why does my radio reset to am every time i shut car off?

[Yah's 87]

87 BGN factory stereo always resets to am over night when I shut car off. It does maintain memory if i shut it down for a few minutes and start it again. Something I'd really like to resolve , thanks, Ronjon

 

[Turbo6inKY]

It's wired incorrectly. It should have a power wire going straight to an unswitched +12v coming straight from the battery, and another switched +12v that's on the ignition switch.

The behavior you are describing indicates both wires were spliced to a switched +12v feed, which will not maintain station memory.

 

[Frederickdav]

Maybe someone is borrowing the car at night and they like AM radio?

 

[TurboTGuy]

Does the clock reset, too?

 

[earlbrown]

See if the orange wire on the back of the radio is hot with the key off.


Same circuit as the dome light and cigarette lighter.


If your dome light doesn't work, odds are it's the cig-ctsy fuse.


If a replacement fuse blows instantly odds are it's a rusty lighter socket.

 

[TurboTGuy]

See if the orange wire on the back of the radio is hot with the key off.


Same circuit as the dome light and cigarette lighter.


If your dome light doesn't work, odds are it's the cig-ctsy fuse.


If a replacement fuse blows instantly odds are it's a rusty lighter socket.

Holy Crap, earlbrown....!

How cool is it to have guys like you hanging out around here.... Those that know how to solve "simple" yet mind boggling questions such as this?

Thank you so much for being here and helping like you do!

And thank you TB.com for providing such a great format for the questions to be answered!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!