My radio has burned up twice in the last six months(thank God for two year extended warenties..). Both times, it started smoking and the heat sink where the finals are got REALLY hot. (also, i was accelerating both times. first time quicly around a cornor and the other merging onto the highway.

At first I thought maybe a shorted speaker or wire but all of my connections test out at 4 ohms. I'm not running an amp or anything.

My volotage has been playing some weird games so I had my altornator tested at autozone. They said it has a bad diode. I did some voltage tests while the car was running myeself also. At idle(in park) at about 900 rpms, I get anywhere from the 13.5ish to about 14 volts. If i accelerate to about 2500 rpms, it increases by about .4-.5 volts. Is this acceptable? Also, there is a noticible drop if i turn my brights. If I turn on the rear glass defroster, it drops about a volt, to ~ 12.6.

So do you think that this could cause the problems with my radio? I would think the radio would have a built in voltage regulator but maybe not??? Or should I look for an intermittent speaker wire short? The speakers are pretty old also. I plan on installing a new altornator regardless but I don't want to put the new radio back in until I track down the problem. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

~ Arnold

 

Your alternator is most likely fried, especially if autozone says it is. The voltage shouldn't change that much when you're driving.

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1983 Firebird
TH700R4 Auto
Small Block 400
LG4 ECM, Intake, Carb, Distributor, etc.
Soon to be non-computer.
Clarion Head Unit 45X4
2 Pioneer 400W 12" Subs
Third Gen Performance
"A four cylinder is half an engine."

 

Ok, I replaced the altornator but was the bad one likly to cause the radio to burn up? Thanks.


~Arnold