2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Radio/Clock

[EJ]

We have a 1996 2500. For the last year or so the radio at times does not work. It acts like it has no power, (no light, no clock). It may stay off for a day or two or a month. Then it works fine. It does not go on and off while driving. It either works or does not at starting.

 

[BK]

is is a stock radio or aftermarket?

anything else loose power?

 

[EJ]

It is a stock radio and nothing else loses power.

 

[BK]

Have you pulled the dash panel out and radio to check the connector?



on my 99, the dash pulls right off. then a few scews for the cup holder and your at the radio.

On the 96' I think there are a few scews somewhere holding on the dash panel.



Since you only loose the stock radio, it could only be the connectors or the switch in the radio (or some wire or pcb land in the radio).



If you pull the fuse for the radio, does anything else go out?

Have your tried wiggling the fuse?





I had a ford probe I worked on with the flashers working and not working every so often. It turned out to be a bad fuse socket in the fuse block.

 

[EJ]

I checked the fuse, it is ok and nothing else goes out when I pull the fuse. I will check the wires and pull the dash pannel as soon as the weather cools off. We are in Las cruces, NM, and it is too hot to work on it now. I will have a garage as soon as our house is done, that will help. As usual, the radio worked fine every time I took it in to be checked while it was under warranty. Now that the 100,000 mile warranty is up, it has stopped working again. There is any article in issue 18 of the TDR on radio problems, but my copy is packed away in Virginia. We will get that when we move our stuff out here.



Thanks for you help.

 

[stumphumper]

Hi, I’m a new TDR member and trying to learn how to thread out what little I know.

My 95 radio was possessed also, off/on when ever it wanted to! Took it to the stealers and got …out of warranty by 100miles. They did provide me with the shops address where they would of got it repaired. I yanked it out and took it to their repair shop for an estimate. Next day they told me it would cost $150. 00 bucks. I asked them what they would have to do to it that would cost $150 and they point out a potentiometer that would have to be replaced. I said no thanks, for that much I’ll buy a new one. I took it home and noted the position of the screwdriver slot on the pot and turned it right/left a couple of turns while spraying it with contact cleaner. Carbon buildup on a pot that controls the voltage to your radio, I guess. My clock doesn’t keep exact time but the tunes are back. I think the potentiometer was under the radio case toward the front on the left side. Hope this works for you

 

[JohnE]

Factory radio in our 98 Caravan does the same thing as EJ described. I don't think it is the rear side connections because it holds the presets on the tuner buttons. I've been looking for an excuse to change it out.



#1 troubleshooting method is to resolder all the joints. Sometimes it takes years for a cold joint to give you trouble.



diesel on

-John