Kenwood car stereo is displaying Protect and wont come on

It is a known issue and is covered in the link

https://www.google.com/search?q=Toyota+Avanza+stereo+protect+error

..

Its sounds like its needing the security code to be entered. You need this to start up the stereo. Its a security setup which is supposed to stop thieves from stealing your stereo and fitting it to another car. It wont work without the code.

Kenwood service center can fix this.

Hello grammagrisbo, hi your Kenwood head units will show "protect" when there's a problem with the speaker outputs so check to see if the impedance load meets your radio, 8ohms or 4 ohms?. having parallel two speakers on a single channel may cause this dilemma. This might also mean a shorted speaker wire, a blown speaker, or an internal defect in the head unit. Once the condition that's causing the "protect" mode is fixed, the CD player should be back to normal, the next time you turn it on.
If it's staying in "protect", then you'll definitely have to remove the stereo and do something to fix it. Many car audio stores will do system troubleshooting, for a fee. If you want to do it yourself, here's what you need to do:

Pull the Kenwood unit from the dash and disconnect all the speaker wires. power it on and see if the "protect" message displays. If it does, the stereo has an internal defect and will need to be serviced. If it doesn't, then turn it off, and re-connect one speaker only. Turn it on again and see if it will displays "protect" message.

If the radio works with one speaker connected, connect the other speaker to the second channel, you may have now the idea where the problem begun, you will identify the speaker that's causing the problem. There may be a wiring problem or defective speaker in that channel.

If it displays "protect" with a single speaker connected, then disconnect that one and try the other one. If all the speakers cause a "protect" mode, then you're probably back to a defective head unit.

Speaker wires are shorted somewhere.

Hi,

Kenwood head units show "protect" when there's a problem with the speaker outputs. This might mean a shorted speaker wire, a blown speaker, or an internal defect in the head unit. Once the condition that's causing the "protect" mode is fixed, the CD player should be back in normal mode the next time you turn it on.

If it's staying in "protect", then you'll definitely have to remove the stereo and do some troubleshooting to fix it. Many car audio stores will do system troubleshooting, for a fee. If you want to do it yourself, here's what you need to do:

Pull the Kenwood unit from the dash and disconnect all the speaker wires. Turn it on and see if the "protect" message displays. If it does, the stereo has an internal defect and will need to be serviced. If it doesn't, then turn it off, and re-connect one speaker. Turn it on again and see if it displays "protect".

If it works with a single speaker connected, keep re-connecting the others until you identify the speaker that's causing the problem. There may be a wiring problem or defective speaker in that location.

If it displays "protect" with a single speaker connected, then disconnect that one and try a different one. If all the speakers cause a "protect" mode, then you're probably back to a defective head unit, unless your friend managed to blow all your speakers at once.

Thanks,

i have a kenwood kdc-241 car stereo and it has gone onto protect mode i have done everything it says in the manual and even taken it out of the car just in case it was damp i have tried putting it back in but still is in protect mode can anyone help me please

This is really easy to fix. Look on the face plate for a REALLY small hole. Put the tip of a pen in the hole and it should work. This usually means the stereo isn't wired properly so if the PROTECT keeps coming on after you've re-set it, take it to a dealer. To make sure you're everything is in properly. Hope this helps...

one of your speaker wires to the internal amp is shorted. turn power off and make sure they are not touching metal or each other and then hit reset again. if this doesn't help your power ic may be fried inside the stereo or a speaker is shorted.

Turn on the car so the radio is flashing "Protect." Look on the front / removable face of the stereo. On it you will find a small round hole - that's a reset button. Find a small paper clip, unfold the clip and stick it gently into the hole. The "Protect" will stop flashing, and Kenwood will be displayed. Unfortunately all your settings/presets will be gone, but at least the stereo is working again!