rocket350

I was checking to see if my radio worked in my 1970 cutlass, so i turn on the radio while the engine is running. turn volume all the way up, nothing. Mess with buttons, dials, and all, and still nothing. radio face lights up but not sound.

turn engine off and left radio on, and i can faintly hear static and gibberish music playing, turn dial to change station and all the same, VERY low and static. have to hold my breath to hear it.

i checked fuses and all good in there.

its am/fm radio

what could the problem be?

allyolds68

This may seem like a dumb question but is the antenna plugged in?

rocket350

ya know, i didn't even check that,

just to clarify, these cars had the antenna run up to the window right? because there is no antenna mast on the outside of car, and can i just look up to the back of radio from floor to see plug?

joe_padavano

Yes, 1970 will have a windshield antenna. Assuming the antenna is connected, the problem is likely a bad output power transistor. This is the TO3 transistor that's visible on the outside of the radio case, in the back. If you can solder, you can cross reference the number and install a replacement. I've done this in the past.

Olds64

It's also worth checking the speakers. The speaker cones on my 71 98 are falling apart. When I turn on my radio it does the same thing. I can barely hear it and the sound quality is very poor.

oldcutlass

I would suggest hooking up a different speaker before tearing into it. If it lights that means it's gtting proper power and ground.

White_Knuckles

The fact it's a 40 year old radio may "play" into this. Capacitors and components dry out and fail with that kind of age. I'd check the speaker isn't blown but if you like your tunes, check out those new retro radios out there that have modern features, are true stereo and look old-school fitting the dash without cutting. Have it repaired? Naaa, it's not worthy the cost for the sound quality.

Lady72nRob71

Maybe try a different antenna, too - a coat hanger will work. The tiny wires at the glass are quite fragile.

rocket350

thanks all for your input, ill start trying everything you guys said this weekend, i work nightshift so i sleep all day during the week

rocket350

ok so i looked under the dash and saw 2 wires connected, is one of these the antenna?

also found a rectangular connecter with a orange wire and silver wire, not connected, any idea where this goes? its right under the pink/black wire

MDchanic

The antenna wire is a standard, thick, black, coaxial antenna wire, just like on other cars.

- Eric

rocket350

heres pics of what i saw under there, ment to upload them in last post but forgot to hit upload

MDchanic

Well, your antenna and your power (yellow) are connected, and it looks like you've got a rear speaker (black and blue pair), but that's about all I can see.

- Eric

rocket350

yea wasnt easy getting pics with dash all together, got my head stuck between dash and transmission hump.

but ill see what others say before tearing into it, gonna try another speaker first and antenna

MDchanic

It probably IS the output transistor. They go all the time.

To test the general function of the speakers, all you need to do is disconnect the leads, then touch the leads of a volt/ohm meter each to each (or hold one speaker wire against one side of a AA battery and brush the other wire against the other side) - the speaker should make reasonably loud static.

- Eric

rocket350

ok ill try that this weekend, thanks