I have tried two different models of older Alpine CD/radio in my 86 Pickup, and I have this problem:

The radio works great for about ten minutes, then begins cutting out. Finally it just quits, and won't come back on until hours later. And then cuts off again. when it stops playing, the radio lights go out too, and any pre-set stations disappear.

When I am not driving, but just working on the truck, the radio runs all day with no problem.

There is no holder for the radio, no mounting brackets. I have it sitting in the recess where the OEM radio came out, with part of the dash removed, so it just sits on top of the heat vent.

I suspected heat was the cause of this so I drove it several days with the heat off. It did the same thing at about the same spot on the freeway. (15 minutes from home.)

I have trouble finding a mounting kit for this vehicle, but one site recommended an under-dash kit.

Does this sound like a problem that will likely go away with a mounting kit? I have no experience with aftermarket radios and appreciate any help. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Sounds more like a bad radio, and once it heats up, some joint inside flexes apart and no longer makes contact.

Try running it inside off a 12v converter or a battery and see what happens.

Might be a bad radio but also check out the power and ground connections with a volt meter with the engine off and running to see what change there is. It almost sounds like you are loosing voltage after the engine is running. Other choice might be a partially grounded speaker wire that is making contact while you drive.

i bet there is a wire touching each other (-+) in/near your speakers, causeing a short. Some radio's have an automatic shut off when it gets hot. Feel the back of the radio when it cuts out and see if its hot.

kevan

You never said which vehilce you have, BUT...
Isuzu radio's do not ground through the wiring harness as you would expect, they ground strickly through the chassis.
If you aren't mounting the radio solid, you are just losing your ground connection.

thanks guys.

There IS a speaker that doesn't work. So I can check that out for shorts. It used to work and I did take it out and put it back in, so...I might have crushed the wires together or against something.

And I can try adding a ground wire. Right now it only grounds to the black wire in the harness.

And a happy update: I drove the 25 miles to work today and the radio played all the way. First time. Yesterday it was cutting out after 6 blocks. My fix?

I took a recent edition of Auto Trader magazine, folded it in half, and jammed it under the center of the radio. It hasn't cut out since.

Maybe this helped by freeing space around the vent holes which are near the outside edges on top and bottom. Or maybe it cushioned the vibrations from driving. Or maybe it was the subtle suggestion of replacement time implied by the presence of the Auto Trader. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I'll try your suggestions this weekend.

BTW this is an 86 Isuzu P'up.

And P.S. Metra emailed me and said nobody makes a kit for this truck, so I have to make one up. what do people think about underdash kits?

Rick H.

Could it be that the case of the stereo was grounding out to the body? Maybe it rattled around and grounded out.

Dan

I am in the same boat as far as the plastic kit thing. Basically my plan for my new radio deck it secure it with the ugly metal hanger that is already there. Then make a wodden case to surround the metal and drill the wood up and into the mounting surface. Hard to explain but I think you know what I mean.