1983 D-150 Radio shuts down when headlights turned on

[loweyj]

Hello All,

I purchased a 1983 D-150 yesterday, and while bringing it home today, I noticed that when I turn on my headlights, my radio shuts down. If I turn the lights off, the radio turns back on.

Anyone have any thoughts as to why this would be happening, and how I may go about repairing it?

Thanks very much !!!

Jim

[NeDodgeguy]

Our 92 Grand Voyager does that too.

Bad ground???

[MagnumThrobb]

Nice truck! Same year as mine. But those running boards got to go.

Anyways, loweyj has it right. I'm guessing its an aftermarket radio. And when the guy put it in, he used his test light to locate a ground. But instead of a ground, what he hooked it to was part of the lighting system that turns from a ground to a hot wire when the lights are turned on. Most likely the factory "dim" function for the stock radio. So when the lights get turned on, there is no longer a path for current to flow.

Run yourself a proper ground from a metal part of the underside of the dashboard. I used an eye terminal and a self tapping screw. If its an aftermarket radio, its the black wire on the radio side of his splices. Check his splices too. Wire nuts are a no no.

[MagnumThrobb]

Also, if you would, It does not look like your truck has a gangsta' lean. If it sits level, can you take pics of your drivers and passenger side lower control arms?

If you got time check out my saga here (http://www.dodgetalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173084)

Sorry to hijack.... feel free to :nutkick:

[loweyj]

Thanks for the replies fellas,

MagnumThrobb... I have attached pics of my lowerarms for ya... hope it helps !!!

Jim

[Speed Dragon]

Shoot, that driver arm looks bent too lol.

[MagnumThrobb]

Thanks for the pics!!!

That lower control arm looks JUST like mine, BOTH sides. When your truck is sitting on level ground, does it seem to "sag" on the drivers side front?

Also, how did that radio ground work out?

[loweyj]

When she is on level ground she sits nice and level... No Probs here

I'm wondering if you have a weak coil spring on your droppy side ?

Have not had a chance to check out the radio yet, spent the day in the forest downing trees for the wood stove. GOT new probs now w/ electrical tho...

When I flipped on my left turn signal, it no-longer flashes, just comes on and stays lit. Also, if I I turn on headlights, both signals just light up and stay that way...

Also tired the hazards today, and they do nothin...

Hopefully will get time to check out the grounding recommendation in the next few days.


Jim

[acton mike]

the running boards do have to go

and - what are the pieces of string for - the ones hanging down by the control arms

[loweyj]

Beats me... just bought the truck and they were hanging there...

[bherder]

When she is on level ground she sits nice and level... No Probs here

I'm wondering if you have a weak coil spring on your droppy side ?

Have not had a chance to check out the radio yet, spent the day in the forest downing trees for the wood stove. GOT new probs now w/ electrical tho...

When I flipped on my left turn signal, it no-longer flashes, just comes on and stays lit. Also, if I I turn on headlights, both signals just light up and stay that way...

Also tired the hazards today, and they do nothin...

Hopefully will get time to check out the grounding recommendation in the next few days.


Jim

Sounds like someone had their fingers in there without a clue as to what they were doing... you may need to get a manual with a good electrical schematic and start tracing circuits. It can be tedious and a PITA, but it's not difficult.
Oh, and look for any obvious 'repairs' someone else did, and make those your prime suspects ;)

[loweyj]

Thanks for your reply bherder,

I am heading to the city today and plan on hitting up a few parts stores to look for a repair manual... Any suggestions on a good one?

I did find a schematic on autozone, but it didn't really match up to what I'm seeing... I replaced a burnt headlight and found a spliced white or yellow(discolored) wire coming from the headlight connector, that obviously was at one time hooked up to something at one time, but could not find any other sources for it... The schematic on Autozone only shows red and black wire coming from head light, so I'm dumbfolded. Hopefully a repair manual will have a better schematic

Jim

[bherder]

So far as a manual from a parts store, Haynes is about as good as you'll find. The schematics are pretty good, but there are so many variances in wiring (Models, options, etc.) they just can't cover them all.

A factory service manual is hands down what you really want. Although, you'll have to look on ebay or something to find one. And they can get pretty pricey too.. But if you plan on keeping this rig, a FSM will more than pay for itself after time :D

[DiverDwnPowrRam]

The running boards are cool...I want them! I read someplace that the lean was attrib to the gas tank and the driver being on the same side and over time weakening the springs. I do not have the lean but I do not think It affects 4X4s as much

[MagnumThrobb]

The haynes manual has everything I've ever needed. Including wiring diagrams. It should cost about 20 bucks at an auto parts store. But NOTHING beats a factory service manual. But they are pricey. My birthday is coming up, maybe I'll get lucky and get one. :cool:

Thanks again for the pics and info about my gangsta' lean. :gr_patrio

[bherder]

Yeah, every year, I keep telling my wife "Hey... It's MY BIRTHDAY ... How about giving me what I REALLY want... huh??) ;)

I never get it though....


(SHAME ON YOU!!! Get your mind out of the gutter!!!! :D :D :D )

[bherder]

The running boards are cool...I want them!

(I bet he'd give them to ya for free ;) They should go somewhere... :D )

I read someplace that the lean was attrib to the gas tank and the driver being on the same side and over time weakening the springs.

I'll bet your right... Possibly bushing wear might have an affect also..)

I do not have the lean but I do not think It affects 4X4s as much

Yeah, dont' see very many crooked/leaning 4x4's....

[C1DoG]

all you gotta do for a decent radio connection is run the hot straight to the battery with an inline fuse to it and run the switched to the ignition. that will solve your radio/headlight problems :D

[Speed Dragon]

If the signal lights in the dash don't blink w/ the signal, usually means a bad bulb on that side. Ditto for them lighting up when you turn the headlights on. I'd probably just replace all the parking/signal light bulbs, and clean sockets and coat them w/ dielectric grease while you're at it.

[loweyj]

I picked up the Haynes yesterday and the first thing I looked for is not in it. It turns out the Timing Spec sticker is missing from my engine compartment, so that was the first thing I looked for and of course the manual states to get that setting from the missing sticker, so if anyone has that info, it sure would be appreciated !!!

Still have not had a look under the dash for the ground on the radio. My back is getting back at me for the day spent in the woods falling trees. Once the spasms mellow out, I will climb in under there and have a good look around.

Speed Dragon,
If the signal lights in the dash don't blink w/ the signal, usually means a bad bulb on that side. Ditto for them lighting up when you turn the headlights on. I'd probably just replace all the parking/signal light bulbs, and clean sockets and coat them w/ dielectric grease while you're at it.
Thanks for your reply. While at the parts store yesterday, I explained my situation with the Hazzards, and turn signals, and they suggested it was the flasher. I bought one, but have yet to put it in. If it does not do the trick, I will be doing as you suggested, and then returning the $12 flasher.

C1 Dog, thanks for your optional fix suggestion, sounds like a good plan if all else fails.



Oh yes, I guess if anyone is able to get me the Timing Specs, they would need more info...

1983 D-150, 225/6, 1 barrel, man-4speedOD


I had a good laugh last night when returning from work... I had emailed a number of local Mopar dealers over the weekend requesting a quote on the Steering Coupler repair kit #0443436AC. I had read on the board that folks in the States were paying about $6-$7 for the part. Well, I had quotes ranging from $17 all the way up to $31. All dealers are in Calgary, I guess some are greeder than others. Allbeit, even $31 is chicken scratch if it takes the slack outta the steering.......

[charlie1935]

Oh yes, I guess if anyone is able to get me the Timing Specs, they would need more info...

1983 D-150, 225/6, 1 barrel, man-4speedOD


According to my Chiltons: manual tranny-12 degrees BTDC, auto-16 BTDC. :gr_patrio

[loweyj]

charlie

Thanks alot... muchly appreciated !!!!

[loweyj]

Update !!!

Well, I found time to have a look at the radio today. I pulled it out and looked things over. The wires there are the speaker wire and one Red Wire and one Orange wire. Was looking for a ground (black), but none to be found. Anyway, while I had it out I thought I would turn it on and see what happens. I turned the key to give it power, and it came on. I then turned on the headlights and it didn't power down like usual. I then realised that I had my dash lights turned way down low and turned them up and the radio died.

So, for some reason it must be related to those dash lights? I guess a question I have is would the red wire be power, while the orange wire be connected to the ignition or accessory function? And am I suppose to ground the radio to the dash somehow? It is a factory radio, as it looks exactly like the one in my manual.

Anyone chime in with any insight ???

[bherder]

Mmmm.... The radio on/off, shouldn't have anything to do with the headlights or dimmer...
Ignition or accessory on... Radio should be on (Or at least power going to it..) Ign off... No radio.

Now, the light that lights up the dial when the headlights are on.. If I remember right ... Should be controlled by the dimmer ... In other words, when you turn down the dimmer and it dims the dash lights, I think it also dims the radio dial light. If everything is hooked up right, that is ;)

Sounds like something still is cross-wired....

[loweyj]

Hi BHerder,

So, you figure the red and orange wire may have been crossed at one time or another ?

Also, should there not be a ground on the radio ?

[bherder]

That's what I would suspect...

If you have the 'stock' radio, I believe it's grounded through the chassis (As in, just being bolted into place grounds it) but I'm not really sure.

Aftermarket radio.. Unless you installed it, who knows how it's hooked up..

[Speed Dragon]

Is it a factory Chrysler radio, or an aftermarket radio?

[loweyj]

Repaired !!!

The unit (factory) was not grounding very well... I ran a ground from a nut on the unit to a good ground under dash and problem fixed.. Thanks for all the replies !!!!

Jim