Aftermarket stereo turns self on.

Hi there, all round newby here.
I've got an aftermarket touchscreen stereo for my C3, I went to install it today and the standard plugs for no problem, it's double din stereo, works absolutely fine until I turn the ignition off, remove the key and after about 10 seconds the stereo turns on by itself, loads up then switches off and repeats constantly. I've been looking around and can't find this problem elsewhere. There's a clicking sound that comes from the glove box so I'm assuming it's the fuse box the sound is coming from.
Any ideas for a quick fix? Thanks.

Hello Zantuki

Although the C3 wiring looks standard, it isn't.

The easiest solution is to disconnect the switched 12 volt wire on your radio from the car's radio connector and connect it to a true switched 12 volt on the vehicle. The cigarette lighter is probably the easiest to find and connect to.

If you don't want to go looking for wires you can purchase a small box made by Connects2. It simply plugs into the existing wiring and your radio and provides the signals that the radio needs.

Ahh ok, thank you, will look into the adapter.

The model is Connects2 CTSCT002. It will also interface with the audio controls on the steering stalk if you have them fitted and your radio supports the function. Don't worry if you don't want this, the main use for you is generating a switched 12 volt signal so that your radio works properly.

You should be able to pick one up for £20 or less, there are usually some listed on ebay.

I went to halfords last night and explained my problem to the woman there who said she was the technical advisor on duty and she sold me an adapter which she claimed would solve my problem. I got it home and it was completely the wrong one, wouldn't even fit my plugs let alone swap the pins over so I'll be heading back there today for the correct one or refund. If I've done my research properly then I need a PC2-32-4 adapter which is what people seem to be using as a fix to similar problems, I assume it's the same as the one you've suggested. Thanks again.

The PC2-32-4 will work but it's not quite plug and play. It has a long red wire which you'll need to connect to a switched 12 volt supply (like the cigarette lighter as mentioned above).

The factory fit radio gets the signals to switch on and off from the car's main ECU (or BSI as Citroen call it) as a digital code through the VAN-Bus network (similar to CAN-Bus found on virtual all modern cars, VAN - Vehicle Area Network - was Peugeot/Citroen's own version). Very clever until you change to a conventional radio that needs a wire with voltage or no voltage to switch on and off.

The adaptor I suggested from Connects2 actually reads signals from the VAN-Bus and creates the switched 12 volt signal that you need from interpreting codes sent down the network. No need to do anything else other than plug it in.

I see, electrics aren't my thing I'll try my hand at most things but not electrics, I usually get my father in law to do that. Think it will be easier for me to get the on from connects2. Cheers for the explanation.

Missing Lincs wrote:The model is Connects2 CTSCT002. It will also interface with the audio controls on the steering stalk if you have them fitted and your radio supports the function. Don't worry if you don't want this, the main use for you is generating a switched 12 volt signal so that your radio works properly.

You should be able to pick one up for £20 or less, there are usually some listed on ebay.

I have this setup (see picture) for my Pioneer DEH4500BT from my old Vauxhall Astra.

Any pointers of any cables etc I will need in order for my stereo to fully work with my stalk controls

R9anSmart wrote:Pioneer DEH4500BT ..
Any pointers of any cables etc I will need in order for my stereo to fully work with my stalk controls

The Connects2 site says for a pioneer you need this adaptor and this connects2 adaptor for stalk controls - which you may already have?

and the Pioneer you have is reported to have a stalk control input.

C3CAR wrote:

R9anSmart wrote:Pioneer DEH4500BT ..
Any pointers of any cables etc I will need in order for my stereo to fully work with my stalk controls

The Connects2 site says for a pioneer you need this adaptor and this connects2 adaptor for stalk controls - which you may already have?

and the Pioneer you have is reported to have a stalk control input.

The attachment pioneer-deh-4500bt.jpg is no longer available

With the current setup it dosen't work. If I purchased a universal audio adapter for my C3 and then connect my current setup will this then rectify the wiring for my current wires and use my connects2?

Or it is not that easy?