Hi fellas.

The factory head unit in my Magna stopped working. It seems to illuminate, but does not turn on.
I tried another Magna factory head unit in my car and it doesn't even turn on either.

Does anybody know what the problem is?

I've checked all the fuses and they're fine.

Not sure what else to check.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii158/dimi108/Default%20Album%202/DSC00638.jpg

That would suggest to me that you have a power supply issue since 2 units have the same fault. Looking at the pic it apears the backlighting cct is working. Without a wiring diagram all I could suggest is to either have a closer look at the fuses, there may even be one in the back of the stereo itself, some aftermarket ones do but not sure about the OEM units though. Turn everything off and remove the harness. Check for battery voltage and I would expect only one connection should be live for the memory of the radio. Take a note of which one. Now turn key to either ACC or ON and recheck . I would expect obviously the same one to be live plus one other which would be the power supply for operation. If not then there is an open cct, blown fuse (dedicated fuse 11 according to TH manual) or damaged harness somewhere.

Thanks a lot for your help mate.
I've checked for a live connection to power the radio and there is none. That's the problem.
I found this out as i connected a head unit, it worked, but every time turned off the car then on again, it would reset the clock to 1:00 all over again.

So if there's no live wire to the head unit, what should i do?

Sweet. It was the yellow 20A fuse in the engine bay for the head unit that was the culprit.
Thanks a lot mate for pointing me in the right direction.

Owe you one :D

No worries but you did all the hard work and found the problem with the limited clues I could give you.

I'd like to thank both of you.
My girlfriends headunit had the same issue, illumination but wouldn't turn on (she owns a 1999 Ford Festiva mind you, so completely different car).
I had a look at the fuses this morning for her and I didn't even have to replace it, one was just placed in upside down (lol?). I flipped it up and hey-presto - working stereo again. Who knows why it wasn't working (fuses work both ways I'm 99.9% sure :D), perhaps it just wasn't sitting it properly.
But at least it's fixed!
So thanks dimi108 + TW2005!

:D