Kenwood DNX9140 Remote Wire not working

flashburn · 04-07-2011, 09:58 AM

So I've started having a problem with the Remote wire (I think Kenwood calls it Power Control). After it's been working without a problem for over a year, all of a sudden one day I turn on my car and my amp didn't turn on.

After doing a bunch of investigating I found that the remote wire connection directly out of the harness wasn't sending any power. It wasn't the line, but either the harness or the head unit itself. So for my morning drive to work I ran with a wire going from the amp's positive to remote while I was driving. A few hours later, I go out to my car to go to an audio shop so they can look at it, and it just started working again! I went home that afternoon, and I checked the remote line from the harness, and sure enough I was getting power through it again. I did some research and it seems like other people with Kenwood head units have had a problem where the remote connection just stops working.

It was fine for about a month, and just yesterday it happened again.

I'm going to check out the harness again, maybe it's loose (it didn't look like it the first time). But if the remote line is indeed dead, is there another connection that I can use for remote instead? I'd rather not send it in for warranty work since then I'd be without a head unit for at least a month or two.

flashburn · 04-08-2011, 03:52 PM

Anyone?

bigaudiofanat · 04-08-2011, 04:06 PM

Sounds like the remote wire is grounding out somewhere in its length. Which means once in a while it grounds out there and does not continue to the amp. I would have the shop check out the run or wire. I know I have had it happen twice where a bolt smashed the wire or wore somewhere. "Ah the early days"

flashburn · 04-08-2011, 05:20 PM

Even if I checked directly from the harness and there was no power coming out?

bigaudiofanat · 04-09-2011, 08:46 PM

Than there is a problem with your head unit and needs to be repaired.

flashburn · 04-10-2011, 10:50 AM

Yeah, I figured that was the case, but like I said, I really don't want to go without a stereo in my car for 2 months. Is there another wire I can use instead of the remote out of the head unit?

bigaudiofanat · 04-10-2011, 11:04 AM

Yes! ANY 12 volt wire that turns on and off with they key. In this case you can use the + wire of the 12 volt power plug, or the red wire of the wiring harness of the head unit or as said any other switched 12 volt wire.

flashburn · 04-10-2011, 11:15 AM

Okay, cool. I think I'll just do that, at least for now. Shitty solution for me, since I'd obviously like a "real" fix, but this will have to do until I can figure out a way to be without the head unit for a while. I think this is going to be my last Kenwood head unit, I had problems with the one I had in my old car too.

Is there any downside to using the red wire from the harness versus using a remote wire connection?

Is there a type of connector I can use to easily hook into the red wire from the harness? Something I could get a Radio Shack would be best.

Thanks for helping me with this Matt, it's been pretty frustrating.

bigaudiofanat · 04-10-2011, 11:46 AM

No downfall really to using the red wire. I usually more problems with pioneer than Kenwood. You could usea t trap howeverI prefer the old solder and heat shrink. Either will work.

flashburn · 04-10-2011, 11:54 AM

Cool, thanks! I'll probably just use a T trap (Didn't know the name of them), I think I might have an extra one lying around somewhere.

04-07-2011, 09:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	Kenwood DNX9140 Remote Wire not working So I've started having a problem with the Remote wire (I think Kenwood calls it Power Control). After it's been working without a problem for over a year, all of a sudden one day I turn on my car and my amp didn't turn on. After doing a bunch of investigating I found that the remote wire connection directly out of the harness wasn't sending any power. It wasn't the line, but either the harness or the head unit itself. So for my morning drive to work I ran with a wire going from the amp's positive to remote while I was driving. A few hours later, I go out to my car to go to an audio shop so they can look at it, and it just started working again! I went home that afternoon, and I checked the remote line from the harness, and sure enough I was getting power through it again. I did some research and it seems like other people with Kenwood head units have had a problem where the remote connection just stops working. It was fine for about a month, and just yesterday it happened again. I'm going to check out the harness again, maybe it's loose (it didn't look like it the first time). But if the remote line is indeed dead, is there another connection that I can use for remote instead? I'd rather not send it in for warranty work since then I'd be without a head unit for at least a month or two. __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

04-08-2011, 03:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	Anyone? __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

04-08-2011, 04:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	Sounds like the remote wire is grounding out somewhere in its length. Which means once in a while it grounds out there and does not continue to the amp. I would have the shop check out the run or wire. I know I have had it happen twice where a bolt smashed the wire or wore somewhere. "Ah the early days" __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

04-08-2011, 05:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	Even if I checked directly from the harness and there was no power coming out? __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

04-09-2011, 08:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	Than there is a problem with your head unit and needs to be repaired. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

04-10-2011, 10:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	Yeah, I figured that was the case, but like I said, I really don't want to go without a stereo in my car for 2 months. Is there another wire I can use instead of the remote out of the head unit? __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

04-10-2011, 11:04 AM	#7 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	Yes! ANY 12 volt wire that turns on and off with they key. In this case you can use the + wire of the 12 volt power plug, or the red wire of the wiring harness of the head unit or as said any other switched 12 volt wire. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

04-10-2011, 11:15 AM	#8 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	Okay, cool. I think I'll just do that, at least for now. Shitty solution for me, since I'd obviously like a "real" fix, but this will have to do until I can figure out a way to be without the head unit for a while. I think this is going to be my last Kenwood head unit, I had problems with the one I had in my old car too. Is there any downside to using the red wire from the harness versus using a remote wire connection? Is there a type of connector I can use to easily hook into the red wire from the harness? Something I could get a Radio Shack would be best. Thanks for helping me with this Matt, it's been pretty frustrating. __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

04-10-2011, 11:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
bigaudiofanat Car Audio Installer Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Magnolia DE Posts: 8,342 Drives: 2012 Infiniti G37x Rep Power: 853	No downfall really to using the red wire. I usually more problems with pioneer than Kenwood. You could usea t trap howeverI prefer the old solder and heat shrink. Either will work. __________________ Need help with car audio or electronics? Let me know!! Need Help Let Me Know Direct email address reimermatt@gmail.com Owner of: Dynamic Mobile Audio Follow me below https://www.facebook.com/Dynamicmobileaudio/

04-10-2011, 11:54 AM	#10 (permalink)
flashburn A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 1,884 Drives: '12 Corvette GS 6M Rep Power: 19	Cool, thanks! I'll probably just use a T trap (Didn't know the name of them), I think I might have an extra one lying around somewhere. __________________ Current Ride: 2012 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Centennial Edition Carbon Flash 6M Previous Ride: 2009 Nissan 370Z Sport Platinum Graphite 7AT

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