sorry for the long read, i hope somebody can help me try to fix this since im broke and cant afford a new headunit.

OK, this all started a 2 months ago when my headunit stopped powering on. i have a Clarion pro-audio tape deck ARX-6670z, hooked up to a clarion CD Changer.

after i replaced the fuse, i narrowed it down to the fuse behind the headunit. i didnt have the keys anymore so i called a buddy that worked at a car stereo shop to take it out, so i could replace the fuse on it. so he takes it out, but doesnt replace the fuse but removes the fuse holder, he says its fine for the stereo since there is a fuse under the dash.

so my headunit worked for about 2 weeks, then went out again. i replaced the fuse with no luck. everything else in the car works. so i went to Tweeter, where i know a manager. so he hooks me up with a new clarion deck. we put it in and it worked, but i decided to check my stock one again just incase. well what do you know, it worked again! i figured it must have been a loose wire or something. so i returned the new one since i am broke anyway.

so it just went out again a few weeks ago. so i went back to tweeter and we took it out again but now it wont work. we checked it with some volt meter and it was getting power.

any ideas? i doubt this headunit is shot, its not that old (about 2 year)

 

is there a chance its not getting the required 12 volts??
how can i find out
help!

 

A digital multi-meter.

 

i think its getting power, but it wont turn on.. this unit is only a few years old, and i dont feel like buying a new one.. is this tape deck shot or is there a way to fix it?

 

You need to check all the wires that go to the unit [ what kind of car ] there may be as many as 14 or 15 , you do need a meter to do this right. First you need to find the 12v+ cont. [live all the time ] to test it pull domelight bulb ,and if this wire will lite the bulb brite,its good.Next you need the 12v+acc [switched] test same way. Now we need the 12v- [ground] test by useing it as the ground for the bulb. if all good ,wire to deck harness 12v+cont. to yellow, 12v+acc. to red, 12v- ground to black. Now you will have to check all the speaker wires 8 of them if you have 4 sp. 4 if you have 2 sp. IFyou are useing oem sp. wire ,test each pair[pos. and neg. to sp. you should get a 4ohm reading [3.7 about] on all 4 or 2 sets. Now test each sp.wire to ground [to see if you have a short in one of them] if you have run your owen sp.wire you may have to pull them to see if you have "pinched them" someplace and you have an intermitant short. If all is good wire to deck [ do not install ] if deck still will not turn on try giving it a good smack or 2 with your hand , if it cuts on and off you have a problem in deck [cold solder joint] you can try and find the bad connection [ there are 2000 to 3000 of them ] 500 that can cut out the unit. Better to give it one or two good smacks with a hammer and get a new one ,and have it installed at a dealer that gives a lifetime warranty on install and never worry about it again hope this helps 94

 

thanks for the info

i went out and plugged the headunit back in, and tried plugging in the CeNet cable from my Clarion disc changer into the back of the headunit... well the headunit must be getting power cuz the changer works (opens and loads) when i plug it in.

i think i've figured out what it is. the ribbon that connects from the face to the unit looks like its cracked down the middle, from the wear of flipping up and down or something. if that makes any sense

 

That does tend to be a problem with Clarions and also older Pioneers that use that ribbon.