Hey everyone, I am having a hard time trying to figure out what is wrong with the radio on my 82 GSL. When I push the power button my antenna will extend but that is it. This is the only thing that is wrong with my car and there aren't any blown fuses or fusible links, so I am at a complete loss for what the issue is. So, unless anyone has any other ideas I can try, I am looking for a Clarion radio and remote cassette player. Thanks for any help.

-Jacub

 

Do a search ....there is a company in New York...I think....that they check and fix vintage car radios.....

If It was me and still got the factory radio that will be my choice instead of trying to find one that maybe will work......

 

When I had a similar problem, I called around to those vintage car radio places and the one I got ahold of basically told me they couldn't do anything for me since it was Japanese. However, I did manage to find a local guy who apparently does really good work. But I ended up figuring out the issue on my own, turned out it WAS a blown fuse! I don't know if he takes online orders but you could give him a call if nothing else pans out. https://dixieaudiovideo.com/ Sorry for the lackluster reply but I know finding this type of repair shop is difficult. Good luck!

 

Was it a blown fuse inside of your radio or was the blown fuse elsewhere?

 

You will want to direct all want to buy ad to the marketplace section. We do not allow classified ads in the tech sections.

Now, does the radio power up at all but you have no sound? If so then you will likely want to look at the amplifiers as the culprit. If theres no radio display, its likely that the head unit may need rebuilt or serviced.

 

The fuse under the dash. I had mistakenly shorted the cigarette lighter I think which is on the same circuit. I didn't think anything of it since the light still illuminated. I figured it was all the same room circuit, if I recall correctly. Actually! I have the pinouts, service manual for the radio. I just never figured out how I'd get it scanned and uploaded. Does anyone have a scanner that will scan the book for us?

 

Many pages? Scanning app on a smartphone or even a few select pictures uploaded would be great information to have in the forum!

 

Eh, like twelve. Y'all've inspired me. I'll take it to work tomorrow and try scanning it there. For now, here's a sample.

 

That is cool. Wouldn't mind having a copy for my library.

 

@Banzai @Toruki Here y'all go. I need to get in touch with Wright-here and foxed.ca.

Thank you!

 

Thanks! This will definitely help some folks on here.

​​​​​

 

Thanks! Yes, it should be included on the foxed.ca site.

 

For what it's worth I did email both which despite being two different email addresses appeared to be the same person..

 

Nah, we ain't the same person. Wright-Here.com is me. The wankel.net email address is one of my old addresses.
Sgt. Fox in Canada owns foxed.ca, and is a member here: RX7Club.com - Mazda RX7 Forum - View Profile: Sgt Fox
You should be able to reach him via PM here, or via email at admin at foxed.ca

We've grabbed files from each other over the years in the interest fo keeping the data available in multiple locations.

Thanks for posting this, and emailing me about it. I'll try to get it added to my site soon. I'll admit it's been a long time since I've actually update anything, so it may be a (re)learning process.

 

Ah, great you found me! After I sent the email I realized coffee hadn't kicked in since I basically sent and empty email with only an attachment. I thought for sure I wound be considered spam! I didn't want to spam ya'll with a follow-up email and figured let it rest for a little while.

Just in case @Sgt Fox thought I was spam I'll @ him now.

Anyway, thank y'all for your services! I hope to one day also create a mirror.

 

Took me a minute to a) find a new editor to modify my site - I originally used Adobe Dreamweaver, but CS4 no longer runs on current macOS, and I no longer have access to current versions, and b) dust off my meager web skillz, but the radio manual has been added to my site at Mazda RX-7 Reference Materials (wright-here.net)

 

Yeti, are you referring to a fuse in the main box, or another somewhere under the dash? Seems I'm now chasing a radio problem.

 

@Banzai I honestly don't recall anymore. What details I do recall are the radio's lights were illuminated, which gave me the false security that they radio was getting power when in fact it wasn't. I believe I discovered either by schematics or happenstance that the radio and the cigarette lighter share the same circuit. I was dealing with a cut-up harness, PO put in a aftermarket radio and couldn't be bothered with an adapter.

If your blower motor and antennae are working it's likely not the same issue as mine. Oh by the way, the main fuse box, I don't recall the label but section G in the 79 wiring diagram, again best I recall my scenario.

What issues are you experiencing and what troubleshooting steps have taken place?

 

On my cassette player, I can forward and reverse tape and make it quite noisy given the amplifiers that are after market but not using the cassette unit. It needs to be on the radio for that. Neither is a factory fit and I've reduced myself to listening to a cd player with headphones. The car is so loud and I'm quite deaf so it may be the only way to actually have decent tunes.

Raising the antenna is a rather noisy jerky event. Is that normal?

 

No, not on a properly operating mast. It should raise and lower smoothly with some ratcheting at full extension and depression. Have you tried lubing it? Maybe some light sanding on the O.D. at full extension.


I'm working with a previous owners modifications too. At some point in the past, the car received an aftermarket cassette stereo and an alarm and even power door locks of all things. I'm returning it to stock, so I ripped all that out. It was all spliced into the harness and stuffed around the steering column. I have an original radio that I bench tested but wouldn't play when I connected it to the stock connector in the car. I wasn't getting power at the connector. After playing around with it and checking things for a few hours, I brought the unit back to the bench where it wouldn't play as it did previously. I had a light that turned on and off with the power button, but not a hint of sound this time around.

So, I ended up swapping it into another car with a working system and once again- nothing, that is until I pushed one of the AM preset buttons then one of the FM presets. All of a sudden, it came on, after switching it between AM / FM??? Brought it back to the project car and once again, just the light, no sound. I have the whole lower dash off and carpet out and finally figured it out when I plugged the plastic pocket below the radio back into the harness. It doesn't do anything but somehow "completes" the circuit, allowing power to the radio connector. (this is an SA) I now remember knowing this, but it has been so long since I first encountered it, I had forgot. Didn't help that all the lower dash is out of the car.

Next up, is the antenna. It's an aftermarket item and was wired to the power switch of the cassette deck I removed. Tried adapting the stock harness connector to it and using the dash switch, but again, so far no luck. I saw it work before I tore into it....

 

@Banzai I may have missed it but if you don't have a tape deck or the pocket that gets installed below the radio you'll need to supply a jumper to complete the circuit that the stereo would have completed. PLEASE DOUBLE CHECK but I believe on connector G03 you jump LB with LgW. As you can see power is delivered to the stereo via LB then to the radio via LgW. The RG wire IRCC is illumination and the radio has it's own supply. Again, double check all of this I'm mostly going on memory here and I'd hate to think I suggested a way for you to fry something. I do know that on the back of the pocket you connect G03 to it because it has the jumper built in.

Section G in http://foxed.ca/rx7manual/manuals/1979RX7WiringDiagram.pdf

Oh! yep I just reread your post and see that your have the plastic bit plugged in. I have nothing ATM.

 

LOL, thanks for the reply. You did good off the top of your head. My reply was kind of long winded, but yea, the pocket was the missing link. Doubt I'll ever forget it again. I was thinking it just plugged in and didn't really do anything, so it wasn't important. A previous owner hot glued the pocket in to the stereo surround, which I wasn't re-using due to it being cut for the tape player. They even removed the metal clip in the back where the harness plugs in. I have a couple extra, so I just grabbed another one.

 

Wow, sounds like a mess! It sounds like you are sorted now but I have another wiring harness that may be less hacked up than yours if there is any interest.

 

It has taken me a bit of time to respond. I'll try lubing the antenna shaft when it comes up and then goes down. I have a few issues like this with the '79. The release on the hood was sticking and required lubrication and then the rear hatch release stuck . It's now opening but not from anything I've done. The cassette player ties into the antenna in a strange way and it is indeed all aftermarket. The prior owner had it all hooked into an amplifier called "Fosdick- the Punch " which will operate at the threshold of pain. It's all mounted behind the seats where I would prefer to put stuff other than a chick magnet for something I haven't had in quite some time.

All in all, it's a real joy to drive and to look at. I consider myself lucky to have it. Any of the flaws are just mild irritants.