Expert: Cleggsan - 1/13/2010

Question
I have an alpine 9805 installed in my 98' F150. Just recently the power to the deck went off and would not come back on unless I pushed on the faceplate. I cleaned the contacts of the faceplate and it did not help. Now it will come on randomly for short periods of time and sometimes when I push on the face. I've checked the connections in the back and they all look solid. And the fuses are also good.

Answer
Seems to me the faceplate is a replaceable item. Have you checked with Alpine to see if they can supply it?

Probably what has happened is the connections have become intermittent when the faceplate is mounted on.  If you have a very delicate tool you maybe able to apply a little pressure under the springy portion of the contacts and pry them out so there is a better chance of a good, solid contact.  And, as the manual, page 5, warns there should be not dirt or contaminations to prevent the contacts from making good connection as the faceplate is attached.

You said you cleaned the contacts, but just cleaning won't help if spring tension is not strong enough.  Since it will come on when you push on the faceplate there may be a requirement to put a little shim in between the faceplate edge and the lip of the right side where the faceplate slips in.   This will give a little more pressure when the faceplate is all the way inserted. I have used a strip of friction tape to stick in similar cases, for example.

Hope this helps.