The red led behind the face plate flashing, no display on screen completely black, but disc ejecting and loading.

Perry Mellott

• 147 Answers
• Posted on Jul 20, 2007

SOURCE: No Power to face plate

Hello James,You missing a Major supply to the Face,Take a Test lite and Ck to see if your getting voltage on the Memory wire Also ck Fuses ttech

SOURCE: Power problems with my kdc-x789

It should be taken back to the installer.

SOURCE: display

try this

KENWOOD SECURITY CODE CLEAR procedure


Your radio will require one of the following procedures.

Type 1
During the code request mode, while holding the DISP key depressed, press and hold the Volume UP or DOWN key for 3 seconds (so that “…” disappears).
Then using your remote enter your code.

Type 2
Press the "Auto" button and "Track up" on face of radio at the same time. The four dash lines ( . . . . ) should "disappear".

Then using your remote enter your code.

Type 3
Model# DPX-4020 and DPX-4030
Press and hold the 1 then the 6 preset key (preset keys are the buttons on face of radio for storing you "favorite" radio stations). "C" should display.
Then using your remote, enter your code.


Enter your number from the remote control unit. Your code number is 5227 (KCAR)

* Press numeric key “5” ( 2 times ) and press the Track UP/Next Track key
* Press numeric key “2” ( 3 times ) and press the Track UP/Next Track key
* Press numeric key “2” ( 1 time ) and press the Track UP/Next Track key
* Press numeric key “7” ( 2 times ) and press the Track UP/Next Track key

The security is canceled and the set enters the TUNER mode!

SOURCE: kenwood kdc-mp232 not turning on

check your connections. i believe only the standby wire is connected.. or the built in amplifier detects a short on the speaker wires.

SOURCE: power to stereo none to unit

There is a ribbon cable that goes from the display to the main board of the radio that may be bad, if you have everything connected properly and all you get is the red led, this is a possibility. No way for anybody to know if you have it wired wrong if they can not look at it themself.

The red wire is for power when the key is on, the yellow wire should get power all the time, the black wire is ground.

If you have those correct, the radio should at least turn on. If you have these right, you may need a new ribbon cable. The connector that interfaces with the detachable face must also be taken off the old ribbon cable and put on the new one, or get a new connector and just replace it. The ribbon cable does not come with that connector. It is soldered on the ribbon cable, so if you are not very good with a soldering iron, you should have a service center do it for you.

Let me know if you want the part number for the ribbon cable and/or connector, I can get those for you.

I can not guarantee that the ribbon cable is the problem, or that it is the only problem, but it is the most likely problem with that model number of Kenwood. I have repaired many of them, so I have a good idea what causes most of the problems, but I have seen times when the usual suspect is not the problem and something else like the LCD in the face is bad, or the IC that controls the display is bad. Even a voltage regulator on the main board of the radio can be at fault as well. There are probably about 10 different things that can cause that one problem, having an experienced technician is always the best way to determan the problem with certainty.

Let me know if I can be any more help for you.

Dave