Melted fuse panel! Woohoo!
 

Here's one that really grinds my gears; ('82 300td, btw)

About 6 months ago, my radio stopped working all the sudden. So I checked the fuse panel. #2 radio fuse looks good. Red aux fan fuse, not so good. I also noticed the bottom terminal of the aux fan fuse holder has a red sheathed stranded copper wire wrapped around it.... weird... so I replace the fuse, and bada-bing! Working radio.

So, my radio goes out again. I proceed to check the same fuse and what do I see??? The plastic around the top terminal has melted and nearly completely swallowed the terminal!! :confused: I said to myself, "Self, that red random wire can't be good. Pull it out." So I pull it out very easily. No resistance. Popped a new fuse in, and hear the aux fan come on. Fuse terminals still functional. Good. Radio? No go!! So... where could that red wire have been connected? I checked my voltage at the radio, and it was coming in low, like 11.4a at idle. But... at the battery I was getting 11.83. Too low, right? Brand new battery, bought it today. I think I didn't have my meter set right. I'll double check that for sure.

Anyway, what in the world could that red wire have been connected to? The wire was about 3 ft. long.

Ideas? I'd love to have a working radio again!

Thanks guys.

that sounds like some hack wired in power to the radio for clock and station retention, and something hairy happened.
fun.
john

Yeah, that's what I figure.

Is it common to have to rig up something like that to get an aftermarket radio to work?

only if you want the radio presets and clock to work.
most use better judgment finding a good circuit though. and better connections too!
John

So where do you suppose the connection terminated? I couldn't see it when I had the radio pulled out...

try getting a helper to tug on the wire, while you search under the dash for it. follow it until it ends.
John

Okay, new development...

I replaced all the fuses in my fuse box. With the car off, I read 12.2v on the battery. When idle, she drops to 11.4v. When revved, the highest she'll go is 11.84v. So the alternator is charging, but not NEARLY high enough. Bad alternator? I checked the brushes about 6 months ago, and they were okay. Should I check those first?

Thanks!

Voltage regulator could be bad as well.