The radio in my '92 Dodge Shadow is not working correctly. (For all instances of "it stops working" or "it doesn't work", the radio and clock are off and the unit appears dead.) Sometimes when I turn the car on, it doesn't work. Sometimes it will start working after driving for a little while (radio switched off). Sometimes it will appear to be fine, but it dies when I try to turn on the radio. Finally, sometimes it works correctly.
I am pretty sure the radio in the car is the original radio that came with the car. Does anyone have any suggestions on what I could do to remedy the problem?
In several places "it" is not really clear if you are referring to the radio or your car in general. For example:
(06-03-2010 04:09 PM)RWenger Wrote: [ -> ]Sometimes when I turn the car on, it doesn't work.
Does "it"=car or does "it"=radio?
We need to be clear. Also wouldn't this be better in a support section?
"It" was always used in reference to the radio. The car is fine.
Considering that we don't really have a automotive support section, I believe that this section is fine for automotive support topics.
I would check the fuse, and replace. Check all connections on the head unit for tight fit. Could be something internal like bad capacitor. Usually going aftermarket for a new head unit is cheaper, and yields better audio quality...
Remember that I am almost completely car-illiterate. I discovered the other day when trying to work on mine that cars and computers are not similar.
What I did the other day was pull the radio out and check the connections on the back of it. I assume that's what you mean by checking the connections on the head unit.
I will check the fuse. I actually know something about fuses since I worked with them a lot when I was doing robotics.
EDIT: But with the radio working correctly part of the time, wouldn't that mean that the fuse is still good?
No there's multiple reasons a fuse could be going bad but still functioning occasionally, or other issues effecting the fuse. There could be corrosion on the contact points. The fuse could be loose. The fast burn section of the fuse could be partially burnt allowing electrical transfer only at low amperage, or initially before heat builds up.