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jaybird

jaybird

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Radio up-date

For Christmas, I asked Santa for 2 speakers, to replace the old, cracked speakers in the doors of my B. My kids took it upon themselves to get me a new car stereo. Fine. So I go buy my own speakers. After a very short time, son & hubby decided the free installation offered by Circuit City was not such a bad idea.

Over to Circuit City we go. 3 1/2 hours later, I leave with new speakers and stereo. Top's down, radio's thumping. Life is good. For about 4 miles. Then *POOF* no more radio.

U-turn and I head back to Circuit City. They pulled the radio, tested it and said the radio was bad. No, they didn't have any more of that one. Closest store was 40 minutes away.

So Thursday I head to Chesterfield Circuit City. With the bad radio. They said they'd work me in. 5 1/2 hours later, no radio. Kid wanted to start from scratch, check all the wiring first. There are 2 wires that he can't get any power to. The 'on/off' wire and the 'memory wire.' I made an appointment to go back this coming Wednesday.

(remember, all I wanted was 2 speakers)

Yesterday I went bumming with my dot, lunch, some shopping. We came back here about 4:00 and I have 2 gaping holes in the back panel of my trunk. And another radio laying on the workbench.

Chuck does have the back speakers in now, and is 'fiddling' with the wiring because the interior light didn't work after they put the first radio in. Now I have no power anywhere.

Now I have 4 speakers, 2 radios and no music. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif

Maybe I should just sing really loud and forget this entire drama? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: Radio up-date

Sorry Jaybird /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I went to Circuit City to look for 2 speakers and walked out of the Auto Audio Department when the young techie there told me he had never heard of an MGB...but he could sell me a whole new system to fit any German car /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
no offense, my son works at on when he is home from college /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Bruce /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
Re: Radio up-date

~grins at Bruce~

I failed to mention that my first trip to Circuit City was similar. I purchased the speakers, asked about installation and the kid asked what sort of car I had. Then proceeded to tell me that they didn't have books that went that far back for old German cars. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif I ran from that location!

Your son still on break? Send him to STL. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif

And someone make my husband come out of the garage and leave the B alone! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
 
Re: Radio up-date

Get him a B of his own to mess with - that way he won't have time to mess with yours! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Re: Radio up-date

[ QUOTE ]
Then proceeded to tell me that they didn't have books that went that far back for old German cars.

[/ QUOTE ]

I usually get "You mean GM... I've never heard of a GM-B" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif
 
Re: Radio up-date

Well dahubby just left to take the B back (third time's a charm, right?) to Circuit City for the radio install. Nevermind it's raining like mad here, 5" of rain in 4 days and talking anouther 1 1/2" today. Nevermind I'm not thrilled about the B out on the roads in this. Of course, all this rain could be snow, right?

Hmmm. Puts wash and wax B on hubby's 'honey do' list! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If I don't have music tonight, I'll pull a gumby and wire the bloody thing myself!
 
Re: Radio up-date

Wish I could help you on this one. I've been wiring cars, stereos AND MG's since I was 12! Once I had mastered an MG wiring system, everything else was child's-play. I always had money in HS because everyone brought their stereos to me to install! I wish you the best of luck and may all your 'shorts' be the kind you wear! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: Radio up-date

[ QUOTE ]
Get him a B of his own to mess with - that way he won't have time to mess with yours! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
Actually, I'm working on that! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/devilgrin.gif
 
And on the 8th day...

...there was MUSIC!

Dahubby got back about 1:00. And I HAVE MUSIC!
Fittingly, The Doobie Brothers were cranking out...'oooh, rocking down the highway...' /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

I had a problem when i installed the radio in my b. I installed everything perfect. Even fixed the butchered job the guys at best buy did. Radio worked great. Washed my car and went for a drive. To make a long story short make sure your cowl vent isn't leaking water inside the car. If it is it WILL DRIP right onto the radio ending with the radio fried. It took me two radios to discover this problem.
Hope this helps.
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

[ QUOTE ]
...there was MUSIC!

Dahubby got back about 1:00. And I HAVE MUSIC!
Fittingly, The Doobie Brothers were cranking out...'oooh, rocking down the highway...' /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

[/ QUOTE ]
<font color="red"> GRRRRRRRRRRR! </font>

Haven't driven the B for a couple days. Decided to take it out for a ride this evening. Near 50, full moon. Dropped the top, fired her up and slipped in a cd.

Didn't get out of the driveway or through the first few bars of CSNY and ***POOF*** radio died. No power, nothing.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Probably a fuse, right? ((fingers crossed))
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

Jeez, Jaybird. You expect heat and tunes at the same time?
Dream on, oh optimistic one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Seriously, I hope it's just a fuse.
Jeff
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

[ QUOTE ]
Jeez, Jaybird. You expect heat and tunes at the same time?
Dream on, oh optimistic one! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Jeff

[/ QUOTE ]
Ya. Silly me. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif WHAT was I thinking? Next thing you know I'll want dash lights too. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

Wow, I must be really lucky.

I picked up my 80B about a month ago for $3500 because it was in awesome shape. Paint is clean and glossy (I just need some warm days to repait the few chips) engine runs well (would say strong, but it is a MG afterall) heat works, all lights work (including the greenish dash beleive it or not) and my radio works (although it is being gutted this weekend to be upgraded.

Things that I have had to do to get it perfected for a solid daily driver (not used as one though) are replace all brake pads and front rotors since they were pitted and rusting on the edges. Flush the entire brake system (rear brakes were clogged). Now she will lock the tires anytime you want her to.


As for electricals, if anyone needs anything in that department, let me know as... you guessed it another engineer on here! I have been working with mobile electronics for years and have a nack for it, not to mention a slight passion for the MG.


Good luck with the radio!
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

Well, it was a fuse. This is what's weird though. It blew the 'constant power' fuse. And when I got in the car this morning, I fiddled with the courtesy (interior) light switch (that hasn't worked manually since the radio was installed) When I flipped that switch, I blew the 17 amp fuse as well.

Ran up town, bought fuses, replaced fuses. I have music again. But something's obviously wired wrong somewhere.

So. Going to be mid to upper 50's today. Top's down, radio's fixed and I'm going cruising!

Life is very good.
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

[ QUOTE ]
and my radio works (although it is being gutted this weekend to be upgraded.

[/ QUOTE ]

That, Sir, is what started all the drama! I wanted 2 speakers. A month later, 2 radios, 4 speakers and half dozen fuses.....

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

Sounds like you have a bad ground (or two, or three) as a 30 year old car is going to have them.

I would recommend taking a small wire brush and cleaning all the connectors you can, especially the engine ground strap and battery terminals. This will give you a better ground, thus alleviating many of the shorts which is what blows the fuses.
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

Toups, I did that when I put a new battery in a couple months ago and again, before I even installed the first radio.

I'll do it again, (can't hurt) but the terminals are clean. I really think it has something to do with the courtesy light (switch) because the interior light worked by switch before the (first) new radio was installed. And now only works when I open a door. I'm thinking there's a wire crossed in there or something. But would I have blown the 'constant power' fuse last night (when the radio went) and then the 17 amp fuse today when I just fiddled with the courtesy switch?

Maybe my wires are crossed. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

[ QUOTE ]
This will give you a better ground, thus alleviating many of the shorts which is what blows the fuses.

[/ QUOTE ]
Please pardon my density, but how do better grounds eliminate shorts which blow fuses?
D
 
Re: And on the 8th day...

Jaybird... check for corrostion or loose connection in the light or a cracked housing (like mine) Also, the short may not be in the light, rather something in one of the door switches, or along the wiring path. Use a multimeter if you have one and check the resistance at the connection. This should help you find any faults/bad connections.

When you have a bad ground, you are basically stopping the current from flowing freely as it was designed. This will cause the current in an automobile to try and "find" the next shortest path to ground which could be throught another component, system, the folding top.... or even you. When this discharge of energy occurs it is usually in excess of the designed rate which will cause a fuse to blow.

If you need a more thorough description, please check out the following

https://www.eatel.net/~amptech/elecdisc/fuses.htm
 
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