i have a '72, stock 350 with ignition shields in place, auto, ac, pw

i have installed a custom autosound usa630 radio/mp3 player.
(dont start on the sound/build quality, i need the dash to look factory)

radio works fine on acc and turned to pre start.
plug in the mp3 when on acc and pre start, and it works great, track u/d, song u/d.
start the motor, radio works with no interference, but the mp3 locks up/jambs.
removed the ign key from the equation by wiring direct to the battery.
has the earth thru the power leads and the case is earthed as well.
pulled unit from dash, and sent back to the usa, after emailing their tech dept about 10 times....
they have sent me a completely new unit.

it has exactly the same problem.....

again, it works until i start the motor.

thought it mite have been the increased voltage when motor is started
so i have made a simple voltage regulator, 14.4v to 12v@3a
still no joy...

have contacted them again, and they said it is probably my car....

question, do you guys have any idea where/what else to try now?

 

You can try putting a noise filter on the power/ground lines between the radio and battery. On one of my prior audio versions in my old C5 that was the only thing that would stop the interference.

 

Alan...

I answered your PM.......after reading this......sounds like there might be something with the USB wire or the USB stick.

Remember, the unit will not play MP4 formatted music, only MP3.

S.

 

they originaly sent me a replacement usb controler board and usb lead.

have tried many different usb sticks, 1Gig thru to 4Gig, new/old, same result.

the unit comes with a noise filter in the leads, i'll grab another one and try that.
can i run both, or should i remove the original unit?

all music is in mp3 format, even converted all to 128, so they are all the same.

thanks

 

Just a guess here....

The machines I fix at work run mostly on 24vdc, they start to do strange things when one of the power supplies lets more than 0.5v of AC ripple through (normal is 24v on DC and <.05v on AC). Check to see if your alternator is letting some AC voltage get to the battery, that may be what's messing up the HU. I honestly have no idea what 'normal' AC voltage would be on a car, but I'm guessing not much at all.

If you get a new filter, I'd just use one, but I can't see how using two could hurt.

 

I bet mark is onto something with the AC voltage. Easy way to test would be temporarily take belt off alternator or remove charging wire from alternator

 

Good idea, I kinda forgot we were looking at a C3 here, don't be trying that on a C5/6

 

removed the charging wire and unpluged the 2 wires...
and there is no difference.
even tried the usb stick that came with the unit, sample folders and songs

is there any need to try another noise filter now that the alternator has been eliminated?
or do i need to remove the belt to be completely sure?

it's looking like i'll have to buy 1 of the 600$ radios

thanks again

 

what is the voltage difference car on vs off at the wires on the radio

 

am using a 12v@3a voltage regulator to power both ign/battery positive leads
thought it might have been an over voltage problem early on, so found a simple 14.4v to 12v circuit to supply a constant voltage

just another thought on engine electrical, i am using a mallory unilite distributor, so there is no physical points sparking

 

have u physically verified what the voltage was to the radio

 

my multi meter shows 12.1v with or without motor running

 

Maybe a silly suggestion, but do you have a spare battery you can connect the HU to? This would completely eliminate or confirm an issue with the HU USB system.

 

havnt tried the spare battery yet, was flat at the time
but as i have radio removed from dash atm i tried something else the other day
so i wired a ciggie plug to power leads, ign and bat together
with no speakers connected it works fine, track u/d song u/d
tried in the vette, mates camaro and my ford daily driver cig socket
ign off and motor running, so far so good.... so i thought
connected the speakers and it plays up again
so disconnected all but 1 speaker and it's still no good
they are 4 brand new polk db461P 6x4 4ohm with all new wiring connecting them



good thing i'm going bald

 

Just got this garbage radio in my 75 C3 and it does not play the USB with motor running. Getting the retro sound next. Also Green LCD light is WAY TO BRITE.

Should have know by the Made modified in the USA sticker. So it Chinese crap with a USA sticker lol

 

I agree tha a stock look is "right" but there must be some other quality options out there! Find somebody else if you can!
Custom Autosound connections are just garbage and WAY overpriced! Many years ago I purchased a radio from Custom Autosound via a Major Vette Vendor because of its stock look and because it came with an adaptor for Bose Cars. It was like an antenna that picked up interference constantly from the HEI.
I tried a noise filter at first with no luck. I ended up buying ($100) an aftermarket quality aluminium adaptor made by Soundgate that solved the problem completely....so I payed extra $$ for Soundgates' "expertise" and not only was their product shoddy and didnt work but the components were actually $200 LESS when priced out elsewhere....Only made that mistake ONCE
Hope you get yours sorted!

 

hope you have been constantly emailing them like i have trying to find a solution