I just installed an ONYX XM radio in my Clubman....no problems worked great. I have a fairly clean install with the power cord connected (via an extension cord) to the cigarette lighter socket in the trunk which goes under the drivers seat. When I go back out the radio is powering on and immediately powering off and cycling through the same routine every few seconds. I called the support desk and they say its either a unit malfunction or a problem with the powercord and I should go back to the store for help! I decided to look at the power cord and it has been stripped by moving the seat back into place after install.....it doesn't look like the wires are broken it's just that the plastic covering is pulled away in 2 places.....can I just cut out the offending area and reconnect? If this is the problem I'd like to be able to take care of it without having to go back to the store.
Thanks
Philip

 

Anyone know ?

 

Try posting in the 2nd gen forum....
Not many first gen folks know much about the clubman!!

 

To answer you question...you should be able to splice the wires....then shrink wrap tham...electrical tape is ok, but will slide around in the heat...also consider putting a few drops of solder on the splices after you cut out the bad wire...this will ensure a good connection in the longer term...since an area of wire that has been spliced is exposed to air, and corrosion may set in. If the wires are just power, 12v is pretty safe to work with, just be sure to matain the same polarity, and re-route the wire to keep it safe in the future.

 

Ok so I did cut and splice and it doesn't take power to the radio at all now....it seems as though the wire is almost like a co-axial cable with inner and outer cores. Before it was working intermittently because only some of the outer core was damaged.....I just ordered a new cable/plug so I'll wait to see what that does....if not then I'll have to return it to the store because, as the XM tech said..."it could be a radio malfunction."

 

It's an audio question that would apply to any generation.....

 

It does...but most folks stop reading when they read clubman...

If it is the power...check that you have not blown the fuse...
If there is several layers to the wire, then the splicing is harder, but still doable...you just have to figure it out...
If it was the satellite antenna, then it is usually a minincoax cable...and it is an active boosted antenna so it carries power too....
Sounds like replacing the cable, like you ordered, was a good move...always know you limits, especially around electronics, so you don't fry something!!
Good luck!!
Ps if you expect to keep the reciever in you car longer term, you might consider using an ad a fuse to the fuse box, so you can free up the cigarette lighter socket, and not run a wire...it is fulley reversible when done right too!!

 

If it's a little coaxial cable, that's not the power, that's the antenna connection. It's probably not repairable, unfortunately.

If it's one wire that looks like your cable TV cable, but just a LOT smaller, that's the satellite antenna.

If it's two little side-by-side wires that look like a cable you'd use to plug in a toaster in your house, but much smaller, it's the power.

You can splice the power back together. If you nicked through the outer conductor on the satellite antenna, it's probably not something that's fixable. Well, it's fixable, you'd just need to get a male and female connector set for that cable, attach the ends and put them back together. The problem is that the ends are likely to cost you as much as a new antenna, and soldering on ends that small is very difficult (they're usually done mechanically).

 

Not necessarily true. Many power cords use a coaxial style cable for convenience of the round cable rather than a flat side by side style

What you say is true but as Zippy stated once a 1st gen person sees Clubman, 2nd gen, R56, R55 they mostly stop reading. Then there is also the possibility that even if you do get some one from a first gen car to answer your question if the problem results in some other situation with the audio system they will not be able to assist you anyway. Posting in the proper sections here is the best way to get you answers and quickly.