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Caddy radio not working
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2023 1:19 pm
by Baztallica
Hi, I have an '08 Caddy 1.9tdi.
I've been slowly sorting things out with it (rear seats, bodywork etc) but I cannot for the life of me get the standard rcd300 radio to work.
I've checked the fuses (under steering wheel, back of radio and engine bay) and all is well, I've even managed to remove the headunit and get it to power up on another caddy.
I'm at a bit of a loss as to what else the cause could be and wondered if anyone else had experienced similar or had any advice on what else I could try to solve this?
As much as I'd planned to upgrade to something newer, as I can't get the original one to work then I'm reluctant to change to anything else. Using it without a radio is starting to get too much now
Many thanks,
Barri
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2023 4:37 pm
by Doc
Welcome to the forum Barri.
The radio should turn on/off with the ignition, this is done via a CANbus message rather than the old style ignition power wire method.
Check you have positive, negative and CANbus connections on the plug at the back of the radio.
Is there anything plugged in at the back, maybe a hands free harness or something else that's non standard equipment?
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 9:59 am
by Baztallica
Thanks for the reply Doc.
Apologies for the delay, I was away over the weekend.
I'll pull the radio later and see what I can find.
I'll try and get some photos too if I'm unsuccessful in having any luck.
Pretty sure from memory there wasn't anything non standard but I could be wrong.
I'll update with findings.
Barri
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 3:29 pm
by Baztallica
Removed the radio and everything looks to be pretty standard and how I'd expect
Not sure if anyone can see something that I can't that would cause issue.
Hoping the picture links work.
https://postimg.cc/F1HcQqmF
https://postimg.cc/942RggJh
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 3:35 pm
by Doc
Have you checked that positive, negative and CANbus connections are all good? All looks to be standard factory wiring.
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 3:54 pm
by Baztallica
Next step now Doc.
Never really had any radio issues before beyond plug and play with a little fettling.
The fact this didn't work from the time I got the van has made it that bit more of a job but hopefully I'll get somewhere.
Assuming testing can be done with a multimeter to try and pinpoint the issue?
Thank you again for responding
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 3:58 pm
by PeterAFox
I have a 2005 1.9 tdi - strangely the radio fuses are 'extra' they are on some wires which hang down under / near the interior fuse box. My caddy came like that - I'd assumed that they made a mod during production or something like that
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 4:19 pm
by Baztallica
Thanks Peter.
I'll have a look around the fusebox area to see if there's something similar on mine.
I've been to all the usual spots hoping for a quick fix
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 4:33 pm
by Scoobysrt
Those extra fuses are often found on the after market mk3 harness.
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2023 4:55 pm
by Doc
Yea, hanging down fuses is not how VW will have left any vehicle from the factory. All factory fuses are in the fuse boxes either in the engine bay or cabin.
The fuse for the radio is in the engine bay.
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2024 7:14 am
by Noel
Did this problem ever get solved I have purchased an after market xtron stero I have connected everything up but no power tried to put the factory stero back in that's not getting no power
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2024 1:00 pm
by Gremlin
Did you ever get this sorted? I'm banging my head against this atm. All I get when I ask on some places is folks telling me to get the right harness. I have a quadlock harness, but ignition power ain't there.
Someone is telling me I need a canbus harness. But that's pretty pricey for something I'm not certain is gonna work.
Plan was to piggyback off the heater unit loom, but I can't find a decent diagram of which cable I need from that loom.
So I found this thread with questions, and I'm hoping for answers!
Mk3 Caddy, 2009 I think, if that matters.
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Thu Aug 22, 2024 7:18 pm
by Markus112
Did you found out? Same issue
Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Fri Nov 15, 2024 3:53 pm
by Baztallica
Only a reply to those who've questioned after with similar problems.
Actual cause of issue was never identified.
I can only assume there was a wiring problem as when running power directly to the unit, it powered on.
Ran a cable to the units power supply piggy backing from a switched live and back in business.
Real head scratcher as far as cause, but work around found.
Then as is usually the case, issue fixed and van sold with an upgrade to a '16 caddy. So I enjoyed the fixed radio for all of 5 weeks!

Re: Caddy radio not working
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2026 3:24 pm
by Noel
Hi everyone i know its a delayed reply
But after a lot of back and forth with xtrons via amazon they asked that i purchase the same item again and then send the malfunctioning one back which i did and recived a refund a few days later on after they had received it back
Was not nice being out of pocket for 1 and having to purchase another but all worked out stereo works a dream