Radio no sound!

Here's a copy of my previous reply: The radio broke down a long time ago, but the problem will not show up until memory power is removed as in replacing the battery. If you have the cassette model 56038518 or the cd model that ends with "67", these are built by Chrysler with a microprocessor built by North American Philips, (NAP), the same people who build the really crappy Magnavox and Philips tvs. All microprocessors in all electronic equipment have a "reset" circuit that sets the millions of transistors to their starting point, (on or off), rather than letting them start from some jumbled random state. That reset circuit only operates for a few milliseconds when power is first applied. After that, it's job is done and it will not operate again until the next time the radio is unplugged, the battery is disconnected or run dead, or the interior lights fuse is replaced. That fuse is the memory circuit for the radio. Once the radio is up and running, that reset circuit can fail and you will never know it.

The most common problem is the three yellow leds in the tone controls blink about once per second and you hear a thump in the speakers at the same time. There is a list of about a dozen other things that go wrong, all related to the microprocessor. Some radios go dead for five seconds after moving the volume control. On some the sound will quit when you move a tone control and won't come back until you turn the radio off and back on. Sometimes the stations won't change when you try to tune to a new one. This mostly affects the radios with the three lighted tone controls but there are some models with two non-lighted tone controls that are also affected.

A lot of mechanics are falsely accused of damaging these radios because the problem shows up right after they performed any service that requires the battery to be disconnected.

There are two models built by Mitsubishi that are direct replacements and are real high quality. They look the same, mount the same, have the same lighted tone controls, and will run the same remote cd changer if you have one. The cassette model has one extra button for "scan". These radios weigh about three times more than the Chrysler-built models. They were only used for one year in only a few car models so they're kind of hard to find. They are in high demand by used car dealers to replace non-working radios in their cars. I have some of all three, the cassette model, cd model, and the combo units. I repair and sell these radios at the nation's second largest old car show in Wisconsin. The cassette model is real popular for replacing your model.

Caradiodoc

The aftermarket radios won't run the cd changer. If you can't find the right radio at a local salvage yard I can sell you one for $60.00 including shipping. It will look the same except it will have one extra button for "scan" for the radio. Your radio will have "supplier number 07910" on the sticker which means the radio was built by Chrysler. The replacement will have supplier number 28046 and is built by Mitsubishi.

Yup. If you have the Infinity system, there are a few different ways to approach the amplifier. All Chrysler radios run speakers directly. The amplifiers do not change volume. They are used only for tone conditioning for the shape of the vehicle. What you will find is Infinity radios put out much less bass. It is made up in the amplifier. A standard radio or an aftermarket one will have too much bass unless you turn it way down. You can bypass the amplifier but that's a lot of work. Instead, most aftermarket radios will have a switched power wire for an amp or power antenna. Use that wire to turn on the original amp. Without the amp turning on you will only hear a few of the small speakers. If you currently have a non-Infinity system, (which I think your model is), there will be no amp to worry about. An adapter harness should take care of most of the wiring except there is no ground wire in it. You'll have to use the one clipped to the back of the old radio.

If you have an Infinity system, check the fuse for the remote amplifier. I assume you checked the cd and / or cassette player for sound too. Depending on the model of your radio, it can be dead including no display. Holler back with a physical description of your radio. I've repaired a lot of Chrysler radios.

Also check for inoperative interior lights, lighter, and horn. One of these circuits will power the radio's memory circuit. Some radio models will appear to work normally but have no sound if the memory fuse is blown. The clue is the clock will reset to 12:00 each time you turn on the ignition switch.

Caradiodoc

Is the cd player and cassette in one radio or do you have the cassette player with a remote-mounted four-disc changer under the radio? Do you know if you have the Infinity system with a remote amplifier or little amps on the speakers?

Can you pull the radio to see the model number? There are a few models that have a 100 percent failure rate and a lot of mechanics get falsely blamed for causing the damage. The most common unit is model 56038518 and has three tone controls with yellow leds. There are also some models with two non-lighted tone controls but they don't all fail. If this sounds like your radio, I can copy and paste a better description of the problem and the fix.

Here's a copy of a previous reply: The radio broke down a long time ago, but the problem will not show up until memory power is removed as in replacing the battery. If you have the cassette model 56038518 or the cd model that ends with "67", these are built by Chrysler with a microprocessor built by North American Philips, (NAP), the same people who build the really crappy Magnavox and Philips tvs. All microprocessors in all electronic equipment have a "reset" circuit that sets the millions of transistors to their starting point, (on or off), rather than letting them start from some jumbled random state. That reset circuit only operates for a few milliseconds when power is first applied. After that, it's job is done and it will not operate again until the next time the radio is unplugged, the battery is disconnected or run dead, or the interior lights fuse is replaced. That fuse is the memory circuit for the radio. Once the radio is up and running, that reset circuit can fail and you will never know it.

The most common problem is the three yellow leds in the tone controls blink about once per second and you hear a thump in the speakers at the same time. There is a list of about a dozen other things that go wrong, all related to the microprocessor. Some radios go dead for five seconds after moving the volume control. On some the sound will quit when you move a tone control and won't come back until you turn the radio off and back on. Sometimes the stations won't change when you try to tune to a new one. This mostly affects the radios with the three lighted tone controls but there are some models with two non-lighted tone controls that are also affected.

A lot of mechanics are falsely accused of damaging these radios because the problem shows up right after they performed any service that requires the battery to be disconnected.

There are two models built by Mitsubishi that are direct replacements and are real high quality. They look the same, mount the same, have the same lighted tone controls, and will run the same remote cd changer if you have one. The cassette model has one extra button for "scan". These radios weigh about three times more than the Chrysler-built models. They were only used for one year in only a few car models so they're kind of hard to find. They are in high demand by used car dealers to replace non-working radios in their cars. I have some of all three, the cassette model, cd model, and the combo units. I repair and sell these radios at the nation's second largest old car show in Wisconsin. The cassette model is real popular for replacing your model.

Caradiodoc

There are only two solutions. One is to have the dealer send it in to one of the authorized repair centers. I believe the cost will be around $250.00 plus shipping two ways and the dealer's labor charge. No reprogramming will be required. (If this were a GM radio the total cost with the required reprogramming would be almost double. GM has to stay profitable somehow, and it's not through sales of new cars to repeat customers). This is one Chrysler radio I can't repair. I have the equipment to replace the very tiny microprocessor but then the software has to be "burned in" for the specific model. They will never sell me the multi-thousand dollar equipment to do that. The second alternative is to find the one model that is a direct replacement or you can upgrade to a cassette / cd combo radio. Both models are built by Mitsubishi for Chrysler vehicles, both mount the same, have the same three lighted tone controls, and will run the same remote cd changer if you have one. You have to find a radio with the right plugs. 1999 - 2002 is when they were switching over to the newer plugs. The problem radios have the older style plugs. The cassette-only model is in demand by used car dealers to replace their non-working radios. I have some of both models if you can't find any locally, but to be safe you should check the model number of your radio first. It's on the sticker on top of the radio.

Check for ground and power at the rear of the radio
if OK radio at fault remove and replace