Factory RT3 Sat Nav Radio Cd

Hi Everyone.
New to this forum so please excuse me if any of this has been covered before. I have a C3 1.4 hdi 16v 2004 with factory fitted RT3 satnav, radio cd and changer fitted. There is nothing on the dash top screen, nothing works unless I turn on the sidelights. This makes the changer and main head unit cd player whir and then nothing. The wiring seems all factory fitted with the correct connectors to the rear of each unit but as the car came to me without any of this working I'm unsure whether the radio, nav and dashtop screen work anyway. All fuses checked and ok. Could it have had an aftermarket unit fitted at some point and the originals put back upsetting the car's brains? Obviously, there is some wiring investigation needed but all suggestion, opinions and comments very much welcomed.

Quantock wrote:Hi Everyone.
New to this forum so please excuse me if any of this has been covered before. I have a C3 1.4 hdi 16v 2004 with factory fitted RT3 satnav, radio cd and changer fitted. There is nothing on the dash top screen, nothing works unless I turn on the sidelights. This makes the changer and main head unit cd player whir and then nothing. The wiring seems all factory fitted with the correct connectors to the rear of each unit but as the car came to me without any of this working I'm unsure whether the radio, nav and dashtop screen work anyway. All fuses checked and ok. Could it have had an aftermarket unit fitted at some point and the originals put back upsetting the car's brains? Obviously, there is some wiring investigation needed but all suggestion, opinions and comments very much welcomed.

Can you take pictures of the top display actually fitted please? then attach them (see here on how to do that).

Its an interesting option, I didn't know that was available (the sat nav bit) on that model.

It could well be parts that are not original to the car, and its not been configured to work in the lexia tool (from here). This tools is used to add in new units amongst other things

Sorry for the delay in posting pictures but here they are, RT3 all factory fitted. Still have the same issue as described earlier. Car having injectors seals fitted at the mo but I should get it back in a day or two!

Quantock wrote:Sorry for the delay in posting pictures but here they are, RT3 all factory fitted. Still have the same issue as described earlier. Car having injectors seals fitted at the mo but I should get it back in a day or two!

thanks for the pictures.

C3CAR wrote: nothing works unless I turn on the sidelights.

It does sound like the wiring is wrong.

C3CAR wrote:Could it have had an aftermarket unit fitted at some point and the originals put back

Some wiring changes are needed to make an after market stereo work on the C3, so this may not have been reverted when the originals put back in. Its the power ISO plug with the live feed and switched feed being transposed (4 and 7 swap) or a fly lead to the cigarette lighter power.

Thanks C3CAR. All the correct colour wires seem to go to the correct connections so if ever an aftermarket unit was fitted its been returned to original but I will double check it all when I get the car back. Its the apparent power to the CD mechanisms via the sidelights that has stumped me. Every time the lights are switched on the changer (and player) whir into life and then die. There is nothing during or after this, no radio, no amount of button pressing. If the head unit itself is dead would I presume that the dash top display screen is inoperative too or does that have a separate feed in order that it would show trip info etc? I understand there are many electrical / electronic investigations to make but I'm in a real pickle with this one. Any further suggestions, opinions, pointers or silly comments gratefully appreciated.....or its a cheap aftermarket head unit and hope upon hope it won't upset anything else.!!!!

Quantock wrote: If the head unit itself is dead would I presume that the dash top display screen is inoperative too or does that have a separate feed in order that it would show trip info etc?

For the other displays - the one line and dot matrix ones that appear on other C3s of that age you don't need a radio to get the display to work. It shows other useful driver information taken from the bus that is fed from the BSI. I would think this is that same for your enhanced display.

Update...

I now have the car back running well with new injector seals etc. However, the radio / nav issue remains. I have this morning checked all the wiring, optic cables to the screen, fuses (changing some just in case) and as much other wiring that I can access. It is all entirely factory original according to some schematics and other internet searches I've laid my hands on. So, given there are no wire breakages, earth issues or any other potential hidden connector problems I can conclude that the RT3 head unit and / or screen is dead. Therefore, the only financially viable way ahead now is an aftermarket radio and acceptance that the screen will no longer display any info.
My doubts continue with the sidelights powering the cd changer but that may just be how it works for night time illumination (lighting does work on the changer, not head unit)?????? The ignition / battery light sometimes flashes too which I understand is an eco electrical mode so.....maybe?
Last test is to see if there's power to the head unit connectors.
Absolutely everything else works on the car as intended, locking, windows, heated seats....blah, blah!
Oh! And I read that nav / info screens on C5, C8 etc are controlled by the head unit so I assume mine is like this unlike dot matrix displays on most other C3 cars.
As always, all input appreciated.

Quantock wrote:Therefore, the only financially viable way ahead now is an aftermarket radio and acceptance that the screen will no longer display any info.

Just fit a down-grade display. One with 1 line or a dot matrix, have a look at these on eBay (here) just scroll down the ebay page.

Quantock wrote:Oh! And I read that nav / info screens on C5, C8 etc are controlled by the head unit so I assume mine is like this unlike dot matrix displays on most other C3 cars.

It depends on the year, yours is early so its controlled by the BSI and not the head unit.

Quantock wrote:The ignition / battery light sometimes flashes too which I understand is an eco electrical mode so.....maybe?

Eco mode is when you left the key in accessories position and not started the engine, after 10 minutes or so. Eco mode protects the battery from draining too deeply.

Thank you Arfur Dent. If I down grade the display I also have to do the same with the screen cowling which I assume is a straight swap (can't imagine Citroen produced a different dash moulding for my car). However, given the Quadblock connector to the rear of the RT3 head unit and its considerable cabling I still need to ensure the BSI does indeed control the display and not the unit itself. This radio / nav setup seems to be quite different to all other similar aged C3's I've come across. Perhaps photos might help which I attach attach just to be sure. One way or another I'm going to sort this once and for all!!!

I have just realised that the screen in my car has 2 optical cables (working) in the connector to the display screen so any downgrade to standard display will require re-wiring the connectors to fit, again, assuming its not head unit controlled. This is getting very involved. I am yet to be convinced that this car's radio is wired as other C3's of its era. There are many similarities with the RT3 system here to the same installation in a C5. It certainly isn't a straight forward job that I hoped.