Ok, So I need some help tracking this down because it is driving me crazy after dealing with it for 3 years.

I have a 1990 Pickup 3.0 with all the bells and whistles power windows mirrors etc. Any new power draw on the system causes the radio to cut out for a few seconds. If you hit the brake pedal the radio will skip. Reverse, turn signal, etc. all cause the same skip. This is however intermittent. The battery voltage does drop when this occurs.

I upgraded the size of the wire from the battery to the low blow fuse. This fix is outlined in detail in the following thread. After upgrading this wire I drove the vehicle for 30 minutes and thought I had it fixed. But the next morning the same issue returned.

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116...rite-up-33526/

Battery terminals are new and have clean connections to the engine ground and starter. Battery is grounded to the inner fender.

Engine cranks and runs perfect. To me this points to a ground issue but I cannot find it.

 

The radio cuts out for a max of 2 seconds only when initially pulling a new load on the electrical system. If the brake is pressed repeatedly, or the turn signal left on, the radio will not skip. After these loads are removed from the system, it will take about 10 seconds before the introduction of another load will cause the radio to skip.

Is there a quick way to rule out the major electrical components? Just trying to decide if this is a problem within the body wiring harness itself?

 

Sounds like to me you've got a power supply issue, like it's drawing more power than is available. Either that or your radio is on it's way out. Is it stock, aftermarket, etc? Are you running extra lights, bells & whistles, non-stock ECU, etc?

BTW, it's not a too small of gauge of wire. If that were the case we'd all have the same issue.

 

It is an aftermarket radio. I do think it is a larger issue than the radio, it used to be evident in the headlights as well.

I am only running the stock sr5 goodies.

 

I'm no expert, but I'm also running a 22 average watt, 50 watt peak aftermarket stereo with no issues.

My initial thoughts (and that's all they are) are you've either got a bad battery that's not holding a charge well or your alternator is on its way out. Any corrosion on the terminals on the battery?

Either that or its like you said, a bad ground. I have no I idea where the ground for the stereo is, but there's a few grounds if you take off the kick panels around the fuse box and the ECU. Might start there. Just take a flashlight and make sure everything is secure.

 

You probably have a loose connection, or perhaps a loose fuse. You need to find it.

I'd start with a cheap "map light" I could plug into the cigarette lighter (what? People smoked cigarettes in these trucks?). This is just to monitor the voltage; a digital multimeter won't be fast enough (unless you have a better one with a "bar scale.") Then systematically try every load; power window, power locks, dome light, turn signals, brake light, parking lights. If all of them cause the map light to dim, your problem is closer to the battery.

As others have said, your truck did NOT do this from the factory. You don't need to "upgrade" anything.

Good luck!

 

Check all grounds, alternator, battery, etc.

 

It sounds to me like your charging system is unable to keep up with the demands .

To small of battery

Battery cables need to be upgraded

The B wire off the alternator is getting old and brittle unable to carry as much as when young .

Alternator is not putting out like it did when young.

Any or a combination of all.

 

I had that problem with mine if course it did it only when the bad hit which was a dip in voltage on my part. I need to really upgrade my alternator to a high output one

 

I have not checked the alternator wire yet. I should be able to tear into it this evening after work.

 

Ok I think I tracked down the culprit. There were several loose connections at the fuse block. After fixing these, the volt meter gauge still dances, but I have not noticed the radio cutting out anymore.

I really appreciate everyone's input on here.

 

Hooray for the easy fix, I was afraid you'd be stuck biting the bullet for a new alt.

 

Unfortunately that will probably be a new steering box. Mine is leaking like the devil.