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Radio only works when braking!?

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Old 08-22-2012, 10:37 AM
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Default Radio only works when braking!?

The radio always worked fine and I know its wired correctly because I installed it myself and I've installed somewhere around 50 head units without any problems. Last night I went to use the cigarette lighter and the was a small pop and spark from the lighter outlet . This is when the radio went out. I checked the fuse and it wasn't blown so I can only assume it overheated a wire and melted the insulation. Any idea what area I should start looking in? From my knowledge the brake light circuit is rather far from the cigarette lighter and the radio wiring. Any help would be appreciated, I just don't feel like pulling the ENTIRE dash to find the problem.
Old 08-22-2012, 11:04 AM
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Originally Posted by DrShaggford
The radio always worked fine and I know its wired correctly because I installed it myself and I've installed somewhere around 50 head units without any problems. Last night I went to use the cigarette lighter and the was a small pop and spark from the lighter outlet . This is when the radio went out. I checked the fuse and it wasn't blown so I can only assume it overheated a wire and melted the insulation. Any idea what area I should start looking in? From my knowledge the brake light circuit is rather far from the cigarette lighter and the radio wiring. Any help would be appreciated, I just don't feel like pulling the ENTIRE dash to find the problem.
Id check right behind the cig lighter
Old 08-22-2012, 11:06 AM
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That was my initial thinking I just don't know how the hell that would cause this problem. At least its an easy job, I'll have to pull the bezels today.
Old 08-22-2012, 12:34 PM
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How exactly did you determine that the fuse was still good? Did you use a test light? Or just a visual inspection?

Because the radio and cig lighter run off the same fuse. It would only make sense that that is the problem.
Old 08-22-2012, 01:17 PM
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Also check your dome light fuse, radio goes through it as well
Old 08-22-2012, 02:32 PM
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I used visual inspection and a test light. I ripped off the bezels, took out the cig lighter and radio and checked all the wiring and everything was good. I checkked the fuse again (visually) and it was good. As I put the fuse back in it popped. Thinking it was due to a short I threw in one of the fuses I had laying around in the jeep ( I think it was a 25 A instead of 15A.) Everything works just dandy now, thanks all for the help.
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