240-SX Radio Power Problem

The radio in our 1990 240-SX no longer retains its station presets when the ignition key is turned off. It does retain the settings if the radio is turned off while the ignition key remains on. It's the original factory radio only; no cassette or CD player. I've looked for a blown fuse that might cause this to happen but can't find any. Can anyone suggest how to fix the problem?

Reply to
Mardon
Loading thread data ...

Looking at the wiring diagram for the '91 (yours should be similar if not identical):

The radio is fed by two fuses. They are not numbered in the FSM, just pictures of their location in the fuse box:

  1. The third one from the top on the right side of the fuse block feeds the backup memory which normally holds the presets. This same fuse also feeds all the interior lights and a bunch of other stuff. If the interior lights still work, this is probably not the problem.
  2. The fourth one up from the bottom on the left bank in the fuse block feeds the switched power. If this one is blown, the radio should not work at all.

There is also a 7.5 amp fuse on the back of the radio itself. Appears to be for electronic tuning. You will need to pull out the radio to check it.

If these three fuses are good, then the problem is bad wiring, bad connector on the back of the radio, or internal problem in the radio. If you pull out the radio, probe the center pin directly adjacent to the key on the connector for 12 v. Wire is red/black/ This is the feed for the (always hot) backup fuse. The second fuse should be coming in at the leftmost pin on the same row. Wire is blue. This is switched power. Should have 12V only when the ignition switch is on or in acc position.

I still have the original radio from the '91 in a closet somewhere. The tape drive is dead, but it otherwise still worked when we took it out. Let me know if you need it for parts.

Reply to
E Meyer

E Meyer wrote in news:C2ECFFA0.279A2% snipped-for-privacy@msn.com:

Wow! Thank you very much for the detailed description. The inter lights do work and the radio does work normally as long as the ignition key is not turned off, so it is not the first two fuses you've mentioned. I've also checked those fues in the fuse box and they weemed OK. I did not know about the fuse on the back of the radio. That may very well be the problem. I'll pull the radio and check it. That may take awhile because we're in the middle of a family situation (my father-in-law is in pallative care.) When I do pull it, I'll post the results here so you will know. Thanks for the offer on the radio for parts. We're trying to keep the care 'all original' since I bought it new. The original radio did not have a tape deck. If we had bought it with a tape player, the tape deck would have been a seperate unit that mounted in the console directly below the radio. Hopefully, the 7.5 amp fues will be the solution. If not, your description of the 'always hot' wire is a big help. Many thanks!

Reply to
Mardon

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.