Homer

Folks..in the last week, my stereo has no power intermittently. Shut off on the way to work yesterday, 5 mins into drive, on the way home it came on. This has happened a few times. Doesn't seem to be the result of bumps.

I don't seem to lose the pre-sets so the I assume the "always 12v" is there?
The lighter has power, while the radio doesn't.

I suspect either the ignition switch, radio relay or the connection at the block. Any thoughts on chasing the gremlin? Has anyone had probs with the releay before?

http://www.pelicanparts.com/944/elec...944_84_3_1.jpg

Here is the pelican site wiring. Am I right in assuming that the lighter would have no power if the main power to the radio relay was not there? Then I would be safe to assume that the igntion switch is ok? I am going to pull and re-seat the relay as a first step. Thoughts?
ps. Not factory stereo, it was replaced with an Alpine unit by seamingly qualified techs, 6-7 years ago.

84-944
Ottawa, Canada

xsboost90

there is a contant and a switched wire. I'd bet the switched wire either has a bad connection, or the ignition switch is moving around-messed up. I would pull the radio and see if your wires are loose.

bearone

if it holds the presets it's powered and might be a radio problem.

87951

KY944S

Check the ground. Mine did the exact same thing.

mtccl

Is it an original radio?

Mine did this and then just died.

CarbonRevo

Mine will hold presets even if I disconnect the battery.

I'm also having troubles with mine. It's draining my battery (a little) and it sucks. I have a couple loose wires back there un-taped...and I'm sure it blew a fuse somewhere (or so I hope).

Before, I hadn't reconnected the ground wire, which was a PITA. It's simple to take it all out. It'll be getting replaced here shortly though anyways.

Homer

Its an alpine aftermarket, I have verified there is no power to the unit when its not working. I believe the power comes from fuse 7.

Where is the the "radio relay"? its an 84..

Trying to follow the wiring is tough, lying on your back

Homer

it seems to be the relay..coil gets switched power when you put the key in, doesn't actuate the relay. Jump the relay..powers up fine.

It is intermittent..guess I could rewire it with another relay or just order a new $100 relay.

anyone have one lying around?

TheMAXX

This may sound like a strange question but does your electric sunroof work. It uses the same relay on a 1984. I got a replacement relay from a newer car and the newer ones don’t supply the power to the radio thru the relay. Since the power to the relay is switched (thru the ignition) anyway I bypassed the relay to power the radio. I don’t know why they have it going thru the relay on an 84. I also don’t know what other years work this way

Homer

not strange at all, yes the sunroof still functioned. If you look at the sunroof circuit, it seems it is a transistor that either drives to ground or biases another circuit (likely a motor control on the sunroof motor) depending on the position of the sunroof switch (up/down).

The single pole relay for the radio seems completely seperate in function within the relay. I would suspect that the energizer circuit of mine (R) goes to a higher resistance and does not pass enough current to activate the relay (CLoses pole 30 to 1) or the relay windings are going high resistance and not being energized.
( my electronics degree has been wasted on too much software these days :-) ) In any case, after I put the relay back in, the radio has not shut off (yet?). I'll give it a few days before I order a new one, could possibly not been seated well after 20+ years. BTW $94-103 US$ for a new one.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/944/elec...84_sunroof.jpg