Small Radio Issue, is there a fix?
 

Well, I'm not sure why my radio is doing this, but I have a Kenwood head unit that was working fine for a year and some change until one day I put the detachable face on and I noticed that not all the "lines" on the screen light up as they used to, so it can't produce certain letters for when the USB is connected to it.

I was wondering if there is a fix for that?

I'll try to post a picture soon if the way i described it can't be understood.

Is it a different face plate then what the radio came with or...?

Nope, same stuff. I went outside one day put it on and it started doing that.

Then again, it's been 20 degrees out here lately.

Do the lines go away when the car warms up or stay there? Could just be the unit itself crapping out... i had a clarion do that about a month after the warranty expired... could also be that when you put the face back on you pinched one of the pins... check them out as well

The radio has been the same way for a week now.

I checked the pins and they don't seem to be moved. That was my first thought too, that there was a bad connection.

Here's how my radio looks (in attachment). It basically does this all day long, no matter what the message is.

Ken wood is your problem. ;)

I would bet it's just a failure of the LED display on that particular element.

It's not the interconnect - the actual display driver is all in the panel.

If you can't find a good face for it, you may have to replace the radio.

RwP

I agree with sleepy, I never buy kenwood for my stuff. I always buy sony for my head units. But RalphP is correct. There's nothing wrong with the harness, its the face.

Heh. I understand the choice of Sony, Kenwood, Pioneer, et al for aftermarket audio gear.

I just got done repairing the butcher job previously done in the grandson's 1988 Dakota and mounting in a factory radio. Also have upgraded the Sony Xplod in my Cougar to OEM JBL premium sound. Both were improvements for what we listen to.

If I want serious audio quality, the AR7's and the McIntosh amp at the house are called upon, not the noisebox that is my car *grins*

RwP

I've had Sony before... they're decent in terms of sound but suck in terms of interface. Plus another thing I don't like about the Sony H.U.'s is the fact that it takes a really long time to scan USB devices and won't show all the songs. The only 2 companies that don't suck for USB are Pioneer and JVC/Kenwood (JVC owns Kenwood btw)

I used to like Alpine's but I've found their new radios to be very lacking.

I don't know what sony you have, but mine never has problems lol. That's just my personal opinion though.

Well my "USB Drive" is my Android phone, and I've noticed not many radios are nice to the Android phones, despite being up there with the iPhones in amount of people that use it.

if you're looking for a new alpine that has TONS of features... look no further here is your answer haha. I'll let you know now... this deck can be VERY complicating at times. But it is definitely one of the most advanced alpine decks I have ever used. I'd read the instructions ;)

http://www.alpine-usa.com/product/view/cda-117/

I'll check it out.

One thing though... If I were to connect an Android phone onto the radio, will it show me all songs, or will it be capped? So far, JVC/Kenwood are the only radios that don't cap folders but do cap songs.