Delco ETR Radio

[Liberty]

The old school "Factory" Delco I put in my truck awhile back stopped turning the dial today, so as a replacement I purchased a Delco ETR unit from EvilBay.

So to you guys I ask, is there anything I need to know about these ETR units? I know they have an additional plug that I need to figure out how to hook up.

[RandyP]

They are the best radio made during the squarebody generation really if you don't count the 90/91 suburban radios. I replaced my radio with one. Had it overhauled at a local radio repair shop for like $50 (new LEDs and rebuilt the cassette player). The extra wires are for constant power if I remember, so the clock and presets don't get lost when you turn the key off. There are wire diagrams all over the net for them.

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by RandyP

The extra wires are for constant power if I remember, so the clock and presets don't get lost when you turn the key off.

Yes, the orange wire on the additional 2-wire plug should be connected to a constant power source. I don't think these ETR units will even power on if that orange wire is not connected.

The brown wire on the additional plug is used as a "lights on" signal to dim the display. It should be connected to the parking light circuit. The gray "dial light" wire (on the same plug as the yellow "switched power" and black "ground" wires) is still used as a "display intensity" signal.

And as long as you have a 78 or newer truck, the other connectors for the power, ground, and speaker wires should be a direct plug-in. 73-77 trucks can still use the ETR stereo with a swap to the 78+ connectors.

[motornut]

I got real lucky and found a working CB cassette unit.
had trim the metal dash a little
found two types of the "extra" plug (orange/brown wire),but the wires will swap

[Liberty]

Thanks for the help so far guys! Radio is set to arrive on Saturday, so weather pending I hope to get it installed this weekend.

[Liberty]

Radio powers up, display works, tape player amazingly works. However the tuner does not work, at all. Doesn't show frequency and can't change bands. I'm not sure what exactly is wrong with the tuning section.

[ray_mcavoy]

Originally Posted by Liberty

Radio powers up, display works, tape player amazingly works. However the tuner does not work, at all. Doesn't show frequency and can't change bands. I'm not sure what exactly is wrong with the tuning section.

Well that's a bummer!

What (if anything) is shown on the display when you attempt to use the tuner?

I think there is an internal switch on the tape player mechanism that turns the tuner off and switches over to the tape player when a cassette is inserted. It might be something as simple as that switch not working correctly and preventing the tuner from being turned back on when the cassette is ejected.

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by ray_mcavoy

Well that's a bummer!

What (if anything) is shown on the display when you attempt to use the tuner?

I think there is an internal switch on the tape player mechanism that turns the tuner off and switches over to the tape player when a cassette is inserted. It might be something as simple as that switch not working correctly and preventing the tuner from being turned back on when the cassette is ejected.

Tuner will only display a goofy time. I did find by spraying contact cleaner into the tuning knob the radio will function normally for a short while. I gotta admit, when the radio does work it sounds fantastic.
I'm talking to a radio repair shop to get it fixed.

[motornut]

Hope you can get it fixed, but check,some don't display properly unless all connections are good.
For testing I'd just apply 12vdc to both the rear brown/orange plug.
Sometimes the copper path in the plug can loosen up, crack.

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by motornut

Hope you can get it fixed, but check,some don't display properly unless all connections are good.
For testing I'd just apply 12vdc to both the rear brown/orange plug.
Sometimes the copper path in the plug can loosen up, crack.

Tried that, the display won't actually work without the orange hooked up.

It WILL Display Time/Frequency when working properly. The Contact cleaner will make it function 100% for a short amount of time, so this leads me to believe its fixable. There's probably a few loose connections, bad solder points, and worn out switches that need tending to.

Again the most surprising thisng is the tape deck works, auto reverse and all. Occasionally it will get confused and switch directions non stop until I shut it off and eject.

[motornut]

Originally Posted by Liberty

Tried that, the display won't actually work without the orange hooked up.

It WILL Display Time/Frequency when working properly. The Contact cleaner will make it function 100% for a short amount of time, so this leads me to believe its fixable. There's probably a few loose connections, bad solder points, and worn out switches that need tending to.

Again the most surprising thisng is the tape deck works, auto reverse and all. Occasionally it will get confused and switch directions non stop until I shut it off and eject.

I think mine changes time/station pushing the right knob in,(dirt maybe?)my cass does that too

[Liberty]

Finally got the radio back from repairs and installed.

[Jrgunn5150]

Well I just learned something new, that looks great! Can it be modified at all?

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by Jrgunn5150

Well I just learned something new, that looks great! Can it be modified at all?

Theres a few modifications you can do to these like adding an auxiliary input, change the display to red, add AM Stereo.

[rustyescott]

where did you take it to be repaired and cost

[Liberty]

Originally Posted by rustyescott

where did you take it to be repaired and cost

Transamradio.com is where I got it fixed.
Mine needed quite a bit of work so it cost me around $300.

I think their typical repair starts at $60.

It comes with a 5 year warranty, so the cost doesn't seem so bad.

[rustyescott]

thx

[Jeepwm69]

Originally Posted by Liberty

Finally got the radio back from repairs and installed.

You know, that looks just like the radio in our 1987 Buick station wagon. Now that I think about it, one of those Buick station wagons we had in the 80's had a CB option with the factory stereo.

That would be a cool radio to have in an old square.

I've got a factory AM/FM/CB that I found NOS to go in one of my Jeeps.