Wiring problem?

[Travis Messenger]

I have a '91 EB with the premium audio system(subwoofer and 2 amps), I replaced the stock deck with a Clarion CD player. since then(1.5 years) I have had problems with intermittent crackling in the front left speaker followed by loss of memory(station presets, bass/trebbel settings, speaker settings). I will hear the crackling in the front left speaker for a day or two and then after awhile when I start the explorer I lose the memory. I know it is not the amps(like the audio shop thought) because they bypassed them and I had the same problems. I ran a new hot wire to the "memory" wire on the radio so I shouldn't lose my settings. This didn't fix the problem. I don't want to have the whole system rewired, I know the audio wiring system is integrated into other electrical systems in the explorer(trailer lights, lighter, dome lights, etc) If anyone has had these problem or has some suggestions please let me know, it's driving me crazy.
Thanks
Travis

 

[JTang]

I had the same problem with the rear left speaker. Others have had the same problem. I forgot what the cure was, but if you check the archives, someone found what was wrong. For me, I just hit a big pothole and the problem never arose again. Your two problems may or may not be related. As for the hot wire, if it's not that, then check your radio grounding wire instead (if that's loose, your electrical connection would still be bad), and make sure it's securely fastened to a good ground on the car again. Also check the battery terminals for wire corrosion, as the continous connection and disconnection of the battery can take its toll on the possibly brittle battery cables. Radio memory loss could be just one symptom, if it has something to do with needing new battery terminal wires. There's no way (I don't think) for the average driver to know if he or she keeps losing the car's computer memory for learning the driving habits (if the battery connection keeps shorting); I think the radio memory lass would be only the one symptom you could notice. This would be the extreme case, but it's my best guess. Hopefully, someone else will add their two cents too.