1986 Radio - No Power

[Kenobi77]

Did a little experiment and discovered that as soon as I have battery power, the fuse pops. This leads me to believe there is an issue in the 12v constant line. Still at a loss for what would’ve caused it (if it is the case) as the issue showed up when nothing had changed, the truck hadn’t moved in months, and the radio had worked perfectly before then.

 

[Brain75]

mice, I blame mice...

 

[Kenobi77]

Another (unwise) experiment. I replaced the fuse in the radio, going up gradually from the specified 10 amp fuse to see where it quit popping. Still popped at 25 amps—and, simultaneously, the fuse in the box (5 amp) for the dome light popped.

I replaced the fuse for the dome light and my auxiliary gauge lights, for which I had used a fuse tap in the dome light circuit, function just fine. But still no dome light.

And yes, the radio fuse in the box is still 100% fine.

Just tested the bulb for continuity and it’s good.

 

[Brain75]

probably popped the bulb too...

 

[Kenobi77]

probably popped the bulb too...

Nope, bulb is good. But I’m not getting continuity to the light contacts.

 

[Terrys87]

After reading thru this post, I am jealous of some of these guys electrical abilities, electric scares me. Only thing I could suggest is checking all of your grounds. I have seen grounds cause some issues. Most electrical gremlins I have experience is where someone has tapped into brakes lights or stereo wires. I could not understand in your post if you had the factory wiring as it should be and most stereos systems have a kit that connect factory wiring to aftermarket. In either one of my builds, I try to show where all the grounds are that I know of if that will help.