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Fixing Factory Radios?

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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 10:14 AM
  #1  
Rareform92's Avatar
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From: Poughkeepsie, NY
Fixing Factory Radios?

Anyone out there know if someone fixs the factory Delco Radios. My 92 Formula has a factory CD player and it works fine except that the CD no longer ejects out, but the CD still plays. I also have problems with another radio which no longer plays the cassette, but its a factory EQ radio which I would like to keep. Any help? Thanks.
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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 10:23 AM
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From: Readsboro, VT
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Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
National Radio in Syracuse NY can fix them, but the old Delco radios are pure trash and are guaranteed to fail again.

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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 10:44 AM
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From: Batesville, AR 72501 USA
Car: '88 Bright Red GTA UPC 81U
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Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">but the old Delco radios are pure trash and are guaranteed to fail again.</font>
Now, Jim..... you're getting on us "original Delco" guys pretty hard, there...... HaHa!

I have always had mine serviced through my local GM dealer, who uses a Delco service center in Dallas, TX. I guess that is the closest center from our area.

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The GTA Source Page
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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 12:48 PM
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From: Poughkeepsie, NY
Thanks for the reply, I will check with the local dealer to see what they do as far as sending them out. As for the Delco radios being junk that is a personal opinion but I've had my 92 Formuls since 95 and this is the first problem with it. Like I said the CD and reciver still play great but the CD itself no longer ejects out. Thanks.
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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 02:10 PM
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
It's not personal opinion, it's fact. The GM Delco radios have horrible solder joints that continuously crack, which is where the majority of the malfunctions come from. The belts and motors in the tape decks also have a very high failure rate. The newer ones are definately better than the older ones, but I wouldn't waste my time with one except the style that's in the brand new cars with the speed sensitive volume. Those decks are actually a very high quality deck and with a good line output converter can be used as an integral part of a high quality aftermarket sound system.

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The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 03:15 PM
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From: Batesville, AR 72501 USA
Car: '88 Bright Red GTA UPC 81U
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1
Gotta love that Jim....

I agree..... I'd love to pick up one of those late model Pontiac CD decks to go in some of my GTAs. It would make a nice OEM-looking start to a quality aftermarket system.

As a general rule, the CD players are not exactly cheap to repair..... I purchased an 1989 OEM CD player for my GTAs that is correct in appearance for the years of my cars, but it was expensive to get repaired. I won't say how much...... because Jim will really let the dogs out on me ..... but it was expensive.

Possibly your CD eject problem won't be so expensive to fix. Good luck.


[This message has been edited by FrankieRider2 (edited June 13, 2001).]
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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 09:04 PM
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Frankie, I don't know how much National Radio charges consumers for the repairs, but they work on a flat-fee system. Same price no matter what repair. They charge dealers $50 a pop, but I'm sure they'll charge more for consumers. The dealer I used to work for charged the customer $100 when they sent it to National Radio. If you've got something that you really want to keep, it may be the way to go.

Pyramid Audio in Texas may also do OEM repairs. I know they do a lot of aftermarket repair work.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
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Old Jun 13, 2001 | 10:40 PM
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From: Batesville, AR 72501 USA
Car: '88 Bright Red GTA UPC 81U
Engine: 5.7L TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27:1
Jim, I paid more than those figures to repair the CD player I bought, but I did get a one-year warranty on the entire unit..... and it works great so far.

On the other hand, the same place wanted $225 to repair one of my GTA's cassette players...... just the tape player. Um, gee..... thanks anyway.

Hello, eBay.... $19.00 bid. Won it; the unit is bench-tested and working perfectly now.

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Frankie Rider, 2
The GTA Source Page
-----------------------
'88 GTA Red Hatchback - 5.7L/A4
'88 GTA Black Notchback - 5.7L/A4
'88 GTA Gunmetal Hatchback - 5.0L/A4
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Old Jun 14, 2001 | 07:37 AM
  #9  
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
The stock delco decks can be found so cheaply, that if you find one that works, it's definately going to be much cheaper than having one fixed.

$19 sounds like an awful good price though!! Nice score!

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
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Old Jun 17, 2001 | 06:12 PM
  #10  
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Jim, I know this is a stupid question because I can just call National Radio myself, but I figured that maybe you've dealt with them before.

If I call them directly and say I'm a mechanic or car dealer, or car audio shop (which I really am)...will they do the repair for $50 for me?
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Old Jun 17, 2001 | 09:08 PM
  #11  
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From: Readsboro, VT
Car: 85 IROC-Z / 88 GTA
Engine: 403 LSx (Pending) / 355 Tuned Port
Transmission: T56 Magnum (Pending) / T5
Axle/Gears: 3.42 / ?
Chris, I've never dealt with them directly, but as long as you're a valid business, I'd imagine that they'd do it for $50. A lot of car audio shops send their stuff to them.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah
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