio on my C5, on first starting the car in the morning it works ok, then after about 10, 20 or even 30 minutes it just goes psssst and that's it, no more stations on any band, nothing just static, but the CD player works ok.

Anyone else had this problem?

Anyhow my question is, how does the radio come out? so I can have a poke about and see if there's any loose wires.

Thanks

Tim

THELABMAN · Post by **THELABMAN** » 07 Feb 2011, 00:36

I'd be interested in the answer to this as I've a similar problem with mine although it's only my FM that goes the MW & LW still seem to work fine... it's almost as if after being on for 15 - 20 mins something is overheating and cutting out.

Peter

wizzer59 · Post by **wizzer59** » 07 Feb 2011, 09:37

Hi Peter
Yes I was thinking the same, although sometimes mine goes before anything has had a chance to heat up, but there are so many variables I suppose, anyway interesting that I'm not the only one.

Tim

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 07 Feb 2011, 10:05

C5 radios come out quite easilly.

Pop the two plastic covers at EACH side of the radio, and there, two torx screws holding it in place!

Simple!

Theres NO code, so you can remove and refit - but have to wait for the car to recode the radio for you... The problem you will have is when you change it for another, you WILL need a Lexia to tell the cars ECU you have fitted a new radio, so it can Pair the two up...

Paul

THELABMAN · Post by **THELABMAN** » 07 Feb 2011, 18:10

Hi Citroenxm,

I take you only need a Lexia to pair up a replacement Citroen radio and not an aftermarket unit.....

Wizzer59,

I maybe used the term overheating to enthusiastically, warmimg up might be closer to the mark. It's just it's funny how the radio is fine when first switched on but after 15 mins or so it's just goes with no or very little warning, the first sign I've sometimes seen on mine it's going is it loses thee RDS signal.

Peter

wizzer59 · Post by **wizzer59** » 07 Feb 2011, 20:59

Hi Peter
I did know what you meant and Ive thought the same, but sods law I went out today and it stayed on all the time for nearly an hour so what the hell is going on.

Hi Paul
Thanks for the info, how much are these Lexia thingys anyhow??

Tim

citroenxm · Post by **citroenxm** » 08 Feb 2011, 07:47

A cloned unit from Ebay about £250 quid....

Paul

oldfruit · Post by **oldfruit** » 08 Feb 2011, 11:10

Problem may be with aerial base which contains an amplifier and can be affected by rain ingress.

Regards,
Peter

cachaciero · Post by **cachaciero** » 08 Feb 2011, 20:03

oldfruit wrote:Problem may be with aerial base which contains an amplifier and can be affected by rain ingress.

Regards,
Peter

That would be my first port of call too, the amplifier seems to be a weak feature, in fact it is not just an amplifier but a built in coupler / impedance matcher for the inbuilt phone wiring.

The Lexia will show up an amplifier problem, thinking of ripping it out of mine and just connecting the co-ax wire directly to the aerial.

cachaciero

wizzer59 · Post by **wizzer59** » 08 Feb 2011, 21:43

Hi Paul
Wow a little to rich for me, Ill keep on guessing I guess, thanks anyway.

Hi Peter and cachaciero

Thanks guys I think you may have hit the nail on the head, I had a feeling it was something to do with that.

cachaciero are you saying the amplifier is not needed for the radio?

THELABMAN · Post by **THELABMAN** » 09 Feb 2011, 00:55

Hi Guys,

If it is the amplifier in the aeriel base causing the problem then why does it only appear after the radio is on for a while, I'd have thought if it's faulty then it should be faulty as soon as you switch it on....

If I stop say to go into a shop and the radio is off for 10 mins it will be fine when I come out again to after the radios been back on again 15 - 20 min and if I don't put the radio on going into work it will work fine when it is switched on to it's been on for a while, this is why I'd thought it was something heating up....

Peter

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 09 Feb 2011, 16:34

Power is supplied to the aerial amp (via the downlead) when the radio is switched on. It's possible that there's a fault in the amp which cases it to fail after a few minutes (e.g. a leaky capacitor), but it's more likely that this sort of fault would occur within the radio.

amjake · Post by **amjake** » 12 Feb 2011, 11:37

I've had this problem with radio and thought the thing kept going off tune, rds not picking up stations etc.

Went to ice bloke he tested radio with just pin in AE socket and no signal, said should pick up.

Fitted a new unit aftermarket and pin trick showed new radio worked fine.

Since have run with a/market unit but doesnt have the oomph of the oem unit and display on dash binnacle doesnt display station etc. but at least I have sounds!!

Kev

dnsey · Post by **dnsey** » 12 Feb 2011, 12:53

Hmmm... I'm rather skeptical about that test. I'd expect the aftermarket set to be more sensitive anyway, as the original one is designed for use with the aerial amp.

wizzer59 · Post by **wizzer59** » 12 Feb 2011, 20:14

Hi
Just a little update, from the day I first posted this thread the radio has worked perfectly, and I swear I never touched a thing, so whoever did that thanks!!

Tim