DVD Component Q (ATTN: Slick and other installers)

[GP1138]

I picked up a DVD unit yesterday (AVX-P8DVD from Pioneer, it's a standalone DVD/flipout screen unit that docks with a Pioneer HU or other HU with AUX input) and was told it stopped functioning. I was able to ascertain that the yellow constant wire had come detached from the harness, and upon temporarily re-attaching it I found that the unit functioned, but the screen did not light up, nor do I have any sort of button backlighting. I've tried grounding and sending 12v to the parking brake wire, and still nothing. I've hooked it up to my DEH-5000UB (2008 model) Pioneer, and still nothing, it didn't even seem to notice it was hooked up. Anyone had any experience with these?

[slick]

External fuse blown? The accessory line getting power also? If yes to both, maybe try to hit the reset button. Otherwise, it may be as the guy said, blown.

 

Taking them apart isn't all too hard, you will just have to figure out whats wrong internally.

[AxlCrucifix]

Don't send 12v to the parking brake wire!

In order to get it to play video while driving, the parking brake wire must be grounded.

Older DVD decks you were just able to attach the parking brake wire to the ground wire and it would work, but newer DVD decks try to combat that, with needing a "non-constant" circuit, as in putting the brake on and off and on kinda thing to cycle the circuit and not be "constant". That can be avoided by just hooking the brake wire to the ground again, only this time wire in a toggle switch on the brake wire to cycle its circuit.

[slick]

Don't send 12v to the parking brake wire!

In order to get it to play video while driving, the parking brake wire must be grounded.

Older DVD decks you were just able to attach the parking brake wire to the ground wire and it would work, but newer DVD decks try to combat that, with needing a "non-constant" circuit, as in putting the brake on and off and on kinda thing to cycle the circuit and not be "constant". That can be avoided by just hooking the brake wire to the ground again, only this time wire in a toggle switch on the brake wire to cycle its circuit.

 

Not all of them need to be grounded. In fact, I have a unit in my vehicle RIGHT NOW that requires a pulsed 12V+ signal and a pulsed 12V- signal.

[GnatGoSplat]

Don't send 12v to the parking brake wire!

In order to get it to play video while driving, the parking brake wire must be grounded.

Older DVD decks you were just able to attach the parking brake wire to the ground wire and it would work, but newer DVD decks try to combat that, with needing a "non-constant" circuit, as in putting the brake on and off and on kinda thing to cycle the circuit and not be "constant". That can be avoided by just hooking the brake wire to the ground again, only this time wire in a toggle switch on the brake wire to cycle its circuit.

 

You can get around that with a simple transistor and two resistors.

 

If the fuse isn't blown, are you sure it's supposed to operate standalone? When I searched Google, a few descriptions said, "The AVX-P8DVD is the perfect "add-on" video source unit for the DEH-P8MP. You can literally control the DEH-P8MP using the touch panel screen of the AVX-P8DVD." That makes me wonder if it needs to be a slave to an HU.

 

If it appears to read and play DVDs, another possibility is maybe the flex cable to the LCD is bad. It's a common problem with the AVIC-N series and probably other Pioneer flip out screens as well. The lack of button backlighting might be coincidental. I remember some of the older Pioneer stuff the buttons don't light up unless there's +12V on the illumination wire, kind of like a factory stereo.

 

 

[GP1138]

The fuse is on the ACC wire, and is not blown. It appears to read DVD's, they spin up. I have a Pioneer unit that I've hooked it up to, and did not seem to recognize it. The unit I hooked it to is a DEH-P5000UB which is a 2008 model, and the DVD player is a 2004 model. It should still be able to pair, I'd imagine. I also tried a decrepit old Pioneer CD deck I had sitting around, which did have IP-bus, and it didn't recognize either.

 

I might open it up, but it has a "reconditioned" sticker on the bottom, which says to me it was defective at some point.

 

It IS supposed to operate standalone though. It has a switch on the back and AUX outputs for inputs to other (read: non-Pioneer) decks.

[GnatGoSplat]

Did you happen to see if putting power on the illumination wire lights up the front panel?

I'm almost thinking the flex cable is the culprit since it's such a common problem with the flip-outs. Although try shining a light on the screen to see if maybe it's just a burned out backlight. I doubt that's the problem, but it could happen.

 

[GP1138]

Did you happen to see if putting power on the illumination wire lights up the front panel?

I'm almost thinking the flex cable is the culprit since it's such a common problem with the flip-outs. Although try shining a light on the screen to see if maybe it's just a burned out backlight. I doubt that's the problem, but it could happen.

 

 

No, I don't even see anything when the sun shines on the screen. I don't know if there's some rain dance I have to do to get it to be recognized by my 5000UB, but it doesn't show up as a source. Maybe I'll call Pioneer. Their website is no help whatsoever.

[GnatGoSplat]

It's not unusual for Pioneer to drop support for older products, so I wouldn't be surprised if your 5000UB isn't compatible. For example, most newer Pioneer HUs are no longer compatible with the old 50-disc CD changer even though it still uses the IP bus. Also, Pioneer discontinued their add-on navigation unit, so they removed support for it from the newest HUs that even still have the proper connector.