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Topic: Radio and Antenna Question (Read 2676 times) previous topic - next topic

Radio and Antenna Question

I believe my '85 Tbird Turbo Coupe had the premium sound package in the factory, as there was an amp in the trunk and the speakers say "Premium Sound" on them. (although there are no speakers in the doors. Not sure if this was normal or if they were removed at some point). The amp has since been removed and a late '90s CD player was installed when I got the car.

While driving, my radio reception wasn't great and I hit the switch to raise the antenna, which I noticed wasn't all the way up. Suddenly, I heard a pop and the antenna and the radio went dead.

I checked the fuse box and the fuse was blown. However, neither the antenna nor the radio work at all anymore. Is there another central point where they share a circuit? Where are the grounds in the system?

Radio and Antenna Question

Reply #1 –
Got the stereo partially working. Tried another fuse and it came right on. The other fuse looked ok, and I never heard it pop, but it may have been defective from the start.

There is still some sort of a short in the antenna circuit, as the fuse blows out every time I push the power antenna button. That should be a fun one to find...

Radio and Antenna Question

Reply #2 –
download the evtm below my sig,
I am not sure how applicable it would be to the 85, another person here is more privy to the 85(ish) diagrams than myself.
The antenna ckt is simple , 20A ckt fuse 11 , on page 196.  seems reasonable the fuse took out the radio also.
I would first suspect the fender has been off in the past and the wiring is rubbing where before it was secure.
first guess would be to look at the switch itself and see if its grounding out on the back, then inspect under the fender


ping the user "softtouch"

Radio and Antenna Question

Reply #3 –
The previous owner may have tried to hook the antenna control wire to the factory antenna switch, which is BAD.  The factory control uses it's own power and is a manual control (you can raise and lower the antenna all the way or just a little bit by pushing up or down on the switch).  There will be a blue wire from the radio that is probably now hooked into the antenna wiring.  When u turn on your radio, this wire goes hot and stays hot.  The factory setup is hot in the up or down direction only when u are pressing the button.  Follow the blue wire from you aftermarket stereo and see if it goes to something factory.  Follow the factory wires back toward the switch and you will hopefully find a plug you can reconnect.  Manual will work again, hopefully.  You can replace the factory antenna with an aftermarket one that can be hooked to the blue wire and work automatically.