more radio/antenna related questions

[Sharp64]

Probably not going to make me very popular but going to leave this right here.....

[type1vwjapan]

agreed, but to me a modern stereo just wouldn't leave me feeling satisfied at the end of the day. I already made a similar mistake once when I bought my 2000 Mexican Beetle. I thought I'd be happy with it, and it was in better mechanical condition than my '67 Australian Bug I have now, but I'm still much happier with my real, classic Beetle. Even if it has given me some fits after only owning it for a year. Finally is a great, little realiable car now.

I'm sure many can understand my point of view here. I'm the type that prefers old worn original stuff, rather than new repro stuff. not to say that i don't have plenty of repro parts on my bug, but I try to go original when I can and my wallet allows for it. I'm loving the oval assist straps with coat hooks and glovebox I got last month. A little worn out, but still give it that old, original feel that I'm sick for.

I know a radio is a whole other world though, and is even a little risky. I still can't help but to get this radio going one day.

For something as big and important as a radio, I wanted to get a real vintage one. I'm still happy with my purchase, just was feeling a little frustrated this morning as most would.

if I would've settled with one of those, then I'm sure I would already have it up and running in my bug, but that is beside the point to me. I wanted an actual real, vintage radio, and that is exactly what I got, even if it isn't working like it should.

There are a couple of places I can take it to get looked at and even repaired if need be. Flat4 in Tokyo is probably my best option here, as they are the go to for all and anything aircooled VW here. They even specialize in vintage sound system restorations like old juke boxes, etc.

I've already contacted them and am waiting on a response to see if they can help me out.

In the mean time, I'm going to retrace all of my work and see what the hell went wrong.

Do you think the radio wasn't grounded even though I thought it was? How can I tell easily if the radio is grounded correctly, along with the amp.

Let me explain the best that I can how I have this all wired and setup. I hope someone can point out a mistake.

Right now the power comes from the battery fuse (a red fuse) on 16AWG wire and then goes through an 8A radio fuse (white) and holder from Wolfsburg West, and then feeds into the power amp. That power amp is sitting on my front carpet pad for the trunk, not bolted down or anything. Then a like 16 pronged cable is connected into the back of the power amp from the radio unit itself. This is what gives the radio power at the dash when you turn the knob on.

The radio is then bolted to my wiper motor bracket along with a couple other ground wires. I checked for continuity from the power amp to where I have it bolted to the wiper motor, and it my multimeter beeped and told me there was continity.

I'm still thinking about bolting down the power amp to the body of the car in the trunk and then running an extra ground wire from the power amp to the car body for an additonal ground just in case. I doubt this is the issue though. But, it could very well be! Say, that maybe my bracket if screwed up somehow and is not actually grounding the radio like I think it is.

Again, I'll try and take some more pics when I get the chance. I think that is the only real way for you all to help me out more.

Still, I'm determined to try once more and see if I can't find something I botched up.

[type1vwjapan]

can someone tell me how to check easily if my radio is grounded for sure or not? I know it's simple, but I'm a little bit tired at the moment.

Thank you!!

[Dangermouse]

For what it's worth, I completely empathsise with where you're coming from; everything should work as it should/did. I get it; which is why my Beetle is still 6V and I currently have two radios in pieces as I try and refurbish them to original working condition. Anything less is just cheating... Can be difficult and frustrating yet rewarding in equal measure. Stick with it

Some pics will help folks visualise what you're dealing with and motivate helpful responses!
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Do not follow me, for I may not lead. Do not lead me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either; actually just bugger off and stand over there will you.

[Eric&Barb]

Disconnect the antenna and wiring then use a multimeter or test light connected to power to see if radio and amp are connected to ground.

Does not hurt to just add in a ground wire to both going to the wiper ground point.

If you got popping and the fuse did not blow, more than likely it is not shorting out.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[type1vwjapan]

Its now about 4 am, and about to wound up the evening or should I say morning. I made sure the radio was grounded for sure and even ran an extra wire like was suggested. Took out that switch wiring for the RediRad too. I think that is what was making all that noise this morning, but still not for sure.

Got my radio working much better tonight! Turns out where the speaker wires connect to the amp had come loose and were barely hanging on. Got a much louder volume now and my RediRad even worked pretty well. I think I can still get a louder volume, but I'm still happy with it overall. Maybe this is as good as it gets for this old of a radio.

How loud can these speakers get?

I'm gonna try driving around tomorrow and let the amp warm up more and see what results I can get.

Thanks again everyone and for baring with me all the way.

[Eric&Barb]

Yes, loose connections do not help!
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[type1vwjapan]

Been a while so thought I'd update you all on what has been going on. I didn't fall off the face of the earth.

I ended up exchanging my radios with radiophil. He was more than generous about doing so since it was evident the radio was not working like it should.

I swapped it out for a less valuable but more period correct Sapphire 1 Bendix. It has the grey knobs, was fully tuned, has crystal clear audio, and gives my car the stock and early look I'm after. I'm much more happy with this radio and it went in effortlessly in about an hour tops.

Makes a world of difference when your radio comes with the correct support plate, mounting bracket, and actually works!

Thanks again for all the help and support with absolutely no pics of what I was running in to. Sorry for my lack of pics, as I'm only out around my car in the night time really. I will get some pics of my current setup ASAP though.

[EarlT]

This radio was in my pastel blue 1961 beetle. It is a transistor radio, am and fm, and made in Japan. I know the radios were dealer installed, has anyone seen this before?
The tuner knob is on the left, and the on off volume on the right.
I included pics of the schematics also. I found no manufacturer name, and my google search came up empty.
Any clues? Thanks.

[mercury3298]

Ok, boys/girls I have a antenna that does NOT have a wire coming out of it can I purchase a cable and solder it in the antenna somehow and then run the cable over to my radio? I'm just not sure where to purchase the cable and how to do it any one every repair or install a cable to the antenna before this antenna has no wires coming from it but I haven't pulled it out yet and really examined it but from what I saw there isn't any wires coming from it at all.

[Eric&Barb]