L322 Radio/CD power problem

Can anyone help, I have searched the net for many hours and apologise if the answer is already on here. I have just bought a 2002 L322 HSE with the basic sound system. There is what seems to be a power loss to the radio about every 4 or 5 seconds, not quite equal but a fairly closely spaced distance of time apart. If the cd or multichanger is on then it just goes back to where the disc started playing, ie will play maybe 5 seconds then appear to skip back to the start. The display also fades for a split second. However this is only the case with the ignition or engine on. If the stereo is turned on without the key in, or key not turned, then everything is as it should be.

I have also noticed that the steering wheel stereo controls only work once the ignition is on. I dont know if this is how it should be but seem to think that on most cars I have owned that steering wheels controls have worked as long as the head unit is on. Maybe this is how it should be or could they possibly be linked?

Any advice or suggestions would be welcome!

Thanks

Hi Paul8725,
Can't help much with the power loss problem, but can confirm the steering controls do not work unless the ignition is on. Is it Petrol or Diesel? I can only assume some part of the ignition system is taking the juice out of the circuit. Is the Battery ok?

Hope you find the fault.

Cheers

Thanks for letting me know about the steering controls, thats stopped me from randomly cutting those wires to see if it stops!
Its diesel, battery seems to be ok. Seems to be the ignition live, tried to disconnect that and loop it back with the permanent live thinking that without the ignition the radio is fine so this may work but needless to say auto electrics are much more complicated than this!

Thanks for the info anyway!

With the help of a friend we have got a bit closer to the fault. It appears that a white/grey/yellow wire which is part of the i-bus system, and appears to be an ignition live, is having an interuption to is feed thus making the stereo lose power temporerily. We have swapped this feed for an alternative ignition live but that will not work.

Could anyone please help me with where the i-bus main loom/center is located, or offer any advice towards this.

Once again I have looked all over the net but have had no joy, and have tried the rave guide but again that doesnt give me a location.

Thanks again in advance.