Dash lights & LCD stay on when locked

[julian24110]

Just picked up a Ibiza Mk3 (2001) 1.4S for my sons to drive. Noticed tonight while car is parked outside in the dark that when it is locked the lights in the center console stay on and the LCD display for the radio / heater is on but flickering / pulsing. No combination of locking / unlocking or ignition cycles changes the behavior. Everything works fine, just lit up like a Christmas tree outside my house!

is this something known?

 

[BradJ]

I don't know what the problem is but I can tell you I have the exact same model and year and mine doesn't do this, so it's definitely not right

 

[julian24110]

Radio head unit fault

Done some more investigation of this, don't know whether this rings any bells with anyone...

It is the radio/climate head unit at fault, pulling the radio fuse turns all lights off.

Basically the back-light for the radio/climate buttons is on all the time. They go off/on briefly as the ignition is turned on and off but they are basically on all the time regardless of whether the radio is on / off, ignition on/off or car locked / unlocked. When turning off, the radio LCD goes off for about 60 - 90 secs then the LED backlight switches back on and "pulses" at roughly 1 sec period. However the radio itself including the actual LCD text are off until the radio is physically switched back on.

I guess it could be an earth fault but looks to me more like something wrong inside the head unit electronics. Anyone got experience of fixing or getting these fixed? Can you buy replacement units if it comes to that?

 

[chop]

It's the stereo. There are other threads on the problem. Expensive to get the stereo repaired (I don't know who does it) and several body parts worth to get a new one.

For more info try a search for radio or stereo.

There is a cheap way of fixing it which is to disconnect the permanent live (thick red/brown I think) wire from the loom tape it up and connect the pin to a switched live source.

Mine has had this done, you loose the time and date memory but after about 5 mins running with the stereo turned on it comes back and the stereo always comes on when key is turned.

Unfortunatly mine was done as a major bodge, twisted wires and insulating tape (professional garage no less) and tapped into too low a guage wire, so I won't recommend copying it and I haven't been bothered to fix it properly yet as I have bigger probs (possible scrappage) and a MOT to sort first.

Oh and you could also check the ribbon cable between the screen and headunit is connecting properly as this possibly could be causing flickering (but not the unit staying on problem). From your symptoms I doubt it though.

Hope this helps.

 

[julian24110]

Thanks for reply. I found someone on ebay that has perfect feedback and says he can fix this for 50 quid. I'll see what happens and post the outcome. Also found 2 or 3 units for sale on ebay for around 100 quid. Trying to keep this car in top order as its a mint 1 owner 46k example!

 

[Cupra-Martin]

I have the exact same problem, when i came down to my car yesterday the center console was on and the LCD display for the radio was shining. only way to turn it off was to pull the fuse so it not eating the battery. I have no ide what it can be.. did you solve it?
is it regulated by a relay or what?
tankful if any one can help me out..

 

[julian24110]

OK solved this with the help of the following excellent eBay service

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/121312192462

Posted Saturday morning, back in the car working perfectly by Wednesday evening.
Cost me the £57 for service and return postage plus £11 special delivery to send. All down to how much you want to spend I guess but these are becoming rare and as you can't just swap for an aftermarket head unit then pretty much have to pay to fix it or leave it.

I am certainty well pleased with this.