AM Radio Stopped Working...Repairable?

[harrydunn]

I've got the radio out which wasn't too bad really even with A/C. I tested it and I've got power at the radio. It stopped working last week. No sound, no lights. Is there any complex troubleshooting or is it time for a "new" one off of eBay? I've seen a few period-correct AM radios on there. I'm tempted to get a look-alike digital FM that I've seen for sale but I think I'll keep the original look with another AM.

I did rip the center a/c vent duct but it looks like I can pick up some 2" at AutoZone unless anybody has a better supplier.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/acc...er=218605_0_0_

Thanks.

[JimKshortstep4x4]

The radios are repairable but you can probably get another AM radio cheaper then repairing yours.

I am currious as to how you tested the radio as you mentioned that the light did not come on. Did you check the bulb?

Most AM radios that I have seen over the years work. They take a little time to warm up and the ground has to be good as well as the antenna.

Around this area we only have one AM station!

Jim

[harrydunn]

I'm getting power to the red wire that is plugged into the radio. Radio is dead as dead can be. No lights, no clicking at all when I turn the knob to ON, nothing.

[TBONE1964]

These AM radios are always available on the parts board here for under $100.00 working condition with an excellent face. The most important thing to remember is to use an 8 ohm speaker. Any thing else will damage the radio.

You can check the speaker with a DVOM and make sure it is actually 8 ohm. If the speaker is original you have to consider that it is 40 + years old and they just don't have the shelf life.

Contact Dave (DND Trucks) a member on here for a speaker if needed. You can buy an new 8 ohm speaker at radio shack for under $10.00 just to test. Make sure as JimKshortstep4x4 mentioned, you have a good ground. If the speaker is good, they will make noise even without an antenna.

[LockDoc]

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I'm with Jim. I'm betting it's the speaker instead of the radio. I know the radios die once in a while but in my experience it is usually the speaker.

There are a couple of speaker options in this thread if you decide to go that way...

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=589314

LockDoc

[harrydunn]

So, the fact that I'm getting no light at the radio can still point to a faulty speaker? I can understand that not getting sound could be a bad speaker but it could cause no light too? Do all of my tests need to be done connected to a speaker even to test the light? I wouldn't think so. All I'm getting when I turn the knob to ON is quick "pop" at the speaker. No constant sound and no light on the radio face.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by harrydunn

So, the fact that I'm getting no light at the radio can still point to a faulty speaker? I can understand that not getting sound could be a bad speaker but it could cause no light too? Do all of my tests need to be done connected to a speaker even to test the light? I wouldn't think so. All I'm getting when I turn the knob to ON is quick "pop" at the speaker. No constant sound and no light on the radio face.

The light doesn't work in two of my radios but the radios work. The only way to know for sure is to try another known good radio, another known good speaker, or find someone that repairs old radios and have them test it...

LockDoc

[harrydunn]

Found a nice original AM for a great price from Bob Vidan out of Washington. Big Pontiac parts guy but he also has bunches of radios for sale. Nice guy to boot.

[slikside]

subscribed.

[cdowns]

Originally Posted by harrydunn

I'm getting power to the red wire that is plugged into the radio. Radio is dead as dead can be. No lights, no clicking at all when I turn the knob to ON, nothing.

no ground you get nothing this is after all a two pole electric system// gettin the electric to the appliance is but half the job

[harrydunn]

Originally Posted by cdowns

no ground you get nothing this is after all a two pole electric system// gettin the electric to the appliance is but half the job

Yep, I had it grounded.

Quick update guys:

Got Bob's radio delivered today in record time from Washington state. Thanks, Bob! We're back in business with sound and the backlight. I'm buttoning things up now. I guess the old radio had been slowly dying because the new one sounds so much better. Kind of bittersweet that the old radio no longer works as I remember my grandpa cruising around listening to it for the past 40 years. I may have it repaired one of these days.

For giggles, I pulled the speaker since I was already in there and it is stamped as 4 ohms? Everything I've read said these should be 8 ohm speakers? I pulled out my multimeter and sure enough, it is reading 3.9 - 4.0 ohms.

[Carl Spangler]

Originally Posted by harrydunn

Yep, I had it grounded.

Quick update guys:

Got Bob's radio delivered today in record time from Washington state. Thanks, Bob! We're back in business with sound and the backlight. I'm buttoning things up now. I guess the old radio had been slowly dying because the new one sounds so much better. Kind of bittersweet that the old radio no longer works as I remember my grandpa cruising around listening to it for the past 40 years. I may have it repaired one of these days.

For giggles, I pulled the speaker since I was already in there and it is stamped as 4 ohms? Everything I've read said these should be 8 ohm speakers? I pulled out my multimeter and sure enough, it is reading 3.9 - 4.0 ohms.

The 'impedance' of that speaker is likely well north of 4 ohms. Speaker impedance is a combination of the DC resistance (which you measured) and AC reactance (which you did not measure).

cheers
Johng

[hamjet]

Could be thats what did the radio in. if I remember right on the radio itself its stamped it has to be 8 0hms. if not correct it will takeout the power transister on the back.

[mgchevyparts]

If I owned an am radio the only way I would know it wasn't working would be due to the lack of static noise.

[harrydunn]

It worked for 41 years so I'm going to just leave it in there. I have a portable FM radio I listen to anyways. The AM if just for originality at shows.