Radio Memory Loss After Ignition

[Lutrova]

I know I've mentioned this in another post some time ago, but my cheapo aftermarket head unit loses all memory every time I start the car - and only when I start the car. Normally such a limited fault wouldn't be a big deal, but I find myself starting the car fairly often, and having to repeatedly turn the radio back on and cycle to Bluetooth is not great.

I suspect the radio loses memory from voltage drop through the constant 12v+ wire. Perhaps this is due to a problem elsewhere in the electrical system, but I'm wondering if it's instead a product of the cheapness of my head unit. After all, the message center doesn't lose its memory, and it's presumably experiencing the same drop in voltage at the same time.

Assuming this voltage drop is the culprit, is there some electric gizmo I can wire in line to fix it? Like a voltage regulator, or a diode and capacitor?

[Tiggie]

Usually the yellow wire is constant hot. Whatever the installer hooked to turns off during cranking, like most of the circuits do. You'll need to find a constant hot that stays on during cranking.

[DerekTheGreat]

Jeez, for all that effort just buy a proper stereo. It's a Lincoln, not some cheapie base model Ford after all.

Edit: What Tiggie said. People seem to charge 2 - 3x what it used to cost, but still can't do it right, so check the wiring first.

[friskyfrankie]

I'd get a good schematic and recheck/redo all the wiring myself. I've had to redo many stereo setups after the "experts" (graduates from "Insanity University") performed "surgery"!

[Lutrova]

I'm looking at the EVTM and the wire the yellow connects to is listed as 'hot at all times'. It runs back to fuse 8, which also supplies the courtesy lamps, as well as the warning lamps cluster. And I can see the warning lamps are lit while cranking, leading me to believe the whole circuit stays hot. A previous owner added an in-line fuse right before the radio yellow wire. I don't know if that could cause voltage to drop, since it reads fine at all other times.

As for buying something better, I'm not necessarily opposed to that, but it's tough finding aftermarket stuff that doesn't look ridiculous. All I want is a matte black finish with a good volume knob and a clean button layout. And that seems hard to come by.

[friskyfrankie]

I like the older Alpines but that is a personal preference.

[Arquemann]

How about Continental's commercial lineup?
https://www.continental-automotive.c...ainment/Radios

Or Blaupunkt's more retro looking ones. Madrid, Milano, Valecia etc. Bremen if you ballin'.
https://blaupunkt.com/automotive/inc...ent/autoradio/

They're not too expensive and sounds about what you'd want.
Probably gonna get a Blaupunkt if/when I upgrade the head unit in my MGM.

[Lutrova]

Yeah, the Blaupunkts are probably my best bet, short of a stock head unit with a Bluetooth retrofit. Though it looks like most of their products are meant for the European market. Don't know if that would have any impact on things like the radio, but buying one new here could take a little doing.

But a better head unit is north of 100 bucks. I was just curious if there's a way I could rig my current stereo memory to survive ignition. Because if something like a capacitor and diode would work, it's probably going to be a small fraction of the cost.

[jaywish]

There could be a bit of resistance in the custom inline fuse setup. If it is not hard open the insulation on both sides of the fuse holder and bypass it with alligator clips just to rule that out.

[FordMan77]

I just searched Crutchfield and spec'd your 87 TC Signature with Premium Sound (assuming it has this) and came up with this Pioneer that looks like maybe what you're after:

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_130DS4...T.html?tp=5684

You also have the option buying all the harnesses necessary to either keep or bypass the factory amp (if you have this option). I've never had an issue with the pre-made wire harnesses from them. Just plug and play, no guessing, soldering, etc. And it keeps the factory harness in 1 piece At this point in time I don't even want to fool with EVTM's and figuring out what wire runs what so paying the little extra to make it easier is all good with me.

[DerekTheGreat]

How about Continental's commercial lineup?
https://www.continental-automotive.c...ainment/Radios

Or Blaupunkt's more retro looking ones. Madrid, Milano, Valecia etc. Bremen if you ballin'.
https://blaupunkt.com/automotive/inc...ent/autoradio/

They're not too expensive and sounds about what you'd want.
Probably gonna get a Blaupunkt if/when I upgrade the head unit in my MGM.

Whoa, those Continentals are nice looking. Too bad you can't switch the backlighting to green.

Here's a Sony unit: DSX-GS80 High-power Bluetooth® Car Stereo with EXTRA BASS™ | Sony Liberia
The illumination is customizable and it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb. Actually looks better than the one I've got in my Town Car. Fun fact: Sony supplied the factory CD player for the Town Car.