Hi All,
My new 80AE has the radio/cassette combo shown below which unfortunately does not work.
There is zero sound from the radio. If I put a cassette in the deck switches back and forth and there is some very low level audio distortion.
The fuse is OK. I'm at a loss as to how to troubleshoot a stereo problem and even put a WTB post looking for the same equipment. Then again, I don't know where the problem is in the system.
I really want to make THIS system work as I had the exact same Clarion combo in my 1980 back in 1980!
Any help appreciated!

 

Wow thats way different from the on on my 80. Whats an 80AE anyway?

 

The 1980 anniversary edition. I’m almost certain the tape deck is the same as my original 1980. The radio might be different. It was a lonnnnnng time ago.

 

AE radio is a unique model to the Anniversary SAs.
I would check with companies that do work on old-school car audio. They are out there. Listings in the services ads in the back of monthly Hemmings. Or, you know...Google.

Stu A
80GS (with the other radio)
AZ

 

Thanks Stu.
I noticed from pics online that the radio is common to the AE but otherwise I don’t see it.

 

I have the service manual for the 79 SAs but I'm not sure how similar the guts are. I need to scan it in and submit it to wright-here and foxed.

I found a guy local to me that works on old equipment. I haven't yet used him but have spoken with him. https://dixieaudiovideo.com/ I don't know if he does internet sales though but the other recommended repair places I contacted wouldn't even look at the radio.

 

Can you ask the previous owner if it ever worked for them? Maybe they can provide some history on the problem. Sometimes we inherit previous owners "attempts" to fix things. In my experience, the radios are normally pretty reliable, the tape decks not so much. Decks have drive belts and motors that get old and fail. Finding parts or a repair shop is not easy anymore. I assume you are at least getting power and a light from the radio when turned on?

Here is another thread about radio problems w / a phone number to a place in CA. It's a 10 yr old thread, so its probably a dead end.

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generati...oblems-878768/

Searching for replacement units is a good idea. Regular radios (and tape decks) come up from time to time and should also be a plug and play with your AE harness to at least help isolate the fault. Don't you have another car to swap in components with? If you find a shop who still fixes these units, please post the info back here. This forum lacks a good resource for this problem. I wonder if the Z-car community has a solution for their radios that may also work for ours?

 

Thanks Banzai. I just sold my other SA which had the more common basic radio in it.
I will reach out to the former owner to see.
of course I could just do what I do in my other older cars which is to drive with a Bose Soundcube!

 

FWIW:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/MAZDA-RX-7-...leXWQ6&vxp=mtr

NOT MY LISTING (Mods)

This appears to be the SAME unit as your Coochas, if you want to spend the coin. Never seen one listed before! (fate?)


Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

There's something about this radio that just doesn't look 79 or 80 year correct. I could be wrong, but the ***** don't scream 79-80.

 

As I said in previous post, the 80 SA Anniversary and LS models came with this special radio head. These were also avai in certain JDM SAs as well as an option thru dealers in japan back in the day.
It is one of THREE diff radios offered in USA SAs during the 78-80 production run...
This head requires the "open" version of the console face-plate (which, obv, the Anniv come with), not the standard version, which has the needed 2 holes for the outboard tuning *****...



Stu A
80GS
AZ

 

Sold!

That didn't take long. Did you buy it, Coochas?

 

I swear Stu has this uncanny ability to un earth the most obscure Rx-7 un-obtainium. If only he could use his super power to find his affordable, holy grail 2nd SA.

Makes sense to me that the 80 10th A/E and LS models share the same radio, just like the remote mirror controls. The one in Stu's pic has 3 FM buttons on the right where Coochas has 2 on the left. JDM vs. USD (RH / LH drive)?

 

Thanks Stu. It's slightly different wrt the AM/FM button orientation but it'll probably plug and play.

 

OMG - who assembled that photo session?

 

Makes sense. Or someone had a hangover day in the Clarion factory and put the buttons on backwards.

 

I loves my parts. I photos my parts.
um, maybe that came out wrong...


Stu A
80GS + parts
AZ

 

The tape deck cycling is usually a sign that the belt has broken. I wonder if this is a model where the radio is disabled when the deck is being used. If so, maybe the broken belt prevents the deck from releasing control of the radio.

 

That is an interesting thought. When I put a tape in I do hear some very low level unclear audio while it shifts back and forth.

 

The belt could be slipping. That has been the fate of my 85 tape deck, but the radio still works.

 

From the guy who coined the term "SA ****".......

 

People always say the convo goes downhill when I get involved but I can't take any credit here.
Funny, I looked for Savannah on PornHub and there were over 10,000 hits.