1991 Camaro RS with factory Delco AM/FM/Cassette stereo that I purchased from eBay. Radio had the common no sound from right channel problem when I bought it, sent it out to be professionally rebuilt, worked great for about a month, then I started getting loud static from the right rear channel, even with the volume turned all the way down. Otherwise, the radio functions perfectly. Sent it back to the rebuilder, who tested it several times, but couldn't duplicate the problem. Radio worked great again for another 3 weeks, now getting loud static from the right rear channel again.

I am 100% positive that it's the radio itself. I've had another Delco radio in the car for most of the time I've owned it (both before and after the eBay radio starting having problems), and I've never had the static problem with any other radio. Checked wiring on all harnesses to the back of the radio, and checked wiring on the right rear speaker. All 4 speakers in the car are about 10 months old. Radio still has the static problem even with the antenna completely unplugged.

Does anyone have any experience with this issue? I'm about to make this radio a paperweight, which sucks since it's otherwise near flawless both cosmetically and functionally, and I've got about $280 tied up in it at this point.

 

The right channel ( almost always the rear ) can be a real bitch sometimes. I've worked on some decks and replaced all the capacitors, put it all back together and still static and popping. Then took it all apart again and swapped the right AMP chip with a chip that worked perfect fine when I removed it from the donor, put it all back together and still nothing. As a last ditch effort I even tried replacing the '***** board' with the BALANCE / FADE control - and still nothing. In the end, wasting WAY too much time on a radio that just couldn't be fixed; And it's happened more than once.

Unlike the earlier version of the basic cassette deck radio,... MOST 90-92 radios got a Blaupunkt cassette mechanism. ( Song SEARCH feature ) Because the earlier versions of the UM8 was similar in many other GMs you could steal parts from them if needed to repair them. ASAIK there is only 1 radio that is "similar" to the Camaro 91-92 with the Blaupunkt cassette and that was a Buick radio of the same vintage. The Buick radio looks as if it's exactly the same as the 91-92 Camaro radio ( only with a white face ) but it is not the same. It's wired different internally and also requires a 4th plug for the dash panel back-lighting. You can't really use parts from it, but could swap the Camaro face-plate on it. ( Remember, you'd still have to splice in the 4th plug for the back-lighting to work )

** some early 90 Camaro Radios did NOT have the Blaupunkt cassette mechanism. They were yellow faced, but are designed the same as all other previous Camaro radios with a white face. These were only used for a short time in the 90 cars,..... so if you have one of that type ( 3 buttons on the cassette, FW - Eject - REV ) you might be able to find a cheap GM stock deck from any other GM of similar year/design and swap parts to get your unit working again.

 

Thanks John, glad to know that I'm not the only one who's run into this. I'm thinking of trying a local shop as a last ditch effort on this one before I give up on it, depending on what they want to charge to look at it. Will definitely keep that in mind about the Buick radios though, I think mine's a later one, but certainly worth checking.