Weird Radio/Electrical Problem

2002 SUBARU IMPREZA
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WOLFCRAZY_101
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Electrical problem
2002 Subaru Impreza All Wheel Drive Manual 140000 miles
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So, for the past year or so the radio in our '02 impreza wagon has been acting...strange. Every so often (and this became more frequent lately), the radio would suddenly get "stuck" in whatever setting it was on while you were driving it. When this happens we can't change the volume, the station, can't turn it off, if a CD is playing we can't eject it (it just keeps looping the CD indefinitely). The wierd part is that this continues to happen even when you turn off the car and pull the key out of the ignition. the radio stays on in the same setting it was while we were driving it.

Now, we don't have one of those cars where the radio stays on until you open the door, either. When this first started to happen, we tried everything to get the radio to turn off. We'd restart the car and shut it off again (sort of like rebooting a computer)...nothing changed. The radio stayed on and stayed "stuck". We tried pulling the fuse for the radio...nothing changed. It stayed on and stuck. The ONLY way we can turn off the radio when this happens is to pop the hood and disconnect the negative terminal on the battery. Then we just reconnect it when we want to start the car again.

Now, finally, two days ago the radio just stopped working alltogether. It won't even turn on anymore.

My question is: is this some problem with the factory installed radio? If we get a new radio installed will the problem go away? Or will we just risk frying our new radio?

We want to get a new stereo installed anyway, one with MP3 playback and an auxillery jack, but I don't want to get it installed only to have the car fry the new stereo, too. Any suggestions?
Jan 26, 2008 at 1:13 PM
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PAULGLINES
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I saw your old posting.
Same thing happening to my 2004.
Did you ever find answers?

Thanks!
Apr 28, 2010 at 10:37 AM
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STRAILER
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Hello,

What happens on these radios is the the circuit broad inside the radio has a cold solder joint that causes the problem you have described. Just replace the radio and you should be fine. Here is diagram to help you (below).

Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.

Cheers, Ken
Jan 17, 2018 at 10:43 AM
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LSHUTCHISON
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I tried to put a new stereo into my car.It worked for a little bit but then the wires started smoking. I then decided to put the old stereo in but now it won't work anymore.
Jan 17, 2018 at 10:43 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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If the wires were smoking, then you had something shorted to power. Check the fuse and let me know if it is bad.
Jan 17, 2018 at 10:43 AM (Merged)
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LSHUTCHISON
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To check the fuse on my car what do I need?
Jan 17, 2018 at 10:44 AM (Merged)
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LSHUTCHISON
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I have a fuse tester but I don't know what fuse to check?
Jan 17, 2018 at 10:44 AM (Merged)
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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If you have an owner's manual, it should be listed in there.
Jan 17, 2018 at 10:44 AM (Merged)