OEM AM/FM radio repair

[c9zx]

Does anyone have experience with having the original radio repaired? If so, please share how it worked out. My radio has decided to play only at barely audible levels ( I tried a different antenna).
Thanks, Chuck

 

[Don C]

Does the volume knob make any difference at all?

 

[c9zx]

Yes it does. Chuck

 

[bishoppeak]

All the companies I checked out said gutting the internals and replacing with modern components was what they’ll do. Also, they wanted big $ and the wait was months. I got a Retrosound unit that very much matches the old one. Quick delivery, reasonable $ and relatively easy installation

 

[c9zx]

Yeah I'd like to just install a modern replacement but, it is a concours driven gold car that I'm considering selling. Chuck

 

[Tommyt]

Does anyone have experience with having the original radio repaired? If so, please share how it worked out. My radio has decided to play only at barely audible levels ( I tried a different antenna).
Thanks, Chuck

Is it am or am-fm? I repaired an am-fm that I bought for parts, even though my car came factory am.
Have you opened it? You might get lucky and have a broke solder joint.

 

[c9zx]

It is a factory AM/FM radio. I have not opened it up yet. Chuck

 

[Tommyt]

Does anyone have experience with having the original radio repaired? If so, please share how it worked out. My radio has decided to play only at barely audible levels ( I tried a different antenna).
Thanks, Chuck

Sorry just reviewed title am-fm

 

[Don C]

Yes it does. Chuck

The most likely suspect is an electrolytic capacitor that has failed. My first thought was a dirty potentiometer, but because it makes a change in the volume, and you didn't mention crackling while turning the knob, it's more likely electronic than mechanical. I used to have some old radio schematics, but don't know what happened to them, probably in the bottom of a box I haven't opened in years. Without repair schematics and test points the only way I would be able to repair one would be to remove and test components one by one, so it's understandable why they cost so much to repair, takes many hours to find a bad $2 component and replace it.

 

[Grande73]

Hi Chuck,

I have had two car radios repaired by Retro Radio Restoration in Elizabethtown, PA. https://retroradio.biz/.
1st one was my AM/FM stereo in my 1973 Grande. It took a couple months if I remember to get it back, they go to most of the Carlisle, PA car shows so I dropped it off there to them. I didn't put it back in the car right away as it was in the middle of a total restoration. When the radio is done, they call you give them credit card info and they ship it back. It's been working well since I got the car back on the road a couple years ago. I had mine restored original, but he does offer to put modern electronics in them as well. Keeps the original look on the outside.
The other radio, I had restored by them was my 1958 Plymouth Fury Search tune AM radio back to original. It's been playing a lot better than it was.
I had good luck with them, it's just Mike and his wife that own the company. Mike does all the original restorations and I believe they have another employee that does the modern upgrades.

Michael

 

[c9zx]

Michael, Thanks for the information. Chuck

 

[ib4stangs]

A guy used to have a space next to me at Carlisle All Ford that repairs them. Here is his website if needed...

http://www.mikehaganantiqueautoradio.com/

 

[c9zx]

Ib4, Thanks for the link. Chuck