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Jrm1080 Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2012 Posts: 104 Location: Phoenix, Az
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 3:59 pm Post subject: Stock radio repair |
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After 5 years of driving with nothing but wind noise I finally spent $15 to replace the dry rotted old original speaker. I’d hoped that’d fix it since the radio has power and lights up when turned on. Unfortunately when it’s all hooked up all I get is a very faint static noise no matter what the radio is tuned to.
Anyone rebuild/repair these old stereos or have any other ideas? I want to keep the original one in it.
_________________ -Constant over thinker
-Figuring it out as I go. (With lots of Samba inquiries)
•’67 Type I mostly original semi daily driver (temperature permitting 🔥☀️)
•’74 Type I work in progress. |
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67ctbug Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2016 Posts: 3619 Location: CT
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 4:30 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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I'm going to ask a stupid question... do you have an antenna? If you do, try extending it, it might help. _________________ '67 Beetle L41
'74 Westfalia
'69 Plymouth "Adam-12"
'63 Ragtop
'73 914
'73 Dodge W200
'72 Dodge Wrecker
Go Cubs!
World Series Champions 2016
KentPS wrote: |
...or the PO envied the terrorists' bus in "Back to the Future". |
mukluk wrote: |
He's fine, just waiting for the dragon in winklepickers to move out of his lane. |
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joey1320 Samba Member
Joined: September 12, 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: Cleveland, OH
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12454
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:14 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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www.vwradios.com |
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rcooled Samba Member
Joined: September 20, 2008 Posts: 2493 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:19 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Jrm1080 wrote: |
Anyone rebuild/repair these old stereos or have any other ideas? |
Yes, there are places that repair vintage car radios but their services don't come cheap. Because it can cost a couple hundred bucks to get an old radio working again, it's sometimes more cost-effective to just find another one that's already working.
Here's a couple of places that specialize in car radio repair:
http://vwradios.com/Home.html
http://www.classicradio.com/
This place will replace the guts of an old radio with modern components for a vintage look with updated performance:
http://www.turnswitch.com/radio1.htm _________________ '63 Ragtop (current)
'65 Ghia coupe (totaled)
'67 Ghia convertible (current)
'69.5 Ghia convertible and
'62, '63, '65, '69 Bugs (all long gone) |
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Jrm1080 Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2012 Posts: 104 Location: Phoenix, Az
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:29 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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67ctbug wrote: |
I'm going to ask a stupid question... do you have an antenna? If you do, try extending it, it might help. |
Yes and Done. 👎🏼 _________________ -Constant over thinker
-Figuring it out as I go. (With lots of Samba inquiries)
•’67 Type I mostly original semi daily driver (temperature permitting 🔥☀️)
•’74 Type I work in progress. |
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Zundfolge1432 Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004 Posts: 12454
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:08 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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I’ve done business with the referral I made. He is cost effective because he’s a one man operation working out of his house. |
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Jrm1080 Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2012 Posts: 104 Location: Phoenix, Az
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:17 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Thanks guys. I emailed both referrals. _________________ -Constant over thinker
-Figuring it out as I go. (With lots of Samba inquiries)
•’67 Type I mostly original semi daily driver (temperature permitting 🔥☀️)
•’74 Type I work in progress. |
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Danwvw Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2012 Posts: 8892 Location: Oregon Coast
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Come on those Bug Transistor Radios were always Junk and will always be Junk. Ge a nice sound system. _________________ 1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths! |
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KTPhil Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2006 Posts: 33883 Location: Conejo Valley, CA
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 7:58 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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One more thing to try is to adjust the antenna trim, usually hidden behind one of the knobs. Tune to the high end of the band, hopefully hearing something faint, and adjust for highest volume. |
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Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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The other thing to check: yes, you may have an antenna, but is it properly installed, and not shorting out somewhere? Trying holding on to the antenna while tuning the radio ...if you get a stronger signal, you know where the problem is .... _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
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FranciscoVW Samba Member
Joined: December 30, 2017 Posts: 28 Location: California, USA
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:58 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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you should by one of those radios that look stock but have bluetooth and aux _________________ '61 Ragtop
Skrrrt |
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panicman Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2011 Posts: 2290 Location: Canby, OR
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:02 am Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Digger89L wrote: |
The other thing to check: yes, you may have an antenna, but is it properly installed, and not shorting out somewhere? Trying holding on to the antenna while tuning the radio ...if you get a stronger signal, you know where the problem is .... |
I noticed this!! When my radio is on, if the grab the antenna, the volume BOOMS. Do i need a new antenna? _________________ Plate of shrimp |
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Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:26 am Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Its an electrical issue. Check and clean the antenna end where it plugs into the radio; check and clean the other end of the antenna where it connects to the antenna mast; make sure the radio is properly grounded (clean the contact point where the radio is grounded to the body of the car). Make sure the antenna is fully extended. If these efforts fail to improve reception, try a different or new antenna. Here's a tip on how to test an antenna.
https://itstillruns.com/test-antenna-ohmmeter-8504269.html _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
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panicman Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2011 Posts: 2290 Location: Canby, OR
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Thank you! _________________ Plate of shrimp |
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Jrm1080 Samba Member
Joined: December 21, 2012 Posts: 104 Location: Phoenix, Az
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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FranciscoVW wrote: |
you should by one of those radios that look stock but have bluetooth and aux |
That might be a plan for my wife’s ‘74. Any recommendations on where to find one? _________________ -Constant over thinker
-Figuring it out as I go. (With lots of Samba inquiries)
•’67 Type I mostly original semi daily driver (temperature permitting 🔥☀️)
•’74 Type I work in progress. |
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ScottLakeport Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2015 Posts: 32 Location: Lakeport, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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I have bought two supposedly working 6 volt radios on ebay, but both fail to give any signal to the speaker even when they light up, just frustrating as hell
Looking for my third attempt at a working radio |
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ScottLakeport Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2015 Posts: 32 Location: Lakeport, CA
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 11:00 pm Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Jrm1080 wrote: |
After 5 years of driving with nothing but wind noise I finally spent $15 to replace the dry rotted old original speaker. I’d hoped that’d fix it since the radio has power and lights up when turned on. Unfortunately when it’s all hooked up all I get is a very faint static noise no matter what the radio is tuned to.
Anyone rebuild/repair these old stereos or have any other ideas? I want to keep the original one in it.
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I have really spent a lot of time and a lot of money to get a working Sapphire radio in my car, and I still don't have one that works.
Also have spent a lot of time online trying to chase down knowledge and I think but I am not certain that if you hook one up to anything but a four ohm speaker you will hear nothing. Cannot confirm this though. Maybe your Sapphire actually works and the 15 dollar replacement you tried is an 8 ohm ? |
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herbie1200 Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2006 Posts: 832 Location: Rome - Italy
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 12:26 am Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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Those radio are very cheap, especially if compared to a good blaupunkt or becker or grundig, they have the half of components (transistors, coils, etc.). Often they do not have FM.
Their weakness is in:
- receiving, they have simplified RF circuitation, so sensitivity and selectivity are poor
- amplifying, they often have a single transistor output stage, so they eat a lot of current also with low volume and have small power
- filtering from noises, both from feed (12 or 6V) and electromagnetic, so you have to install a lot of condensers on points, spark plug, flasher, etc., to avoid noises. A good blaupunkt/becker/grundig does not need filters.
Obviously the 3 points I listed require a lot of expehnsive components: inductors, transformers, hi-spec capacitors, etc.
Anyway if the Sapphire has its history in that car has to be preserved.
I'm able to repair and retune those radios, and I'm very cheap, but I live in Italy - Europe, so shipping cost (to and from) is a big issue when dealing with the U.S. |
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ScottLakeport Samba Member
Joined: October 26, 2015 Posts: 32 Location: Lakeport, CA
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Posted: Thu Jan 18, 2018 1:19 am Post subject: Re: Stock radio repair |
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herbie1200 wrote: |
Those radio are very cheap, especially if compared to a good blaupunkt or becker or grundig, they have the half of components (transistors, coils, etc.). Often they do not have FM.
Their weakness is in:
- receiving, they have simplified RF circuitation, so sensitivity and selectivity are poor
- amplifying, they often have a single transistor output stage, so they eat a lot of current also with low volume and have small power
- filtering from noises, both from feed (12 or 6V) and electromagnetic, so you have to install a lot of condensers on points, spark plug, flasher, etc., to avoid noises. A good blaupunkt/becker/grundig does not need filters.
Obviously the 3 points I listed require a lot of expehnsive components: inductors, transformers, hi-spec capacitors, etc.
Anyway if the Sapphire has its history in that car has to be preserved.
I'm able to repair and retune those radios, and I'm very cheap, but I live in Italy - Europe, so shipping cost (to and from) is a big issue when dealing with the U.S. |
I would love to have a 6 volt radio for my vw that could pick up AM and FM, any brand ! |
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