My 1979 C3 has an 8 track in it and today while driving it just stopped. I checked the 10amp fuse and it was blown. I installed another and it immediately blew. Tried a 15 amp fuse and it too blew. Obviously I have a short somewhere that just developed while driving. Is there anyway to easily eliminate the problem and cause or do I need to pull the whole unit out and check all the wiring?

Help!


Bret

 

No easy way, remove the unit, replace the fuse, never never put a larger amp fuse in, if the fuse blows right away you know there is a short prior to the unit.

 

I would suggest bench testing it to save yourself the trouble of ripping it out again if it blows immediately.

 

So how hard is it to remove the unit? How do you undo the small threaded washers that hold the volume and station control into the console?

 

Remove the side carpeted panels from the console. These are held in by three screws along there length. One will be very tough to get to with tight clearance from the seat. If you are willing and want to do the job right, I would suggest undoing the four bolts that hold the seat in and remove the seats. Will give you plenty of room to move and only adds 20-25 minutes to whole job.

Disconnect the shifter handle. Mine is a four speed, so all I had to do was unscrew the shifter ****, can't speak to automatics

You now need to remove the console plate. It is held in by two screws at the rear that attach it to the back of the console and two screws at the front that attach it to the gauge bezel (be careful with these screws, they are vertical and only into plastic, if you apply too much pressure, you will break the plastic.

Remove the radio *****

Remove the radio shaft nuts. These are large rings with two slots in them. I usually use a small straight screwdriver in one of the slots and get it to rotate.

Check to see if there is a strap on the rear of the radio supporting and holding it in place. Remove the nut and strap.

Disconnect the antenna/power/speaker connections. The radio is now ready to come out.

I can't remember if you can get the radio out from behind the gauge bezel off the top of my head. If you can, go for it.

If you can't, the gauge bezel is held in by four screws which are only threaded into the dash pad, so be gently removing and installing. You should be able to just shift the bezel enough to remove the radio. If not, you have to disconnect the electrical connector for the gauges.

Installation is the reverse of these steps

If you do have to remove the gauges completely, be sure to test them before re-installing the console. The connector is tricky as it really is just a flexible printed circuit board and you will often have to do it a few times.

Good Luck

 

Thanks heaps. So I should be able to get the radio out without removing the gauges, ie the top part of the console. That would be nice.

Bret

 

Is the 8 track and radio the only component on that circuit?

 

I believe the radio is on a single/separate circuit. Definately only marked as radio on the fuse box. I don't have a wiring diagram to confirm that thou...maybe another member can.

 

Bret,

Before you go through pulling the stereo, or side panels do some quick checks. First will it still blow with the radio turned off? Second, if it blows when you turn it on, does it blow with an 8 track in/out of the radio? The power antenna (if equipped) relay is powered off the switch, and if it only blows when an 8 track is in, check the track change switch (two pieces of curved metal inside the door by the head)for a short. I worked on GM stereos for years, and junk built up over time will short out the change switch.

 

Hi,

Just got around to checking as described. It only blows when the unit is turned on. Blows with the 8 track in or out. Mmmm. Looks like the unit or antenna?

 

Just wondering if it is a faulty unit is there a place in the US that sells refurbished original 8 track units or is it ebay?