The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay The Radio Bench Weird Radio Problem

I have a repro style radio from the company in Clearwater, Florida... I installed it today. The on/off switch works but the volume part does not. When you turn the radio on the knob is at it's max to the right so there's no way to turn volume up or down. When you shut the radio off you can keep turning the knob to the left - - it's like the switch mechanism is backwards.. anyone ever hear of this problem?

Larry - that does seem weird. i have the same radio and it behaves as you would expect, i.e. it doesn't work the way you describe.. i think you may have a defective unit.

You obvously have a defective on/off/volume switch. Only fix is to replace it.
dg

I've been dealing with this problem for TWO months...TWO months!! I sent it back again. When I got it back when I turned the radio on - I had to turn the knob a full turn before I got to volume control - - then I'd either get a squelch or a pop sound. Antique Automobile Radio said that A) I overtightened the nuts on install (I didn't); or B) My speakers were causing the problem (they weren't).... And to prove it, I rewired all six speakers with different wire just to be sure... then did a trouble shoot plugging in only two speakers at a time. Same problem. So after all of this, they will replace the radio (finally!!!) I asked them to send me a new radio and then I'll send the defective one back. NOPE - - they don't trust me. But I'm supposed to trust them. Shesh.

Vent over.

By the way, when it works it sounds great!

+ + + + +
FRIDAY UPDATE.... But NO - they've decided that they won't replace the radio... and still say that perhaps I overtightened the knob when I put it in - Seriously??
So I have to send it back (I'm up to $36 in shipping costs now) and they'll look at it again. Crap. Stay tuned for "As the radio turns"

UPDATE - 6 months later.... My truck is restored and the worst problems I've had with the entire rebuild is with the radio. Now let's understand that my buddy who helped me won First Place in the Ridler Award - he's also built and sold hot rods at Mecum. He's no slouch.

So after the third time sending the radio back here's what it's doing:
1) Turn the power knob on - have to turn it over a full turn before it gets to volume
2) About 3-4x out of 10 when the radio comes on it's off station
3) About 2 out of 10x there's a squelch when turned on
4) Most of the time there's a faint pop at turn on

Once on it sounds great - I have no complaints with the sound.

I took it to a high end audio dealer for an independent assessment. They said it was the potentiometer - part of the on/off switch. I told Antique Radio and they refuse to believe it. They want me to send the radio back - a FOURTH TIME! I'm figuring that they couldn't get it right the first three times why would I think they could fix it on the fourth try - -

Let me state that they are nice enough and willing to keep fixing it - but I've now spent $50 in shipping back and forth. And each time I'm without tunes for at least two weeks (that's over 6 weeks without a radio in total) I keep asking for a replacement but they said no that's not their policy. So let's see, they'd rather keep spending money on their help NOT fixing it and having a [censored] off customer??? I don't get it.

What gets my gall is their "techie arrogance" they refuse to think that there is something wrong with their radio build. How arrogant!

So I'm done with them. I would never, ever, ever recommend them to anyone. You may get a fine radio - but if you get a lemon (at $500!!) then you're S.O.L.

- End of rant -

Larry:
I'm not disputing your analysis of a defective radio, however, since it is the third time, here are some things I would double check (if you haven't already):
- Car radio speakers are a different impedance than regular speakers, so double check that they are designed for car audio
- Antenna system, you need enough signal to drive the front end of the radio. Make sure the antenna cable is good and grounded.
- Some car radios have a tuning mechanism for adjusting the radio to the antenna system
Good luck with that, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and re-invest in something that you know works. Great looking panel, it would be worth getting a radio you are happy with in spite of the "double expenditure."

Hi Donsz - thanks for the feedback.... Good points all... When I went for the independent review, the company is a high end car audio installer. He commented about the speakers I have and said that they sell the same ones and they're high quality. The antenna is a plug 'n play... all grounded, etc. All that's required is to plug it into the back of the radio.

Like I've said, it sounds great. But it's the foolish intermittent issues that keep it from being 100%. Are the problems annoying? Yup. But not worth trashing the $550.00 I've spent on it. Would I take a replacement from Antique Auto Radio? Yup. If they won't replace it will I send it back a FOURTH time to look at the very same problems? Nope. I have zero confidence that they can get it right. If I bite the bullet, it will be to take it to someone who can fix the problem without the attitude.

Thanks for the input.

Larry,
is there a possibility that you could contact the people that make the radio? Maybe they would want to know your story and the fact that is being discussed on a very popular internet site.

Hey Trucker! You'd be absolutely right! Over the past 6 months I've been a very patient person. Heck, I own a store so I can fully appreciate good customer service. But I've had lot's and lot's of "discussions" - last time I talked with the manager he insisted that when they "bench tested" it it sounded fine. It does sound fine - I agreed. It's the intermittent problems that they can't seem to understand. All I can chock it up to is 'techie arrogance' - they keep insisting that it's fine. I'm thinking why would you want to keep sending an obvious lemon back and forth and wasting your staff's time on it... and end up with a totally unsatisfied customer?? I've suggested from the beginning that it would save everyone time and money (and lot's of agro) by just replacing it. But that's not their "policy"... Hence the venting in a very public forum.

Larry,
are you talking about the people that sold it to you or the people that actually make it? I was referring to the people that made it. Normally a manufacturer will have distributors that sell and service their goods. If they are not performing in a proper business like manner then they could be dropped.

Fred, it seems like they are the manufacturers, although they may also be using Chinese parts and sub-assemblies .... I'd take the thing to a local shop and have the pot replaced

Bill

Well I didn't realize that they were selling their own product. I can't understand a place with that capability not correcting the problem properly.

Antique Auto Radio both builds and sells them. They take an original radio and convert it into AM/FM. In the dash it looks stock. So I've been talking with the techies who build them. And I think that's part of their problem - they are wicked defensive about their work.

I agree that taking it local and having them replace the pot is probably my best solution.