I recently decided to try and do the rx-8 ipod installation that i found on the internet at http://whatsmyip.org/ipodrx8/ .. I have been soldering for years and I know I did not mess that up. I followed the directions step by step and everything went smooth. I tried to hook up my radio back to my car and nothing happens. I tried looking at the fuses and disconnecting the battery and its doing the same thing. I took everything apart and put it back to original and everything looks alright but the same situtation is happening. I am not sure if anyone else has tried this procedure and had this kind of failure. Just trying to same some bucks might have costed me a radio. If anyone has any ideas please let me know it would be appreciated. thanks.

 

I just read through that tutorial. Looks very thorough, and I am impressed!

You most likely did not fully re-connect 1 of the many harnesses at the back of your stock HU.

I would pull the HU back out, and re-seat ALL the harnesses.

I doubt any of the soldering you did actually did any damage. I would think even a novice solderer would not mess this up (not saying you are novice, just that this is a fairly straight-forward soldering job).

G/L,

Ed

 

i've HEARD of that aftermarket stuff not working on older headunits (ver 9.50 and sooner) and i've also heard of the faceplate getting slightly disconnected from the radio part - take the face off and put it back on and make sure everything is TIGHT

if none of that works, i have a headunit i JUST took out of my car, thats ver 9.73 you just need to swap over your AC controls and CD player, not that bad actually. (PM me if your interested)

 

Thats what i needed to do is check the connections. I had this radio apart 3 times and nothing worked. Figured i would try it again one last time and where the cd player plugges in wasn't snug. I hooked everything back up and it works now. The audio isn't quite the way it should be.. I will probably have to check my soldering. I might just spend the money and get a plug n play device. My radio is 9.55 and I think that is the bare minimum for those aftermaket ipod products. Thanks for fast replies..

 

Push the radio **** in and it should come on. J/K! What year is your 8? If it's an '04 you may have the firmware issues as mentioned already. There's a post around here somewhere on how to find out what firmware your radio has.

 

Glad you got it working bud

Ed

 

Everything is almost back to normal. Now I don't have sound from the left audio.. i only have sound from the rigth audio.. A solder came loose and I have tried to repair it but no luck.. anyone wanting to try this better beware.. its better pay a little extra money.. better than having to purchase a new head unit like i might.. any suggestions about what i should do next is welcomed.. by the way i do have a 04 RX-8 Thanks..

 

We all learn from our mistakes

I'll be pulling my complete HU out and replacing it with a Corksport dash kit with the Bose wiring harness.

Going this route, I'll be able to pop in almost any aftermarket double DIN (or single DIN with an insert. My audio/video options will be almost endless.

Mind you it will cost quite a bit for the dash kit and harness, but I plan on owning this car for awhile, and my music is very important to me

Your choices are similar (but costly), or find someone who has already swapped out their stock HU (WikkedOne above has). eBay has them reasonably priced also, or try a wrecker!

Cheers and G/L,

Ed

 

He says that his harness is messed up - i don't know where to get one of those.. even corksport uses them..

 

Well i am going to try one thing first and that is taking it to the dealer and playing dumb. I contacted mazda and they said i am good on bumper to bumper until 08. Everything is back to stock so i don't see how they are going to tell it has been messed with. If so i will just say i am not the original owner and someone else did it.. its worth a shot. If not i will bite the bullet and buy a new radio.. thanks for the replies.. i am still glad i am an rx8 owner!