Isuzu wiring problem?

Hello, I have had my Empeg MKII for about a month now and absolutely love it. However, I have not seen anyone ask the following question, so I have to ask it. Excuse me if it's been asked before, but I can't find it.

I have an Isuzu Rodeo and when I shut the car while the Empeg is still playing, when I turn the car back on the place in the song is lost. It will usually return to a song in the same playlist, but never to the same point in the same song it was playing when the car was shut.

However, when I remove the empeg from the sled prior to shutting the car, the track and position in the track are remembered.

I also noticed that when I shut the car with the empeg in the sled, the player doesn't stay on in "standby" mode for 30 seconds like is set in emplode. It doesn't standby at all.

I had the empeg professionally installed, and the installer hooked it up to my car using an ISO connector, so I assume that the wiring should not be a problem. I was wondering if anybody with an Isuzu Rodeo/Honda Passport (or any other car) was experiencing the same problem as I am.

Thanks,

-Rob

090000736

Assuming that you're using version 1.01 of the software so it's not a software issue, I see a few possibilities:

1) The power wires could be hooked up wrong. Possibly the ignition wire and the permanent power wire are reversed. Or perhaps the permanent power isn't hooked up at all and only the ignition is connected.

2) You could have one of the crimped connectors instead of a soldered connector and one of the wires might have come loose, effectively inducing (1), above.

3) A fuse on one of the power wires might be blown, effectively inducing (1), above.

4) It could be a heretofore unseen side-effect of a known problem with some units: Some cars produce a large negative spike on the power wire at shutdown, confusing the power-control PIC. If this is the case, Rob will send you the necessary diode part to prevent the problem.

Anyone with any other guesses?

___________
Tony Fabris

Thanks for the suggestions. When you say that the car sends a negative spike when powered off, would this spike cause the speakers to pop only when powered off via the ignition (not when Empeg is removed from the sled)?

Also, I am running 1.01 and I don't think the power wires are reversed. I used to have a Panasonic head unit in there with a red LED that flashed when the face is removed. The LED always worked when the ignition was off, so I assume that the wiring of the car is not reversed

Thanks,

-Rob

090000736

Edited by robricc on 19/11/00 06:24 AM.

Yes, this sounds exactly like the negative power spike problem (I had it with my Jeep Wrangler). Send [email protected] an email with the description and they will send you a connector with a diode inline that should fix you up.

-Mike

I also drive an Isuzu rodeo and I was wondering where did you end up fitting the empeg?

The factory CD player is coupled with a tape player and is therefore higher than a standard DIN slot.

I was wondering what it looks like, any pictures available?

-D

---
reg. number 10798 - soon to get a blue 40gig mk2

I'm glad we finally have some more Isuzu's here. I've had my Mark1 in a VehiCross for over a year now, and I couldn't be happier with the install/performance/looks of the thing. I love the looks when I have a new passenger who says "Cool looking truck", and then they see the empeg and just stare.... :)


_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

So does yours fit in the large bay that used to house the factory CD/Tape player?

I have the indash 6-CD changer in my rodeo and although I'm sure the empeg would fit in height (probably with a custom made cover to hide the rest of the hole) I'm not sure about width.

-D

---
reg. number 10798 - soon to get a blue 40gig mk2

The VX had a separate 1-DIN slot for the CD changer at the very bottom of the column, and the head unit at the very top. I just moved the changer under the driver's seat and dropped the empeg in. Now the empeg and changer share the "changer-in" RCA's into the head unit with a Sony selector switch, triggered by the amp signal from the empeg.

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

It is relatively impossible to find out if you have the ignition power and permenant power switched without removing the wiring harnass and looking at the physical wires. The condition you described is EXACTLY what happens when the wires are backwards. I had the same problem. If the installer had to install an ISO male block to your wiring harnass (as I did with my Jeep) then its very possible he got them backwards, and since it booted up fine when the car turned on, he assumed everything was fine and dandy.

When wired properly, when you turn the ignition off, the ignition power will drop to 0V, alerting the empeg that the car has been turned off. It will then continue to draw power from the permenant power lead until the 30 seconds pass, then it will turn itself off completely. If you have these wires switched, your empeg will be drawing power from the ignition power lead, and when you shut off the ignition power lead, the empeg has no power period, so it will completely shut down (and not save state).

I'd recommend looking inside your dash at the wires. They are usually labeled, and most of the time color-coded. Yellow is usually permenant power, red is usually ignition power.

Disclaimer: This is just information, and I can't be held liable of you blow yourself up or anything if you assume everything I say is 100% accurate. ;)

Though I spent weeks on my system, installing amps, speakers, and subs... I did it all myself, so I have a lot of experience with it.

(O|||||O)

Pardon my ignorance in the details, but I take it this means you can use the factory CD when your empeg is off and when you switch the empeg on it takes over thanks to the sony switch?

-D

---
reg. number 10798 - soon to get a blue 40gig mk2

Exactly. I could have wired the changer into the AUX-IN of the empeg, but then I wouldn't be able to listen to CDs w/o it in the sled.

_~= Dearing =~_
"WAY too happy about having #99."

Very interesting. Makes me want to re-consider my initial plan of replacing the CD player.

If I can find a convenient spot for the empeg in the column then I could probably wire it in a similar way.

Thanks!
-D

---
reg. number 10798 - soon to get a blue 40gig mk2

I bought my 2000 Rodeo without any additional stereo equipment (just cassette deck). As a result, I have a double-din opening, but the original stereo is regular DIN so there is an empty pocket under the stereo. I decided to scrap the stereo and have just the empeg in the SUV (hoping for the tuner to come out soon).

As a side note, I got the diode cable and that did the job. I can now shut the ignition and the empeg will properly shut down. Thanks for that bit of advice.

-Rob
-----
12GB MK2 Blue 090000736 (6166 in the queue)

Any chance of seeing some pictures of the install?

-D
ps: Thanks for the diode cable tip, I'll probably try to get it at the same time I order my empeg.

---
reg. number 10798 - soon to get a blue 40gig mk2

I'll post some pics when I get the replacement wiring harness from empeg.

-Rob
-----
12GB MK2 Blue 090000736 (6166 in the queue)