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  1. #1

    Default radio bench test

    Hello, all:

    Not much of an electrical whiz but am willing to try. I have an original 86 GT Premium stereo with cassette that I think works, including the tape. I'd like to test it before trying to install it. The one in the car has tape issues.

    What's the best way to test this unit meaning how do I apply power without frying the thing? I checked the wiring diagrams and the EVTM but they seem to only show three wires whereas this radio has four wires in the power connector. Need to make sure its grounded too.

    I suppose I could just unplug the harness in the car and connect it but a bench might be easier.

    Thanks for the advice.

    M

  2. #2
    FEP Power Member 87gtVIC's Avatar
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    I have done this recently with a radio from a 1986 Town Car.

    I will go out on a limb and say the colors will be awfully similar to most likely the same.

    keyed Power Yellow w/black

    constant battery green/yellow

    amp turn on lead orange/light blue dots

    dash lights..illumination blue/ red

    You ground the radio through its chassis.



    Below you can see what happened to my radio.

    http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...l=1#post847407
    Last edited by 87gtVIC; 11-21-2020 at 02:48 PM.

  3. #3
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    Ford used some standard colors for wiring
    Blue, dash lighting
    Yellow, power unswitched
    Green, power switched

    On a separate connector speakers non premium sound 1988
    Purple & orange
    Purple & white
    Purple & pink
    Pink & purple
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    03 Mach 1 7900 miles, 74 Mustang II, 69 Mustang, 67 Mustang, 07 GT500,
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  4. #4
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    As far as power supply goes could use a jump start box's 12v socket if available.
    Or use a universal ac adapter power supply.
    Spare 12v battery and fuse.
    Slot car transformer or toy train with VOTM to set and monitor voltage.
    Alligator clips for temp connections or make up new pigtail.
    Connect small speakers
    antenna if checking radio

  5. #5
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    82GTforME's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by gr79 View Post
    As far as power supply goes could use a jump start box's 12v socket if available.
    Or use a universal ac adapter power supply.
    Spare 12v battery and fuse.
    Slot car transformer or toy train with VOTM to set and monitor voltage.
    Alligator clips for temp connections or make up new pigtail.
    Connect small speakers
    antenna if checking radio
    Exactly this. I bought a 12V cigarette charger, cut the end off it and hooked it up to my portable power booster 12V socket. Powered it up and checked speakers too.

    http://vb.foureyedpride.com/showthre...=1#post1672658

    Coiled wire is power. The speakers were all quickly connected. The green tape was for the positions.


  6. #6

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    Thanks everyone. I'll try to check it soon. If I recall it was pulled to add a cd player once upon a time, not because it didn't work. Hopefully I can swap the radios out and really experience the 1980s again with a cassette.

    Cheers,
    M

  7. #7
    FEP Power Member 87gtVIC's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Magnetic82 View Post
    Thanks everyone. I'll try to check it soon. If I recall it was pulled to add a cd player once upon a time, not because it didn't work. Hopefully I can swap the radios out and really experience the 1980s again with a cassette.

    Cheers,
    M
    haha

    That is one reason I installed that town car radio into my crown victoria. I wanted the factory look and the cool factor of running a cassette tape.

    http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthre...l=1#post848409

  8. #8

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    I hooked up the radio to the car harness and used an alligator clip wire for the ground. The unit powered on and I heard the door buzzer through the speakers but no tape movement when the cassette was inserted. I also had no display but I didn't hook up the antenna. The red light was visible, however. I may not have had a good ground. I took the chassis off the radio first to inspect the belts and they are present and unbroken but look very thin and not too tight. I hand moved the reels they wrap around and the mechanism moved fine. Maybe they are too weak. It made no sound when I put the tape in.

    Next step is to bench test it. I'm a little confused about power, though. There are two power wires? One is the main and one for the key power? The EVTM doesn't elaborate on this. Maybe I should hook everything up to the wires in the car- power connector, speaker connector, antenna and ground.

    Thanks again.
    M

  9. #9
    FEP Power Member 87gtVIC's Avatar
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    Yes. One is keyed so it turns on when car is on. And one is constant so your presets are not forgotten.

    For testing purposes on a bench just the keyed power is fine. Again the constant is for the preset memory.

    The belts are definitely thin. Once I threw back on the thrown belts my cassette worked just fine. I still picked up an assortment of belts, found two of the correct size and threw them in for piece of mind. If you do the same clean the areas where the belt rides with alcohol so the belts can grip better.

    What exactly does your radio look like?

    I dont think hearing the buzzer through the speakers is a feature.

    I dont think having antenna connected will make your display appear either.
    Last edited by 87gtVIC; 11-22-2020 at 03:17 PM.

  10. #10
    FEP Super Member gr79's Avatar
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    Links to past posts help refresh memory on important details again. Can be an interesting reread or if posts were totally missed.

    Could probe the unplugged dash side radio harness plug terminal pins with 12v test light to see what the power pattern is.
    Id and note on paper the power and ground wire color codes for doing a radio test power up on the bench.
    I use a sharpie and write wire codes, connections, notes, directly on the metal radio housing for future ref.

    Good idea to test before reinstall when possible.
    Having added wiring for stuff back up under there, shaft radios were a bear to change out several times before getting everything right.
    Got old quick here. One main reason i cut out the dash shaft holes for Ford factory DIN radios with no regrets.

  11. #11

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    I'll try to bench test it again. I don't think I had it grounded properly so definitely need to try again. But the belts are really thin and loose so might try to track down some replacements.

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