Last Updated on: October 7, 2022
Generally, it takes a lot of effort, time, and money to purchase, install and maintain your Kenwood car stereo.
Therefore…
It can be frustrating to wake up to your new stereo displaying an error message instead of playing your favorite tunes. And if it’s in protect mode, even googling Kenwood radio reset code won’t help. Therefore, if you want to learn how to handle a Kenwood radio stuck in protect mode, please read on…
Why Is My Kenwood Radio Stuck In Protect Mode?
Just like most stereos, the Kenwood car stereo also goes into protection mode to protect its circuitry from irrevocable damage. But the main issue with Kenwood is that getting around the protection mode can be quite hard.
Kenwood added the protection mode feature on their stereo as a safety feature that protects your system from overheating and internal shorts.
Unfortunately, their manuals don’t do a great task when it comes to explaining this error. The only thing most of them say is that you should take it to the service center.
But some manuals like the ones for KAC-M1824BT and KDC-MP242U do explain more about the cause of the problem. These manuals claim that this error can be triggered by overheating or a malfunctioned receiver, so before taking it to the service center, you should try and troubleshoot the problem.
Some of the main reasons why Kenwood stereo is stuck in protect mode include:
1. Overheating
The leading cause of the Kenwood protect mode error is usually overheating. Therefore, if your radio has been functioning properly and you have never altered the settings, the problem may not be with the installation process.
But if you have been blasting your favorite tunes at an extremely high volume while driving, then overheating may cause the issue.
After all, electronics don’t like heat, and the high operating temperature may trigger Kenwood’s protect mode. If that’s the case, you can switch off the receiver, let it cool down for a few minutes, and try restarting it again.
If the error doesn’t go away on its own, then you should press its reset button. If it still doesn’t work, you should try and disconnect its power lead for half a minute before reconnecting it. But if all these don’t do the trick, you can take it to the dealer.
2. Short Circuit
The problem may be a short circuit if you have just had the Kenwood car stereo fitted. The speaker wires running to the ground can also trigger the Kenwood’s protect mode.
If this is the case, then the first things you should examine are the ends of the speaker wires. If the speaker wiring appears frayed or touching each other or a nearby metal part, that could cause the problem.
Simply follow all the speaker wire connections from the start to the end of your Kenwood audio system and look for signs of damaged, frayed, or sheared insulation. To repair the Kenwood protect mode error, all you have to do is insulate the wires of your car audio system and re-route it away from the cause of the problem.
3. Faulty Resistance
Generally, the car speakers in your car stereo system serve as a resistor in the amps circuit. But when they fail to offer the resistance, the amps tend to overheat and switch off automatically.
If you’re using multiple speakers and your car radio goes into protection mode, you should eliminate some of the speakers.
Therefore, if the stereo isn’t receiving enough resistance, then getting rid of some of the speakers can help solve this problem.
How to Fix Kenwood Car Stereo?
If you cannot find out the exact cause of the problem, you can reset the entire system and find out if the problem has disappeared. To reset the Kenwood stereo, you should do the following:
Step 1: Switch On The Kenwood Car Radio
The first thing you should do is switch on the car audio system. Next, remove its control panel to expose the reset button.
Step 2: Reset your Kenwood Car Radio System
With the reset button visible, you can easily reset your radio by pressing it for about 5 seconds. Doing this will force your Kenwood system to start rebooting.
Step 3: Inspect The Radio
If the system has enough resistance, and the wires are okay, or it has not overheated, the reboot will reset the system, ensuring it gets out of the reset mode. But if it doesn’t work, then you should contact the dealer.
Pro Auto Thought: You might want to read this post we wrote on resetting car stereos, especially the branded ones for better guidance — How To Unlock Kenwood Car Radio.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Car Stereo In Protect Mode?
Only a few Kenwood cd players have experienced this problem and had to be taken back to the dealers. The primary reason why your system may be displaying this error is because of overheating or short circuits. You should troubleshoot the problem first before you try resetting the car stereo.
Where Is The Reset Button On Car Stereo?
The reset button is usually situated on the upper left corner of the car stereo. It’s usually a triangular-shaped button that’s always illuminated and locating it is easy.
How Do I Reset Radio Security Code?
When the radio is in code request mode, you can reset it by pressing and holding either the down or up volume keys for about 3 seconds, and the error display will disappear. You can then input the security code and your radio is operational again.
Conclusion
Despite being a bit challenging, resetting the radio can help remove the protect mode error. But first, make sure you troubleshoot the problem and find out the main cause of the problem. If everything doesn’t work even after confirming that the system wiring is okay and it’s not overheating, then you should consult a professional.