Radio not working in the '87 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

bpeters5814 · 03-24-2012, 11:07 AM

Well, that's not entirely true. It'll work for awhile, then I'll hit a bump and it'll quit, then I'll hit another bump and it'll come back on. I'm guessing a ground or connection somewhere? Any pointers on taking the radio out and what to look for? TIA

BMERDOC · 03-24-2012, 11:25 AM

Have you checked the connection on the back of the radio? Follow the harness and see if you spot any chaffed wires making contact with metal.

motornut · 03-24-2012, 05:27 PM

check the actual plastic plug try bypassing the power(+-) part of it
mine was doing that ,only checking power along plug wire did i find that out

bpeters5814 · 03-24-2012, 06:20 PM

Ran out of time today to look. Hopefully I'll get it looked at soon. Thanks for the tips guys.

DetroitIron · 03-24-2012, 10:18 PM

Subscribing...I have the same issue with my 85....Thanks

86 K-10 · 03-25-2012, 07:37 AM

mine was doing this as well until i added a new ground strap to the front of the motor to the frame; however, i had some other issues going on as well so yours may be as simple as running a new ground wire to your radio. in either case, it definitely sounds like you have a bad ground somewhere.

DetroitIron · 07-27-2012, 04:02 PM

I know this is an older thread, but I have been dealing with this on my stock AM/FM/Cassette stereo in my truck and fixed it finally. Specifically, my sound/power to the radio would be fine for a few weeks and then I hit a bump and it would start to cut in and out. By reaching up under the dash recently to where the radio harness plugs into the back of the radio, I could get it to crackle by jiggling the portion of the plug that has the power/ground. Here's what I did to essentially tighten the connection and fixed the problem. Over time the metal connections inside the plug get flattened out to the point that the connection is loose. I used a very small flathead screwdriver to carefully pry the metal tab inside the plug open. I made sure not to overly stress the little prongs to close the gap inside the plug for all the wires. I could tell the difference when I put the plugs back in...ie very snug and snapped tightly back into the back of the radio. Works like new now. PS- Make sure you disconnect the negative battery cable. Hope this helps others chasing this annoying crackle.

**Joesjunk** · 07-28-2012, 09:23 AM

Mine does the same thing....my old 85 did this same thing too.

03-24-2012, 11:07 AM	#1
bpeters5814 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Worms, Nebraska Posts: 304	Radio not working in the '87 Well, that's not entirely true. It'll work for awhile, then I'll hit a bump and it'll quit, then I'll hit another bump and it'll come back on. I'm guessing a ground or connection somewhere? Any pointers on taking the radio out and what to look for? TIA __________________ '88 Chevy K3500 (Grandpa's Bomb) '94 Chevy K2500

03-24-2012, 11:25 AM	#2
BMERDOC Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Richmond,Va Posts: 2,934	Re: Radio not working in the '87 Have you checked the connection on the back of the radio? Follow the harness and see if you spot any chaffed wires making contact with metal. __________________ Nick Carter 1967 C10 Short bed Fleetside Project Cheap Thrills! 2WD C10 Modern/Performance Alignments Easiest Alignment Ever!

03-24-2012, 05:27 PM	#3
motornut 78K & 79C Jimmys Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ottawa Ont CANADA Posts: 7,901	Re: Radio not working in the '87 check the actual plastic plug try bypassing the power(+-) part of it mine was doing that ,only checking power along plug wire did i find that out __________________ John 1978 GMCJimmy4X4-350/203 1979 GMCJimmy4X2-305/350

03-24-2012, 06:20 PM	#4
bpeters5814 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Worms, Nebraska Posts: 304	Re: Radio not working in the '87 Ran out of time today to look. Hopefully I'll get it looked at soon. Thanks for the tips guys. __________________ '88 Chevy K3500 (Grandpa's Bomb) '94 Chevy K2500

03-24-2012, 10:18 PM	#5
DetroitIron Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hudsonville, MI Posts: 174	Re: Radio not working in the '87 Subscribing...I have the same issue with my 85....Thanks __________________ _______________________________________________ 1985 Chevy Scottsdale K20 350 with 700R4 running 3.42 gearing aka "The Honey Badger" 1993 Silverado C3500 Ext. Cab Dually 6.5 turbo diesel

03-25-2012, 07:37 AM	#6
86 K-10 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Camp Lejeune, NC Posts: 169	Re: Radio not working in the '87 mine was doing this as well until i added a new ground strap to the front of the motor to the frame; however, i had some other issues going on as well so yours may be as simple as running a new ground wire to your radio. in either case, it definitely sounds like you have a bad ground somewhere. __________________ 1985 Chevrolet K-10, SWB, 350/700r4, 6" Lift, 35" tires

07-27-2012, 04:02 PM	#7
DetroitIron Registered User Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hudsonville, MI Posts: 174	Re: Radio not working in the '87 I know this is an older thread, but I have been dealing with this on my stock AM/FM/Cassette stereo in my truck and fixed it finally. Specifically, my sound/power to the radio would be fine for a few weeks and then I hit a bump and it would start to cut in and out. By reaching up under the dash recently to where the radio harness plugs into the back of the radio, I could get it to crackle by jiggling the portion of the plug that has the power/ground. Here's what I did to essentially tighten the connection and fixed the problem. Over time the metal connections inside the plug get flattened out to the point that the connection is loose. I used a very small flathead screwdriver to carefully pry the metal tab inside the plug open. I made sure not to overly stress the little prongs to close the gap inside the plug for all the wires. I could tell the difference when I put the plugs back in...ie very snug and snapped tightly back into the back of the radio. Works like new now. PS- Make sure you disconnect the negative battery cable. Hope this helps others chasing this annoying crackle. __________________ _______________________________________________ 1985 Chevy Scottsdale K20 350 with 700R4 running 3.42 gearing aka "The Honey Badger" 1993 Silverado C3500 Ext. Cab Dually 6.5 turbo diesel

07-28-2012, 09:23 AM	#8
Joesjunk Senior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Independence MO. Posts: 7,705	Re: Radio not working in the '87 Mine does the same thing....my old 85 did this same thing too. __________________ 72 3/4t Custom Deluxe 402/auto 66k Original paint 71 3/4t 4x4 Custom Deluxe 10k original miles Original paint 71 3/4t Cheyenne 402 70k original paint 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 72 3/4t 4x4 Custom deluxe 91k original paint 72 Cheyenne/30 Dually 69 Camaro SS396 4-speed 13 GMC 2500HD Duramax I bought new 05 Jeep Wrangler "Willys Edition" 12k miles (I bought new) 85 3/4 ton 4x4 Scottsdale 33k miles original paint 86 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 454 restored 80 1 ton 4x4 SRW Silverado 9,434 original miles!! original paint 95 GMC 1 ton dually 4x4 my dad bought new 95 GMC 3/4 ton 4x4, regular cab 454, 31k original miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 6.0L 67k miles 2002 2500HD 4x4 regular cab 8.1L 28k miles 2003 GMC 2500HD 4x4 regular cab Diesel 93k miles 67-72 Parts for sale

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.