I noticed today when I turned on my emergency flashers my radio display will blink with it. The radio keeps playing but the display flashes.

It only does this when my emergency flashers are on, thats it.

It's not a problem, it hasn't effected my music, its a bit funny to watch.

But is there an easy explanation for this, or am I crossing some wires somewhere?

 

Sounds like feed back within the grounding system and I would start under the dash.
Check around and see if there are loose connections in the Flasher System.

Have you changed any wiring under the dash or the interior lately ?
If you have then start with those mods first.

 

Good point, I fixed a bad fuse in my Ipod transmitter, but that was the most recent. The ground cable off the back of the radio may have worked its way off.

Would a loose ground connection off the radio have anything to do with the flashers?

 

i do not know, this new electronics is too much sometimes, i just try to use as logical an approach as I can.
But, when one ground goes bad, the component with the lost ground will sometimes look for the “path of least resistance” to follow to ground and it just may have been part of it.
Just recheck the connections of all of the components in the Radio/iPod Adapter area, then go from there.

Why did the fuse in the iPod Adapter blow ?

 

Not so much as a blown fuse, it was a broken in line fuse holder.

I spliced ther wires together to bypass the fuse entirely.

 

Not always the best idea but if it works for you then I guess, IMHO put the fuse holder back in-line.

Check out the connections, hopefully that will be it.

 

I'd have to get a new holder, the one that broke would not stay together unless glued in as one piece, making the fuse inaccessible, but it would be worth a try to check all those connections

 

What iPod Adapter do you have ?
I use the USA Spec Unit, no holder but that can be bought separate but I like the sound.
I am not an audiophile in any sense, tin ear maybe, and this sound good to me so I would suggest the USA Spec Unit to anyone.

USA Spec PA11VOL - Connection Cables for iPod/MP3 Players - Sonic Electronix

A little pricey but to me a great unit.

 

Its similar to that but has no interface with the radio, just puts the signal through the radios antenna plug in.

It's not a huge deal because I'm getting a new radio with a direct ipod connection at the end of the summer and I will uninstall the ipod adapter.

 

The direct adapter is the way to do and your new radio should sound find.

Ok then if you are getting rid of the existing radio try this.

Pull the radio you now have, find the power wire, using a 12 V DC Probe see if the power input is flashing with the hazard flashers.
If not, which I’m thinking no, then it is not from the power side, obviously.
Next, plug the radio in but not the antenna, again turn on the radio, make sure it is on and use the hazard flashers.
if the radio is not blinking then it could be an EMP from the Flasher itself, just thinking out loud here.
If still flashing, chk the connections, is there a support stud on the rear of the radio, if so did you tighten it, my 03 has a slide no stud.
Try a few things and see what the results are.
Don’t forget to write it all down for each test.

Is that too confusing, sorry if it is, let me know.

ltr