206 radio - asks for code every start

Hi Robert

Same syndrome as my daughters' Hyundai! I have not finished diagnosing the problem, but my theory is that the starter motor shorts itself out when starting - thus drawing all available power. This results in the radio "thinking" it has been disconnected, and asking for the code. The same can result from a low battery and/or inadequate charging. Hope this helps, but do keep in mind that I am still in the thinking state :-)

Ivar Petur

Thanks for the prompt reply Ivar, this cannot be the problem with the 206 as it will do the same even if you don't start the car but just turn the key to activate the radio. I suspect the link to the display but haven't got the car to have a detailed look.

Regards Robert

In response to what Robert posted in news:cgv930$ffg$ snipped-for-privacy@titan.btinternet.com:

The radio ought to be able to work with the ignition turned off. Does it?

The radio doesn't work with the ignition turned to off, it's not supposed to according to the manual.

This feature may be selectable - it is so on my 1992 605. The fuse for the radio is in a three pole socket, next to the inside fuse box. The center pole is of course always used, but by plugging into either end you select whether the current is taken direct from battery (no key in ignition to use radio) or whether the current is routed through the ignition. Don't know whether this is selectable on the 206, but it would be interesting to know ...

Ivar Petur

What year is it? My wife's 206's radio switches off when you turn off the ignition but you are able to turn it back on by pressing the on button on the radio.

Jim

In response to what Robert posted in news:cgvcan$rci$ snipped-for-privacy@sparta.btinternet.com:

It does on my 206gti.

There are normally two 12v inputs to a car radio. One which is live all the time to power the station presets and the security code and the other ignition switched one to power the actual player.

Sounds like either the 12v permanent live is not working or there's an internal fault in the radio on that part of the circuit. Maybe it's just that someone removed the radio once (or the car battery connections) and didn't wire it back up properly. Check the permanent live first and if that's got voltage and is connected to the right terminal then it must be an internal fault.

In response to what Ívar Pétur Guðnason posted in news:cgvca2$h1r$ snipped-for-privacy@news.simnet.is:

Don't think so. The radio goes off with ignition off, but can be turned back on again by its button.

For interests sake, this is also true of both my 406 and my wife's 306. Radio goes off with ignition but can be turned on again while ignition remains off.

Keith Willcocks (remove .nospam from address to reply)

Hi,

I guess it's something like it. My Kenwood headunit came with two straps on the wiring, to let you wire it permanently, or to have the permanent and the

+12V "after ignition" tied together. In the last case, radio presets are lost every time you turn ignition off.

I had that once on my car, with an almost flat battery, there was merely enough power to start the engine, and it reseted the radio every time I started the engine (in addition to the starter running slowly).

Regards, G.T snipped-for-privacy@worldonline.fr

205 Diesel & turbo-Diesel :

Well put me in a pink dress and call me Shirley. I had no idea modern radios could do that. Tried it in the Ford Focus tonight and bugger me it works. Goes off with the ignition but comes on again if you press the button. When you switch the ignition on again it resets. Up till now I've left the ignition on when the car's stopped if I wanted the radio on. Maybe I ought to read the handbook more carefully.

Might be just a small touch but that's so bloody clever. You can leave the car temporarily to go into a shop or something, take the key and still have the radio on for the passengers but it won't stay on and flatten the battery at the end of the trip. I've done that often enough with older cars when I've turned the volume down for some reason and forgotten the radio's still on. I haven't got a clue how the wiring for something like that works but I'm most impressed.

Hi,

On modern cars (at least my parents' 206 does), the radio turns off after

30min to preserve battery. That *is* a clever choice, IMO. Indeed, everything turns off after this 30min delay*, and the MFD just shows "economic mode on" (may be different on english cars, I never modified the language used by the car, although possible). It seems it works even with an opened door.

(*) The handbook says that the delay to enable the economic mode is, indeed, cumulated time without starting the engine. I assume you could, for example, turn on the radio for 10 mins, then switch off, then on again for 5 mins, then on for 15 min it would do the trick as well.

Regards, G.T snipped-for-privacy@worldonline.fr

205 Diesel & turbo-Diesel :