Electrical (?) problem in Mondeo Mk4 - North Wexford

d31b0y

Hi,

I'm having some (assumed) electrical issues with a Mk4 Mondeo. When I start the car, the radio doesn't always turn on automatically. It also turns off by itself every once in a while. Finally, it doesn't always turn off automatically when I turn the engine off either. When it doesn't turn on automatically (i.e. when I have to manually turn it on) it doesn't read the time / date from the onboard computer and instead just shows dashes. The time and date will show up on the stereo after an indeterminable amount of time. Could be 5 mins. Could be 30 mins or more.
It all seems to be intermittent. One or two days a week it'll work normally, the rest of the time it will act up like the above.


Things I've checked/tried myself;
Checked audio fuse and some others related to onboard computer; they all looked fine.
Pulled battery for 5 min to reset everything; still the same issue.
No errors show up from the OBD (albeit being read with a cheap ODBII bluetooth device and Torque app).


Not a massive issue as I can just manually turn the stock stereo on. Unfortunately, I have an MTCB Android head unit which you cannot turn on manually so it's been rendered nearly unusable because of this (it'll randomly turn on up to 30 mins into journey).


Any other ideas of what could be wrong? Or, if you know of anyone experienced with electrical issues in North Wexford who'd be willing to take a look PM me!


Thanks!

martinr5232

Stereo unit is faulty most likely.

d31b0y

I'm 99% sure it's not. I might not have been completely clear but I have a stock stereo and an after market android head unit. Both systems show signs of the above issues, in slightly different ways.

TherapyBoy

You have 2 headunits wired simultaneously in the car? Possibly a wiring problem.

martinr5232

d31b0y wrote:

I'm 99% sure it's not. I might not have been completely clear but I have a stock stereo and an after market android head unit. Both systems show signs of the above issues, in slightly different ways.

Dissconnect the aftermarket unit its likely causing communication faults on the can circuit.

d31b0y

No, I have two separate headunits. I have tested both separately. Both are showing symptoms of the issues I have outlined.
I currently have the stock stereo installed only.

I have never had both installed at the same time. I wouldn't have even thought this was possible, let alone practical.

Sorry folks, I honestly thought I was being clearer than I must have been.

TherapyBoy

Ah ok! In that case it's possibly a wiring problem :pac:

Take it to your local car radio shop (not Halfords) & ask them to check it out.

d31b0y

TherapyBoy wrote: »

Ah ok! In that case it's possibly a wiring problem :pac:

Take it to your local car radio shop (not Halfords) & ask them to check it out.

I don't think it's wiring. It's intermittent but consistent, if you know what I mean... not random. I would think with a wiring issue, it would be more random.


Taking suggestions of recommended car radio shops in North Wexford
If it's something deeper than wiring, would they be able to sort it anyway? e.g. faulty can?

jca

I had a very similar problem with my Octavia it turned out to be a fault in the ignition switch, part of the switch needed to be replaced and it's been perfect since.

d31b0y

jca wrote: »

I had a very similar problem with my Octavia it turned out to be a fault in the ignition switch, part of the switch needed to be replaced and it's been perfect since.

Did you go to a regular mechanic or a specialist of some sort? If a specialist, mind sharing who? I notice your location says Enniscorthy which might suit me.
My regular mechanic didn't seem to interested when I had it in for belts but I haven't actually pushed him on it yet.

jca

d31b0y wrote: »

Did you go to a regular mechanic or a specialist of some sort? If a specialist, mind sharing who? I notice your location says Enniscorthy which might suit me.
My regular mechanic didn't seem to interested when I had it in for belts but I haven't actually pushed him on it yet.

I went to Donohoes the Skoda dealers. I looked up my receipts it cost €120, a bit on the pricey side but worth it as regularly the radio stayed on and it was only a matter of time before I was left stranded with a flat battery, very inconvenient with an auto.

noeleeee

hi d31b0y - I would be very interested to see if you get a fix for this. I get the same problem regarding radio not starting automatically on a 2011 Titanium X mondeo from time to time. Get into car and start it and radio does not come on and only see date and time on radio front. Thankfully I dont get the radio switching off on its one when listening issue when it does startup.

Pete67

I occasionally have a similar issue in a MK4 Mondeo Titanium X with the Sony headunit, sometimes it will not switch on at all, even manually, time and date would be displayed on the screen. Pressing and holding the on/off button for a good 20 or 30 seconds reboots the radio and then it works fine for another few months. Don't know what causes the corruption but the reset cures it every time.

noeleeee

Thanks Pete67 - thats good to know that the reset works.

harperkev

Had the same problem with an 09 Mondeo.
Tried the suggestion of setting the time/date whilst engine was running and it worked using the radio buttons . Was also able to sort out the annoyance of the car not keeping the Bluetooth phone connection

Atlas92

Hi hows it going. So I had the exact same problem. I ordered a android head unit for my ford mondeo mk4 2008. Installing it was easy enough but then it just turned off it would come on randomly and turn off randomly. I search all over the internet but after a few week I kinda gave up on it and had quite drives. Then I looked ignition switch problems it turn out, if you look at the cable connection there is a think yellow which is live and a red ACC or ignition switch on the head unit connection. But if you look at the ford connection coming from the car there is no wire connecting the ACC so basically theres nothing to tell the unit to turn on. I found out that there is a ACC ignition switch wire down under the passenger side dash where the internal fuse box is. The wire is a think blue wire you should be able to spot it. What you need to do here is run a wire from that wire to the red wire in your unit. But you must not server the blue wire at the fuse box. I used electrical connections and a wire crimp to connect a wire running up to the unit and success now it turns on and off with the ignition. I hope you sort it out and this helps mate