I have an 82 SR5 and every time I start my truck my radio resets. Have any of you guys had this problem? I lose all presets and everything. Also, when I turn my ignition to the "on" position, none of the lights in the instrument panel light up. You know, like right before you turn the key to crank it some of the lights in the panel are supposed to come on. Any one experienced any thing similar? Or any idea why this is happening?

 

What type of radio and is it using the factory radio harness??

It sounds like your constant power is either not hooked up or is wired wrong.

It needs to be hooked to constant power

could be your battery is dieing and when you are cranking the engine it pulls all the power out of the battery to crank the engine.

Blubs in the dash burnt out?? Have you checked??

 

Wyoming9, Bulbs in the dash are good. I've had 3 different radios in it and it's been the same way all 3 times. (1 original and 2 aftermarket). How do I know where the constant power is? How is it supposed to be hooked up? Also, highly doubt it's the battery. It's fairly new, as is the alternator so I know that part of the circuit is good for sure.

 

I assume the harness is factory, I know I haven't changed it. If the previous owner did something with it, I wouldn't know. But let's just say the harness is factory.

 

there are two power wires, a constant 12v (memory) and a switched 12v. You may have a blown fuse somewhere or over the years one of them has been pinched or damaged. Grab a multimeter and start probing the wires

 

If none of the wires have anything running through them? Then where do I go?

 

there should be a ground, constant 12v, switched 12v with ignition, and 2 wires per speaker, as well as a factory illumination wire that dims the lights when the headlights turn on.

 

Sounds good, thanks. So, if there is no power in any of these wires, I'm guessing I need to track that wire back to the battery, right?

 

The constant 12 will be fused. The fuse is located at the driver side kick panel, or it would be worth checking the fuses under the hood. But I'm pretty sure the radio fuse is at the driver side. May be worth going to the local library and see if they have any Oem toyota manuals for your year.

 

Sounds good, man! Thanks for the help! Got one more question. Assuming the fuse is good, what would be my next step?

 

You could always run a new fused wire directly to the battery, from the constant 12v wire on the stereo. Saves a lot of trouble-shooting...

 

And as far as the dash lamps not coming on with the key in the "on position? What are my options for that dilemma?

 

By dash lamps, I mean the lights in the instrument panel that usually light up before you crank the engine (I think the low oil and battery lamp should light up. Not sure what other lights come on but I think that might be it). After the truck starts, everything is good to go.

 

I have no idea if those issues are related or separate. I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

I just wired a stereo recently is all, so I know about running wires. Trouble shooting electrical problems, on the other hand, is not an area I have a lot of experience with.

 

I think I've narrowed it down to a loose connection in the ignition switch. It doesn't reset when I leave in the acc position. But when I start it back up after I've turned it all the back to the lock position, that's when I lose everything. have any of you guys had this problem or heard anything about it?