Radio

[MColes]

Fitted a radio into the car and it seems to have a problem. I'll go through what happened step by step

1. Radio was fitted, turned on ignition, radio worked fine.
2. Started car, radio still working
3. 10 - 15 seconds later radio dies
4. Lift the revs and the radio comes back on
5. Life the revs too high and it completely cuts out

Any ideas?

[bmcecosse]

Bad connection ?

[MColes]

Checked all the connections, doesn't seem to be a that.

[RobMoore]

I'm inclined to agree with BMC re lose connection/bad connection. check all your spades or bullets are clean and firm.

[MColes]

I will take another look when I get home, but I'm not convinced it's a loose connection, I will let you know.

[hotrodder13]

mine use to die when i got the revs up and it was caused by not being earthed properly

the wire had come loose and was rubbing the body, then at high revs it would shake off and reset its self

[MColes]

mine use to die when i got the revs up and it was caused by not being earthed properly

Sounds like my problem, another wire to check

[MColes]

Sorted out the problem, I had the live for the radio coming from the ignition live side on the fusebox, I was told it should be on the constant live side and hey-ho it worked

[bmcecosse]

No - that can't have been the problem - would make absolutely no difference!

[hotrodder13]

mine dosnt go on the fusebox at all, just have it connect to the ign so when i turn the key it comes on and when i stop the car it turns off

[MColes]

Well it did, don't know why but it did. I didn't believe it'd work when he suggested it and tried everything else I could think of, the admitted defeat and tried his idea and it worked

[bmcecosse]

Aye - and in doing so - you sorted out the bad connection - which may be the fuse in the fuse holder! The radio should be fused.

[hotrodder13]

10 amp fuse i think but some radios hav a built in one like mine but i did put an inline fuse on

[bmcecosse]

Ideally the fuse should be at the power source - to protect in case the feed wire chaffs through.

[silloyd]

If you have a modern (rather than a classic) radio, then check that your change of connection doesn't give you a flat battery:
The CD/Radio that was in my car when I bought it had been installed incorrectly with both the normal live and the 'memory' live connected together and to a permanent live - it used to flatten the battery overnight!! When connected properly (normal live via ignition and memory live to permanent live) it keeps its settings and doesn't flatten the battery.

BTW I had a similar working/not working (depending on revs) problem with one headlight that I traced to a bad earth. I'm with the other advice here that it's probably down to a poor connection somewhere. Could have been that the original connection to the ignition live side on the fusebox was poor and the new connection is better, try cleaning and reconnecting via the ignition.

[hotrodder13]

so an inline fuse then right before the wire goes into the radio

[bmcecosse]

Ideally - an inline fuse right at the power source from the car's system !

[PSL184]

I'm in the same camp too - Live is live - - the radio don't know if its ign fed or otherwise. Poor connection WAS at the fusebox for sure. Put an inline fuse in if nothing else to make sure you don't get any nasty shorts....

[MColes]

Well I tried moving the connection back over onto ignition live and once again, when the revs are lifted, the radio starts to fade out. Moved it back onto the contstant live and it works fine

[PSL184]

Well done - you have proved the fusebox is faulty