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OEM Radio Frozen?

Joined
18 October 2019
Messages
19
Hi,

Question

I picked up a 91 NSX

The OEM radio worked fine and I had the stations saved

The battery died on car (not daily) and now the radio isn't working it's just frozen on last station with no sound

I'm able to play tapes and blast them with no issues (haven't tried CDs yet)

Is there anyway to reset this?
 
There is no dedicated reset. There is a keep alive power for the radio's memory. When the battery died, did you remove and replace it with a new one? If so, then you effectively created a reset requiring that you go through the process of re entering all of the stored stations. If you just boosted the battery the low voltage prior to boosting may have caused corruption of the keep alive memory. To clear the memory, remove fuse #33 or disconnect the battery for 1 minute. Replace the fuse / reconnect the battery and attempt to re enter all the presets.
 
It's just frozen on preset #6

I press the other buttons for presets they do not work

But if i pop a tape in all buttons work just fine very odd

I'm going to try this reset and let you know if it works

Thank you.
 
>It's just frozen on preset #6

1. There might be some obstruction in the button OR the microswitch might need replacing. This would require the unit to be mostly torn down and the display unit removed and cleaned or repaired. This is easily verified with a phillips screwdriver and a cheap meter.

2. Your unit is suffering the inevitable death that all NSX radio units will eventually suffer. Standard repair is likely impossible.

PM me for help and photos if you like....I've used up my allowance of photos on NSXPrime
 
Update:

Replaced battery - both fuse 33 and 8 are good - now with battery replacement the radio turns on but does not display anything until I put tape in

Guess it's starting to go
 
First thing to do is unplug your radio, powering up/down and trickle charge will just add to the ability of the caps to ruin the circuit boards.

Possible Repair:
There appears to be at least one guy that is repairing these stereos. As of 2020/06/18. Challenge: all in Japan.
http://grfblog.seesaa.net/article/470088635.html
http://grfblog.seesaa.net/article/475069361.html
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~grfnsx/

You might try https://www.unitedradio.com/automotive-electronics/repair-remanufacturing/ Challenge: good luck.


Alternatives:
OEM radios come up from time to time that are still working. They, too, will eventually fail, but might work for a few more years and kick the can down the road. This is a legitimate strategy.

A remote radio like a DMHD1000 which are probably +20 years old, but the are still on eBay and Amazon. I've picked them up for as low as $20 and they are very cool. But without a working radio they would also need a hidden radio to decode the RF and power up the Bose amps (see aliExpress for $10 items that would work just fine).

There is another NSXer who just installed a plastic plate where the OEM radio would go and found a small stereo system that could be installed within the OEM console. Worked well, cost effective, and looked OK.

You can do a hardware hack like Willmans, about $1500 currently. Many satisfied customers. It works well, but doesn't use the buttons as it expected and, to me, doesn't really look & feel like OEM. Willman doesn't repair stereo's anymore, he considers it impossible and/or offers an extremely low chance of success.

I am working, helping mostly, on a full hardware radio emulator that uses the OEM display and controls. But it is an very challenging project to say the least. If you are looking to sell your unit, I would be interested as I need R&D cores...this is a retirement project to keep my mind from turning into oatmeal.


Do/not:
Do unplug your stereo. Store in a cool place if you can.

I recommend not damaging or cutting your OEM console bezel/frame. Keep it intact, they will go NLA soon enough and they will be worth a small fortune, because right now they are worth a slightly smaller fortune.

If you must put in an aftermarket stereo, buy an aftermarket console (not affiliated at all, but EuroBoutique might be able to help). An aluminum CNC replacement would be awesome as, I'm sure, as well as the price.
 
Last edited:
My oem radio from 96 is mush....very common....but my "mast" antenna works like a champ...
 
First thing to do is unplug your radio, powering up/down and trickle charge will just add to the ability of the caps to ruin the circuit boards.

Possible Repair:
There appears to be at least one guy that is repairing these stereos. As of 2020/06/18. Challenge: all in Japan.
http://grfblog.seesaa.net/article/470088635.html
http://grfblog.seesaa.net/article/475069361.html
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~grfnsx/

You might try https://www.unitedradio.com/automotive-electronics/repair-remanufacturing/ Challenge: good luck.


Alternatives:
OEM radios come up from time to time that are still working. They, too, will eventually fail, but might work for a few more years and kick the can down the road. This is a legitimate strategy.

A remote radio like a DMHD1000 which are probably +20 years old, but the are still on eBay and Amazon. I've picked them up for as low as $20 and they are very cool. But without a working radio they would also need a hidden radio to decode the RF and power up the Bose amps (see aliExpress for $10 items that would work just fine).

There is another NSXer who just installed a plastic plate where the OEM radio would go and found a small stereo system that could be installed within the OEM console. Worked well, cost effective, and looked OK.

You can do a hardware hack like Willmans, about $1500 currently. Many satisfied customers. It works well, but doesn't use the buttons as it expected and, to me, doesn't really look & feel like OEM. Willman doesn't repair stereo's anymore, he considers it impossible and/or offers an extremely low chance of success.

I am working, helping mostly, on a full hardware radio emulator that uses the OEM display and controls. But it is an very challenging project to say the least. If you are looking to sell your unit, I would be interested as I need R&D cores...this is a retirement project to keep my mind from turning into oatmeal.


Do/not:
Do unplug your stereo. Store in a cool place if you can.

I recommend not damaging or cutting your OEM console bezel/frame. Keep it intact, they will go NLA soon enough and they will be worth a small fortune, because right now they are worth a slightly smaller fortune.

If you must put in an aftermarket stereo, buy an aftermarket console (not affiliated at all, but EuroBoutique might be able to help). An aluminum CNC replacement would be awesome as, I'm sure, as well as the price.


Thank you! I'll look through all this and find a youtube video lol on how to take out radio. Yeah trying to keep car OEM as possible

Side note what are you guys doing to charge phones? Right now I carry battery lol
 
you can get a cigarette lighter usb adapter at any auto parts store.
 
My oem radio from 96 is mush....very common....but my "mast" antenna works like a champ...

Isn't there a part in Toy Story where Buzz Lightyear's mast antenna goes up when he gets excited?
 
Lol at 58 I'm happy it still works....:biggrin:
 
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