Last month I had the "Mini" Ipod adaptor installed on my 02 MCS factory radio. The unit plays the Ipod/cd player/radio without any problems, however after 20 minutes of play it shuts itself off. This occurs in radio, cd and aux mode. Could this be wiring issue or perhaps software? Any thougts or suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

The radio can be played without the key for 20 minutes (by simply pressing the power on), so it sounds like a possible wiring issue. Sorry I can't help beyond that.

 

My 05 radio shuts off after 20 minutes if the key is not turned on. I think that's normal behaviour. It does not shut off after 20 minutes if the engine is running. I have not tried to see if it shuts off in 20 minutes if the engine is off and the key is in the 1st position.

 

I guess I was a little vague in my initial summary of the problem. The powering off actually occurs while I'm driving, perhaps the radio thinks the car is "off"?

 

It's possilbe that when the ipod adapter was installed, the wire that lets the radio know the ignition is on was either broken or not properly re-seated. Thus your radio always thinks your ignition is off. You could try removing the head unit and re-seating all plugs to see if that helps.

Phil

 

Thanks I'll give it a try.

 

I'm having the same problem... Does anyone know which wire (color) in the stereo harness indicates that the engine is on?

 

I don't know which wire it is, but in the fuse panel, there are 2 separate fuses for the radio. The 5A one (in the rearward column in my '06) is the switched circuit that lets the radio know if the car is turned on or not. Maybe it's blown?

 

The following diagram is in the MINI2 FAQ. The FAQ comment says it is from a pre-2003 model, but I think it has not changed. At least pin 16 is still correct on my 2006. The one you are looking for is probably pin 15.

 

I had the exact same thing happen to me a while back - the radio would power off every 20 minutes on the dot. This started happening immediately after leaving the dealership that installed my iPod connector. After taking it in a few times and them replacing my "faulty radio," they finally realized that one of the fuses was wrong - a 25 instead of a 15. When the Greenville dealership installed the connector, they had just put in the wrong fuse. Since ATL MINI replaced it, I've had no more 20 minute cut out.

 

Hmm, we just noticed the same thing happening with our new '06. I'll check the fuses tonight, otherwise, at some point we'll need to have Mini of Peabody look at it.

 

Try increasing the volume on your Ipod/MP3 player. I had a receiver that would power off, if after a set amount of time it felt it was getting no signal... So - perhaps the head unit isn't getting enough power from the Ipod/MP3 player & thinks there isn't anything there? When I have my MP3 player in the car, I have the volume (of the MP3 player) turned all the way up?

 

Listening to the radio on the way to work this morning and the radio turned off. Completely. Had to push the little button to get it back on. The iPod was plugged in at the time. I'm going to unplug the iPod on the drive home and see what happens. Looks like I'll be driving back to the dealer to get it checked out. :(

Finn - Just picked up my 2006 week 36 Astro Black on Saturday

 

How do u know what week?
(lol - or more specifically, how do *I* know what week my car is/was?)

 

You may wish to check which power wire is connected to your ipod adapter.

The "new" ipod adapter has only one power supply wire (the older adapter had one accessory power feed and one always- on power feed). Unfortunately I am not sure Mini has updated the instructions and the old installation instructions have that adapter pluging into the accessory power feed for the radio. This causes the radio to think that it is always in accessory mode and shut itself off after 20 minutes.

If you make sure the ipod adapter is plugged into the always on power feed then the problem should disappear. This does however always supply power to the ipod.

This originally drove me crazy but now it works fine.

 

This isn't the AUX connector, this is the iPod adapter, which is using the cradle connector's line out, so volume doesn't matter (and you can't actually change the iPod volume when using the iPod adapter).

It's also worth nothing that even if no iPod is attached and you're listening to the radio, it turns off after exactly 20 minutes. I've also noticed that the radio plays for a long time (probably 20 minutes, but I haven't timed it) if you don't shut if off after turning off the car.

I think Dewy's on to something. If I can get back in there to check things out, I'll look at it, otherwise, we'll have the dealer look at when we go in for service, since it's over 100 miles to get back to the dealer.

(And also, since it's not obvious, Finn's MINI and my MINI are one and the same; it's actually her car. )