Radio rant
 

Was told something today that will keep me from buying Kenwood car radios. A little background. Wife didn't like having to use the plug in satellite tuner in her 1982 280ZX. She didn't like all the wires. Soooooo I called Crutchfield (great Co to deal with). I bought a Kenwood Excelon unit with a satellite headset and got it all installed..no wires, Happy Wife..... Then the unit started going into standyby mode. Crutchfield walked me through everything to test it and then sent me a new unit. That worked fine for awhile, then it started going into standby mode....had to reset it with a gem clip all the time. Then I noticed that Cheryl was taking the headunit out of the car all the time. Seems that she worked out that as long as the headunit stayed cool it works. So I have the radio out doing another repair, called Kenwood to see if I needed to modify the installation or do something different. We talked about it just being a Summer issue, was told that it was a heat issue if it got over 130 degrees and that I would possibly have the same problem with another unit. So Kenwoods advice, keep it cold or maybe put it under the seat when she gets out. So anyone else realize that GA Summers are to hot for Kenwood?? Go figure.

Sounds like a weakness in the unit design. I have a 3-yr old Kenwood in my Honda and it flips into 'protected' mode about once a week (hot or cold), takes a paper clip to unflip it. Something to do with the power supply from the ignition switch, like there's a surge or something. Usually it's OK but then flip-out time. May have something to do with when I plug my iPod into the USB or whether I leave it plugged in when I turn the ignition off. I never can guess when. I got used to it. My Zs both have Pioneer units that never have a problem. :confused: