4 replies to this topic

[nospamprl]

I'm experiencing a strange problem with my 1989 Mini 30:

A couple of months ago I installed a new Sony radio (nothing fancy, CD player and radio) with 2 new JBL small 4" speakers (2-ohms but according to JBL safe to use on 4 ohm headunits). No amplifiers nor anything extra. I used the wiring that was used with the OEM Phillips headunit. The headunit states 50w per channel.

Now, sometimes when I turn on the high beams (which also light up the spot lights) or the fog light (which turns on the front foglights) my radio turns off for a couple of seconds. Sometimes it doesn't loose the memory settings bu some other it loose them.

To be honest, the other day I was doing things under the bonnet and somehow I moved a relay placed behind the windshield wiper (I think it's for the fog or spot lamps) and it made a short with the body with a relatively big spark blow. I checked all the electricals in the car and everything seemed to work fine (lights, horn, wipers, etc). Although I'm not entirely sure, I think the radio problem may have begun at that time.

Can anybody give me some advice?

Thanks in advance.

[eggb78]

I had the same problem with my other halfs mini it turned out to be a bad earth coming from the stereo. check the earths have good contact with bare metal hopfully that will cure it.

[Mini Man Dan]

What rate alternator do you have?

To have headlights, spotlights and the stereo going could be putting too much drain on the battery?

[newdawn1st]

Had a similar problem, where's the switched live for your stereo running from? found mine was running off another circuit so just moved it directly to the switched live off the fuse box using a piggy back spade connector. Was under the assumption on mine that the stereo was last in line for the power, so as other items came on they reduced the stereo's available power slightly causing it to switch off. electrics

[jmetal88]

What rate alternator do you have?

To have headlights, spotlights and the stereo going could be putting too much drain on the battery?

This is exactly what happens with my stereo in cold weather before the engine warms up.

Now that I'm back in an Oklahoma summer though, I'm having an opposite problem. That is, the stereo does not turn off when I shut off the ignition. It's wired directly up to the fuse box, the power line is switched and the memory line is always on, so the only thing I can think of happening is for some reason the radio's started running off the memory circuit. Oddly enough I can get it to shut off by switching on the blower motor switch after I've turned off the car though.