Troubleshooting page for the Kenwood DNX571HD car stereo
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The GPS displays an error message and is unable to connect
If the error message says “Please connect a GPS device,” the GPS is likely not connected to the stereo. Gain access to the back of the stereo (may require disassembling the car dash) and check the cable that connects the GPS to the stereo to verify it is fully seated. Disconnect and inspect the connector leads to verify they are clean and free of debris.
If the error message says “Obtaining satellite lock,” the GPS is likely not connected to the satellite antenna. Gain access to the GPS device and check the cable that connects the GPS antenna to the GPS device to verify it is fully seated. Disconnect the antenna and inspect the connector leads to verify they are clean and free of debris.
Remove the stereo and follow this guide to open the device.
Use a multimeter to test the connector to verify that all pins are making contact with the circuit board. If there is one or more pins that are not making electrical connection, follow the connector repair/replacement guide
The car is on, and sound is coming from the stereo, but the display appears blank
The wires that provide signals to the touch screen are flexible and thin, and thus can wear down easily. You will need to observe them to confirm that they are still in operation.
Disassemble the stereo using the replacement guide and inspect the display cable connection to verify it is fully connected.
Disconnect and inspect the cable leads for dirt/debris, clean, and reconnect.
Check if the display is on and very dim, cover the stereo and your head with a dark towel to see if you can see the text and images. If so, enter the settings menu and increase the contrast.
Pressing the reset button will also reset the contrast level to default.
CAUTION: this will restore all settings to their default values.
If the cable connection is good and resetting the device did not restore the contrast, they display may be bad. Follow the LCD replacement guide to replace the LCD.
If the screen is damaged, it can be replaced by following our replacement guide.
I cannot connect my phone/mp3 player to my stereo with Bluetooth
Bluetooth will need to be re-enabled.
Touch the [MENU] button from any screen, the top menu screen should appear.
Tap [SETUP], wait for the setup screen to appear, then choose [BLUETOOTH].
Bluetooth is a low-range, low-energy form of wireless communication within a limited range. At times, your connection may be severed with your phone unable to reconnect. When this occurs, it is best to re-pair your phone to your Kenwood stereo.
Touch [SEARCH] on the right-hand side of the screen and give the stereo some time to search for active devices.
The list-device screen will appear once the search has completed.
Select your phone from the list and enter the 4 digit security code when prompted. By default, this code is “0000”, but it can be modified to be more secure.
I cannot play or insert a CD in the CD drive
Check that there is not a CD already loaded. Press eject to see if a CD is already loaded. If so, remove it and insert the new CD.
If there is no CD inserted, listen closely to the stereo, if you hear a motor buzzing, then it is trying to load a CD but something is preventing it. Disassemble the stereo and check the CD motor to verify it is properly aligned and is placing enough tension on the CD to pull it in to the stereo.
If the stereo does not make a buzzing motor sound when inserting the CD, the CD sensor may be dirty or bad. Disassemble the CD player and check the sensor for dirt and debris and if it is not dirty or blocked, follow the replacement guide to replace the sensor.
Touch the [MENU] button from any screen, the top menu screen should appear.
Scroll left or right until you see the “Disc” icon with an image of a CD and touch it to enter CD player mode.
The stereo supports multiple optical media types including DVD, VCD, and Data discs as well as audio discs. Eject the disc and verify that it is an audio CD.
Disassemble the CD player and check the wire connections on the CD drive motor. If they are good, check if the motor is receiving power when CD player mode is enabled. If it is, then replace the motor, if it is not, check the motor driver for a broken connection, if no bad connections are found, replace the motor driver.
If the motor is spinning but the CD is not playing, the read laser may be defective. Follow the replacement guide to replace the laser or the CD drive.
I cannot connect to satellite radio on my stereo
If the error message says “Please connect a satellite device,” the satellite receiver is not properly connected. Check the connector that links the stereo to the satellite receiver on each of those devices for device for dust or debris.
If the error message says “No signal available,” there is an issue with the satellite antenna. Satellite antenna requires “line-of-sight” connection to an orbiting satellite and will not function in areas with tall buildings or inside large structures such as parking garages
Check the location of the vehicle and test if moving to an open area with clear visibility of the sky allows the signal to return.
Check the satellite antenna cable connection to verify it is fully connected.
If you have a clear view of the sky and the antenna connection is good, the problem may be with the satellite antenna connector on the main board. Follow this guide to replace it.
I cannot tune to any local radio stations
Check the antenna connection on the back of the stereo to verify it is connected. Disconnect and reconnect after inspecting for dirt and debris.
There may be an obstruction blocking the radio signals from reaching the car. FM radio signals can transmit through some structures and earth, and have a larger range than AM signals which require line of sight.
For AM radio, acquire line of sight to a radio tower and try again. If the connection still is not established, you may have to replace your radio or radio-coax input on the back of the stereo. Follow this guide to replace the antenna connector.
For FM radio, drive closer to a radio tower to attempt to boost the signal. Line of sight is not required as long as the obstructions are not large pieces of land mass
For either form of radio signal, exit any tunnel, building, or large structure that you may be in and try to connect again
