Help, please: 1983 Cressida radio problem

Help, please... I love my '83 Cressida... it runs very well...
almost everything works... the problem I'd like to fix is that the
radio doesn't remember the stations when the ignition is turned off.
If I turn off the radio while driving, then turn it on again, the
memorized stations are still there, but not after the engine is
re-started. It's the stock AM/FM/Cassette with equalizer.

I've got the wiring diagram... it has the 5-pin "A" connector and the
9-pin "B" connector. The B3 pin is hot when the ignition is on (I
assume that's power to the radio) and the A4 pin is hot Always (even
when the ignition is off). I would think that that A4 pin should
supply the power to remember the radio stations.

Is the problem Inside the radio? I'd rather not take it apart, but I
will if you tell me of something specific that I could check out. Any
clues?

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

"Mark246" <Mark246@email.com> wrote in message
news:1160450506.211626.158820@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Help, please... I love my '83 Cressida... it runs very well...
> almost everything works... the problem I'd like to fix is that the
> radio doesn't remember the stations when the ignition is turned off.
> If I turn off the radio while driving, then turn it on again, the
> memorized stations are still there, but not after the engine is
> re-started. It's the stock AM/FM/Cassette with equalizer.
>
> I've got the wiring diagram... it has the 5-pin "A" connector and the
> 9-pin "B" connector. The B3 pin is hot when the ignition is on (I
> assume that's power to the radio) and the A4 pin is hot Always (even
> when the ignition is off). I would think that that A4 pin should
> supply the power to remember the radio stations.
>
> Is the problem Inside the radio? I'd rather not take it apart, but I
> will if you tell me of something specific that I could check out. Any
> clues?
>
> Thanks in advance for any ideas.
>[/color]


I don't know about Toyotas, but my old lincoln has a fuse that controled
this. Until I replaced the fuse I had no radio memory.

On Mon, 09 Oct 2006 20:21:46 -0700, Mark246 wrote:
[color=blue]
> Help, please... I love my '83 Cressida... it runs very well...
> almost everything works... the problem I'd like to fix is that the
> radio doesn't remember the stations when the ignition is turned off.
> If I turn off the radio while driving, then turn it on again, the
> memorized stations are still there, but not after the engine is
> re-started. It's the stock AM/FM/Cassette with equalizer.
>
> I've got the wiring diagram... it has the 5-pin "A" connector and the
> 9-pin "B" connector. The B3 pin is hot when the ignition is on (I
> assume that's power to the radio) and the A4 pin is hot Always (even
> when the ignition is off). I would think that that A4 pin should
> supply the power to remember the radio stations.
>
> Is the problem Inside the radio? I'd rather not take it apart, but I
> will if you tell me of something specific that I could check out. Any
> clues?
>
> Thanks in advance for any ideas.[/color]

You've done well, my son! ;)

Now, the question is, did you discerne that the wires are hot when you
looked at the wiring diagram, or did you measure them with a meter?!

If you measured them with a meter, and the A4 pin has 12V with the
ignition OFF, then the problem is porbably in the radio. One more
question, though: did you ohm out the Ground wires? Even though the
chassis will ground the radio, that particular circuit may be isolated
from the chassis (I don't see why, but who knows why engineers do things
the way they do?)

Ckeck that, and also check the radio to see if there are any fuses on it.
Some of them had a fuse in the back under the connector, but most of them
have internal, soldered-in fuses that require "Servicing by a qualified
technician" :)

Perhaps I may be able to be persuaded to part with the same radio from my
Supra. Let me know how you make out. I like to keep stuff that came with
the car, just so I can say it's 'complete', but I'm never going to use it!

I went to the Evil Wal*Mart and bought a 'harness' for Toyotas, and
installed a JVC AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with an Alpine EQ.

Beats the crap out of the Stock radio!

Hachiroku wrote:[color=blue]
>
> You've done well, my son! ;)
>[/color]

Thanks for the discussion, people.

Mr. Insanity... According to the wiring diagram, the wire that's
always Hot is hooked up to the 15 amp fuse that also runs the horn.
The horn works, so I don't think that's the problem. Like I said, that
wire has electricity going to it all the time.

Dad... (hehe)... no meter used... I used alligator clips to hook up
a 12v light bulb. Yes, the A4 pin has electricity (how many
volts/watts?... I dunno') when the key is off.

"Ohm out the ground wires"? I'm not sure what that means, but the
wiring diagram says that the B7 pin is supposed to be grounded... So I
hooked up the alligator clips and light bulb to A4 and B7... it works,
so B7 apparently is grounded.

Can't find any fuses on the radio. I think I could replace an internal
soldered-in fuse... I guess it's time to open it up, eh?

Yes,... I'm sure a new radio would sound infinately better, but I'm a
cheap bastard... why else would I be drivin' an '83 Toyota!? (hehe)

Any other clues? Thanks again, people.

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 10:27:10 -0700, Mark246 wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> Hachiroku wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> You've done well, my son! ;)
>>[/color]
>
> Thanks for the discussion, people.
>
> Mr. Insanity... According to the wiring diagram, the wire that's
> always Hot is hooked up to the 15 amp fuse that also runs the horn.
> The horn works, so I don't think that's the problem. Like I said, that
> wire has electricity going to it all the time.
>
> Dad... (hehe)... no meter used... I used alligator clips to hook up
> a 12v light bulb. Yes, the A4 pin has electricity (how many
> volts/watts?... I dunno') when the key is off.[/color]

Dad? (!)!
Is rthat like when the youger guys at the 'Club' used to call me 'Pops'?


[color=blue]
>
> "Ohm out the ground wires"? I'm not sure what that means, but the
> wiring diagram says that the B7 pin is supposed to be grounded... So I
> hooked up the alligator clips and light bulb to A4 and B7... it works,
> so B7 apparently is grounded.[/color]

Yeah, I'd say so...
[color=blue]
>
> Can't find any fuses on the radio. I think I could replace an internal
> soldered-in fuse... I guess it's time to open it up, eh?[/color]


This is an educated guess. You can get the radio repaired (actually,
probably swapped out) for $75 from United Radio.

[color=blue]
>
> Yes,... I'm sure a new radio would sound infinately better, but I'm a
> cheap bastard... why else would I be drivin' an '83 Toyota!? (hehe)
>
> Any other clues? Thanks again, people.[/color]


Go ta Wal*Mart and pick up a $35 radio to boot!

"Mark246" <Mark246@email.com> wrote in message
news:1160501230.748433.268210@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> Hachiroku wrote:[color=green]
>>
>> You've done well, my son! ;)
>>[/color]
>
> Thanks for the discussion, people.
>
> Mr. Insanity... According to the wiring diagram, the wire that's
> always Hot is hooked up to the 15 amp fuse that also runs the horn.
> The horn works, so I don't think that's the problem. Like I said, that
> wire has electricity going to it all the time.
>
> Dad... (hehe)... no meter used... I used alligator clips to hook up
> a 12v light bulb. Yes, the A4 pin has electricity (how many
> volts/watts?... I dunno') when the key is off.
>
> "Ohm out the ground wires"? I'm not sure what that means, but the
> wiring diagram says that the B7 pin is supposed to be grounded... So I
> hooked up the alligator clips and light bulb to A4 and B7... it works,
> so B7 apparently is grounded.
>
> Can't find any fuses on the radio. I think I could replace an internal
> soldered-in fuse... I guess it's time to open it up, eh?
>
> Yes,... I'm sure a new radio would sound infinately better, but I'm a
> cheap bastard... why else would I be drivin' an '83 Toyota!? (hehe)
>
> Any other clues? Thanks again, people.
>[/color]

You are on the right track. Next step is to open up the radio and follow
the circuit from A4.
--

Ray O
(correct punctuation to reply)

You called me "Son", so I called you "Dad" (hehe) Heck,... I'm
probly older than you, anyway.

A $35 Wallymart radio is a possible solution, but I'd rather get this
original thing working.

Mr. Ray,... I opened it up... all of the pins from the A and B
connectors go directly to a PC board. It would be a real tricky
operation for me to try to further track that circuit. Would that
really result in any progress, or just parts that I would have a hard
time re-assembling?

Couldn't see any fuses inside, either.

Any other clues? Thanks, y'all.

On Tue, 10 Oct 2006 11:21:34 -0700, Mark246 wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> You called me "Son", so I called you "Dad" (hehe) Heck,... I'm
> probly older than you, anyway.[/color]

LOL! Ah, yes! So I did!


[color=blue]
>
> A $35 Wallymart radio is a possible solution, but I'd rather get this
> original thing working.
>
> Mr. Ray,... I opened it up... all of the pins from the A and B
> connectors go directly to a PC board. It would be a real tricky
> operation for me to try to further track that circuit. Would that
> really result in any progress, or just parts that I would have a hard
> time re-assembling?
>
> Couldn't see any fuses inside, either.
>
> Any other clues? Thanks, y'all.[/color]


Wow...I'd be looking for a burnt resistor, or a capacitor that ain't
capacatin'!
and, a fuse on the ckt board will look like a resistor, so your trusty
OHM meter is a vauled item!

Chances are a soldered in fuse will be white, light green or beige, and
will look like a resistor, except it will have one distinct, sharp bulge
at each end (unlike a resistor, which has a smooth hour-glass shape) and
should ohm out to Zero if good, or infinite if bad.

If this is it, it's a $0.99 fix!