Weird electrical problem...

[Fred Wegener]

Hi Folks!
I have a '98 XLE that loses its radio station presets everytime the car is started. I can program them in (in "accessory" mode), turn the ignition switch off, and return later, and they will still be there so long as I don't actually start the engine. The instant I go into the start position, they go away. Any thoughts?

Thanks...Fred

[Fred Wegener]

Anybody? Does the 12volt line to the radio memory route through the ignition switch, rather than going straight to an unswitched 12volt point?
Fred

[zoni]

dude, if you got a wiring harness and hooked it up like the directions said... you shouldnt have any problems. i'd check your wiring... particularly the yellow wire and the red wire. yellow is usually the memory, that needs to be CONSTANT 12 volts, directly to the battery (fused of course!)

but if you use the stock wiring harness plugged into a harness from the autoparts or audio store, you should be fine, as long as you connected all the wires right.

like i said though, the red and yellow wires tend to stay red and yellow along the manufacturer lines for each radio...

[Fred Wegener]

This is the confusing thing; it's an OEM setup that was working fine until about 3 months ago. We haven't modified it at all.
Fred

[zoni]

the wiring harness for the radio prolly has a fuse in the line for the yellow wire... check that out. either that or it has something in there... capacitor, battery, soemthin...

[Fred Wegener]

...it is fused, but, as stated, it works as advertised in the accessory mode, so that pretty well eliminates the fuse possibility. It only loses its mind when the starter is actually engaged.
Fred

[88 LE]

Originally posted by Fred Wegener
...it is fused, but, as stated, it works as advertised in the accessory mode, so that pretty well eliminates the fuse possibility. It only loses its mind when the starter is actually engaged.

This is what I would do:

Hookup a DMM to the +12V constant wire going to the deck.

Turn the key to the start position and watch the meter. It should stay around 12V.