Any help out there. I think I might need a new radio. The passenger rear speaker is crackling pretty good. I changed it out with another one that I know is good, did the same thing. Front passenger is soso. Drivers side front & back work ok. (Sub woofer sucks). Any ideas. I took the radio out and blew air in the connectors. Am I going to need a new radio? If so, anyone have an 88?
There are rebuilders out there that will make your radio like new again, or there are other radios that will fit. OR....you can ask in the MALL and probably get a stock one. I had mine rebuilt for not much money and it works great.
[This message has been edited by Gall757 (edited 12-15-2015).]
The radio in my 88 is the factory an/fm cass with equalizer and sub woofer. I want to keep my fiero all original. So, my choices are, find someone and have this one worked on or find a donor replacement of the same. Can anyone out there help?!
Isn't crackling in the speakers a common problem with dirty volume controls? I think for that people just take the cover off and spray some contact cleaner on the volume control then work twist it back and forth stop to stop a few times. Repeat the process 4 or 5 times and put it back together. At least I thought I read that on here somewhere.
Does it get worse or pop louder or anything when you turn the volume control?
[This message has been edited by Khw (edited 12-15-2015).]
Usually if the speaker crackles it is the speaker, the sub probably has no surround left, common for factory subs, you can get a new surround and glue it on, I have done that a few times on the factory subs they they sound as good as they do, better than most replacement subs of the same size. If you come to Vegas I can test your deck for you as I made a deck tester to see if it is the deck is bad or not.
I'll try cleaning the knobs. I air sprayed all over. I know it's not the speaker, I took the rear passenger side speaker out and put another one that I knew was ok and it did the same crackling sound. Yes, it does change as I turn up & down the volume. Its frustrating.
Originally posted by 03Showbike:Yes, it does change as I turn up & down the volume. Its frustrating.
Then I would use some electrical contact cleaner on the knob and the sub level slider near the map light. Blowing with air won't really help. You need a liquid that will soak in and dislodge any corrosion or dirt/dust. Some people have used WD40 with some success but it wouldn't be what I would suggest using. WD40 will leave an oily film which while it may work at first will be quicker to attract dirt/dust most likely causing the problem to return quicker. That and the solvents used in WD40 can make plastic brittle.
Someone explain this to me, why does everyone want a stock radio now, it was always the first thing I would swap out in a car.
I can't speak for the others, but I can't stand mis-matched controls in the car. Aftermarket stereos always stand out like a sore thumb, in my opinion. I'd probably feel differently if I was an audio buff, but I'm not. I listen to the radio and I still have lots of cassettes.
For awhile, I had one of the late-90s Grand Am CD radios in my Fiero, but it always bugged me because the rounded "organic" knobs and buttons always screamed "90s Grand Am" to me. Eventually I switched back to an 80s Delco cassette from another Fiero because I liked it much better.
Any help out there. I think I might need a new radio. The passenger rear speaker is crackling pretty good. I changed it out with another one that I know is good, did the same thing. Front passenger is soso. Drivers side front & back work ok. (Sub woofer sucks). Any ideas. I took the radio out and blew air in the connectors. Am I going to need a new radio? If so, anyone have an 88?
This thread might help: Seems to be a common problem and its always the passenger's (right) side.
Isn't crackling in the speakers a common problem with dirty volume controls? I think for that people just take the cover off and spray some contact cleaner on the volume control then work twist it back and forth stop to stop a few times. Repeat the process 4 or 5 times and put it back together. At least I thought I read that on here somewhere.
Does it get worse or pop louder or anything when you turn the volume control?
I agree, contact cleaner I have used it with a lot of successful results on a lot of electronic devises. But don't spray everything, start with just the volume controls, let it dry before turning it back on. I also think changing a $750 radio with a hundred dollar one is a mistake, makes the dash look bad, not to mention they don't sound as good as what OEM does, but that's just me.
GM spent a lot of money on building testing and such for the cabins and abuse a auto radio gets, not sure what kind of testing a aftermarket radio gets but I am sure it is not as much.
Steve
------------------ Technology is great when it works, and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.
[This message has been edited by 84fiero123 (edited 12-16-2015).]
If your radio is not the UX1 it will be easy and cheap to find a replacement.
But to answer your question, your problem is common. I don't know if there is some sort of home brew fix but everyone I know just buys another unit.
quote
Originally posted by 03Showbike:
The radio in my 88 is the factory an/fm cass with equalizer and sub woofer. I want to keep my fiero all original. So, my choices are, find someone and have this one worked on or find a donor replacement of the same. Can anyone out there help?!
That is the UX1
Good luck finding one. They are out there but the pickins is slim.
Someone explain this to me, why does everyone want a stock radio now, it was always the first thing I would swap out in a car.
Because people want their cars "factory correct". Like mentioned in other threads about people hacking up cars to modify them, it's their car... it's their money.
