Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts

OEM Radio Weirdness

dbbd1

go away...
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I replaced an ignition actuator for a friend of a friend. I don't know if the radio was working properly before that or not. Yeah, I should have checked, but...

Now, the problem seems to be that the radio will only "come on" in the ACC mode. I have that in quotes because, in ACC mode, it will always default to "loading cd" but you can switch to FM and it works fine (I did not have a cd handy at the time to try that function). However, when you switch to "run" you can hear the cd trying to load (its empty though) like it would normally but there is no display and no audio. With the ignition "off" you can push and hold the time button and it will display the time- normal. While holding the time button and switching to ACC or run, the time display on the radio goes out- normal.

All fuses have visually and electrically tested good.
Everything else, so far, is working normally.
Connectors on the back of the ignition switch, MFS and wiper assemblies are good, not melted and fully seated. No protruding pins.
The ignition switch is internally connected between run and ACC for power to the radio. But this also powers other circuits, that are working.
I did not disassemble the electrical switching end of the ignition but nothing looked or smelled burnt.
Swapped in known good radio and it has the same symptoms.
There is a PCI BUS wire connection at the radio, it shares this with the cluster (and other things, including the OBD port). Cluster works normally.

Is there any way to test that BUS line (when I can, I will ohm it out). An OBD Scanner?
Any other thoughts?
This one is a stumper.

Edit-
The battery was dead when it was towed to my house. It had sat for weeks or months after the other shops that took a shot at fixing it failed. (Really? You couldn't feel the switch not fully turning to start?) It sat on my charger for a day before I started to look at it.
 
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Today's update-

There is a PCI BUS wire from the radio to the instrument cluster. If I disconnect C2 (which contains the bus wire from the radio) at the cluster, the radio works normally. Of course, I get a "no bus" error on the instrument cluster.
 
I wouldn't spend much time trying to diagnose an OEM radio. I wouldn't doubt that it would be failing considering most TJ's are around 20 years old.

I would suggest replacing with an aftermarket one. You can get one with bluetooth for under $100. If you prefer the OEM look, there is a site that sells them. I think you can get an OEM replacement radio with bluetooth, around $300 iirc.
 
Today's update-

There is a PCI BUS wire from the radio to the instrument cluster. If I disconnect C2 (which contains the bus wire from the radio) at the cluster, the radio works normally. Of course, I get a "no bus" error on the instrument cluster.

If you disconnect that bus wire at the radio connector do you get a different result?
 
If you disconnect that bus wire at the radio connector do you get a different result?

Yeah, that is the next step. I would have to cut it and the guy had to get going. Just unplugging the whole connector, everything worked fine.

Thanks
 
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I wouldn't spend much time trying to diagnose an OEM radio. I wouldn't doubt that it would be failing considering most TJ's are around 20 years old.

I would suggest replacing with an aftermarket one. You can get one with bluetooth for under $100. If you prefer the OEM look, there is a site that sells them. I think you can get an OEM replacement radio with bluetooth, around $300 iirc.

The stock radio doesn't (???) seem to be the problem though. I tried a known working unit.

I've already thought about the aftermarket route. When the guy gets bored of the quietude or gets up some money, we will probably do that.

Thanks
 
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Yeah, that is the next step. I would have to cut it and the guy had to get going. Just unplugging the whole connector, everything worked fine.

Thanks

It may not be related at all but I had a problem with the radio display on mine. I didn't check in any key positions other than run.

I'd occasionally notice the radio display would go blank while driving. For a while, I'd turn the Jeep off and back on again to get it back. Eventually, I figured out that the key was worn and moving out enough to somehow cause the display to turn off. I had a new key cut from the VIN at a dealership and that fixed the problem of it randomly going off while driving. If I pull out on the key with it in the Run position, I can still recreate the issue so there must be something else worn in there causing it.
 
Novak Conversions Jeep Wrangler TJ engine mounts