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'64 Valiant Transaudio misbehaving
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Author:  slantvaliant [ Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:24 pm ]
Post subject:  '64 Valiant Transaudio misbehaving
There are some issues with the factory Valiant Transaudio AM radio in my '64. I'm looking for free-to-cheap fixes to try before I look at new units.

1. When the radio is cool or cold, it chatters. It sounds like the output to the speakers is interrupted. Think square wave. The duration of the interruptions decreases over time and the sound duration increases, as the radio warms, until it smooths out. It takes a long time for things to warm up enough to enjoy the radio. So, I can't listen to anything in the early morning or most of the winter, but afternoon drivetime is usually OK in warmer weather. The frequency of the chatter does not seem to change. This is completely independent of engine speed - in fact, it does it with the engine OFF. Voltage to the radio and ground to chassis are good - I've even "bench" tested directly off the battery, with the same results. With the radio out, you can see the light flashing on and off with the chatter. I'm thinking bad capacitor somewhere inside, on power side. Anyone have a schematic?

2. The original speaker is toast. (Surprise, surprise) I replaced it with a nominal 8-ohm speaker which is TOO D@## LOUD. (I know, that means I'm too old ... :wink: ) Even with the volume at its lowest setting I can't enjoy the radio at stoplights. Volume goes up as the knob is turned, as it should. I have tried a couple of speakers with the same results.

3. The pushbuttons and tuner do not all work properly. Lower end of the band, fair. Upper end, no go. Inside the box, the clutch-like disk seems to slip. I am effectively limited to two stations locally on the left side of the scale.

4. One of the knobs is hiding from me. They're different from '66's.

Background: I am not an audiophile. My hearing is actually pretty good for a former soldier and longtime shooter in my late 40's. Living in West Texas and driving the Valiant on some long, lonely roads, I do like a radio that can pick up distant stations. I don't like dozens of buttons, light shows, thumpathumpa speakers, etc.

The best solution would seem to be to have it gutted and digitized, with FM and a USB input added. Unfortunately, that would be several hundred dollars out of my AC fund. For less, I could put in a less expensive newer radio, but I'd rather not cut the dash. I'd also rather keep the glovebox, but that's negotiable.

I have started cruising various sites for another '64 radio.

Do any of you have suggestions for repairing the radio / speaker setup?
Author:  emsvitil [ Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:09 pm ]
Post subject: 
Put a resistor inline to the speaker to lower the volume.

Get electrical contact cleaner (spraycan) and spray into the volume pot and move it around while spraying.

Let dry overnight before you rehook up the power.

Something in the back of my head says there's a mechanical DC-DC converter inside to step up voltage. This may be the problem if you're temperature dependant. I'll see if I can find the reference somewhere............

If you're careful, I think you can clean/lube the tuner.

Try adjusting the antenna tuning capacitor on the back
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:25 pm ]
Post subject: 
Schematics go by on eBay every now and then, and I think they are also in the factory service manual. I sent my '62 Lancer's original radio to Gary Tayman about 15 years ago, and he did a good job of installing a stealth FM converter and line-in connector; see my description here. I'm sure there have been many advances since 1995 or so when I used Tayman's services, and it looks like he also offers good quality new radios that fit old cars. If you're on a budget, maybe a Dual #XC4100 would suit? They go for about $40 all over the internet, eBay, etc.
Author:  wjajr [ Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
My 67' Dart's radio was DOA when I got the car. A few years earlier I had problems with my factory sound system in my 82' Lebaron, and I found Robert at "Precision Stereo Repair" in New Hartford, NY 315-797-5219 oldstereo @ hotmail.com in Hemmings Motor News. He fixed both units as promised to like new operation. He can also install FM, Satellite, and I Pod capability if you want in your old AM set.
Author:  slantvaliant [ Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
I missed the FSM diagrams - It looked like the pages had fallen out and been lost, but they were just hiding. Just have to figure out which model it is.

Dan, I found those threads when I first started having this problem (Search is my friend), and the stealth conversion is on my wish list. Tayman and other radio shops do some interesting work, but they want - and are probably worth - more than I want to pay right now. One day ...

I might get one of the cheapies as a temp, while I play radio tech on mine.
Author:  66aCUDA [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 6:49 am ]
Post subject: 
If your cool with desoldering and soldering replace the Electrolytic Caps in the radio. This is the MOST common cause of these old radios problems. The caps dry out and either open up or short out.
Frank
Author:  slantvaliant [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 8:24 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
If your cool with desoldering and soldering ...
Soldering humor is SO hard to find ... :wink:
Author:  KBB_of_TMC [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:10 am ]
Post subject: 
I've fixed a couple of similar vintage Mopar radios; the SAMS manuals are still available and are by far the best source I've found - I got mine from Tannenbaum. The FSM's I've seen just treat the radio as a unit and instruct you to return them for repair.

A common problem that's easy to fix is the main power transistor - many can be swapped w/o even opening the case. Shorted antennas can also make for poor reception. Old electrolytic capacitors do fail with age. Generally, volume controls can be cleaned OK.

Often, you'll find the exact electronic component is NA, however, the design is fairly forgiving any most anything close will work OK. The only part that I've not found is the output impedence matching transformer - you could rewind one, I suppose, but that's more work than I wanted to do.

An intermittant problem, temperature dependent problem can be anything from a weak solder joint, a bad cap, flaky resistor, or dying transistor. There's no way to know w/o opening up the radio and troubleshooting it properly.

By the time you pay a professional to do that, you might be better off having it professional rebuilt with modern guts - Year One is can do it for big $$$. Good Luck.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:20 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
By the time you pay a professional to do that, you might be better off having it professional rebuilt with modern guts - Year One is can do it for big $$$.
Better to just bypass the middleman's markup and go directly to one of the radio repair and upgrade specialists already mentioned in this thread.
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:21 am ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:
If your cool with desoldering and soldering ...
Soldering humor is SO hard to find ... :wink:
Oh, that was wicked! I'm laughing so hard it Hz! :lol:
Author:  Roelof [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 10:33 am ]
Post subject: 
You might consider this:

http://s537.photobucket.com/albums/ff33 ... 210003.jpg

From vintagecarradio.com. It's a digital radio with USB/CD. Some modern radio's sound better, but it sounds OK to me. And it is definitely less expensive than a digital conversion. The sell a nice stereo speaker for in the dash.
Author:  slantvaliant [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:03 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:

Oh, that was wicked! I'm laughing so hard it Hz! :lol:
Maybe we can coax a few more suggestions from the forum ... :P
Author:  66aCUDA [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
If your cool with desoldering and soldering ...
Soldering humor is SO hard to find ... :wink:
Oh, that was wicked! I'm laughing so hard it Hz! :lol:
Im still groaning...
I wondered if anyone would catch this. :bow:
Frank
Author:  SlantSixDan [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:48 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:

Oh, that was wicked! I'm laughing so hard it Hz! :lol:
Maybe we can coax a few more suggestions from the forum ...
Waah! I usually have a tin ear, and it's really none of my bismuth, but I'm not sure where this discussion will lead. I'd say it'll probably remain in a state of flux for awhile, but that's just a guess, not cast in iron or anything.
Author:  bbbbbb9 [ Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:05 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:

Oh, that was wicked! I'm laughing so hard it Hz! :lol:
Maybe we can coax a few more suggestions from the forum ...
Waah! I usually have a tin ear, and it's really none of my bismuth, but I'm not sure where this discussion will lead. I'd say it'll probably remain in a state of flux for awhile, but that's just a guess, not cast in iron or anything.

:bow: LOL. This is like Pun night at the Retirement Home.
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