89 740gl radio

My FM is almost stuffed too - are the radios supposed to be good quality or is this common? Never had a car radio "wear out" before however junky.

Sounds like there has become a need to check on all the electrical connectors associated with the radio (and amplifier if fitted) and aerial.

Cheers, Peter.

Hi Peter-

I've had the radio out and checked it as well as I could. As far as I can tell, it's an internal issue. Like I said, if I apply pressure to the tuning knob, the FM sometimes works. May be a grounding problem inside the radio. I've searched the newsgroup archives and got some good ideas to check this weekend.

Hi Peter-

I've had the radio out and checked it as well as I could. As far as I can tell, it's an internal issue. Like I said, if I apply pressure to the tuning knob, the FM sometimes works. May be a grounding problem inside the radio. I've searched the newsgroup archives and got some good ideas to check this weekend.

I disassembled the one from our 960, and while it looks like there was a clever design to engineering the radio the components weren't the best (tho you can't tell by looking at them of course, but they did fail)... We lost FM as well, then tape deck, then the volume knob crackled like crazy and speakers would cut out... Got the radio from an 850 from a salvage yard and no problems, 30 bucks.

I have found contact cleaner in an aerosol can works wonders for stereo's,particularly withproblems associated with the volume controls, when they become "scratchy" and cause stastic type noises when being adjusted.

It's readily available fromplaces like Radio Shack, Home Depot, electronics parts houses, etc.

Sometimes they have what's called TV Tuner spray, which is the same, but may also have lubricants to protect it further.

Be sure it says "safe for plastics" on the label somewhere otherwise it wil stain the outside of your radio knobs/plastic trim plates around the radio.

Dust gets into the controls, and causes connection problems in volume controls and switches, this is where the contact cleaner comes in and saves the day, it's not too far gone.

This doesn't sound like a case of dirty controls, more likely the circuit board has some cracked solder joints, wedging the knob flexes the board enough that they make contact.