'77 Vandura radio not working

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

heartbraker666

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2024
Posts
18
Reaction score
50
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
First Name
Allie
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Vandura 2500
Engine Size
350
This is my first GMC van. When I bought it the owner said there was a CB radio in the van that got deleted and now the radio is "unplugged". It's a nice pioneer radio and speaker system that I really want to use but I can't figure out where to start to try and get it working. Need help! Thanks!
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
This is my first GMC van. When I bought it the owner said there was a CB radio in the van that got deleted and now the radio is "unplugged". It's a nice pioneer radio and speaker system that I really want to use but I can't figure out where to start to try and get it working. Need help! Thanks!
does it lgiht up with backlighting for your cluster (so park lamps on?)

Does the fuse for the radio appear blown (should be glass id think)
 

heartbraker666

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2024
Posts
18
Reaction score
50
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
First Name
Allie
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Vandura 2500
Engine Size
350
Fuse is gone so I guess I could start there (it's an ANL fuse) but I'm afraid it was pulled for a reason.

No lighting.
 

heartbraker666

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2024
Posts
18
Reaction score
50
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
First Name
Allie
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Vandura 2500
Engine Size
350
You must be registered for see images attach
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0319.jpeg
    IMG_0319.jpeg
    158.7 KB · Views: 21
  • IMG_0320.jpeg
    IMG_0320.jpeg
    117.3 KB · Views: 25
  • IMG_0321.jpeg
    IMG_0321.jpeg
    154.9 KB · Views: 26

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
You must be registered for see images attach

Looks like to me that D which I pointed out should have a tap for the radio, but im not sure 100%

then the fuse below obv is there, does your back up lamps work?
 

heartbraker666

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2024
Posts
18
Reaction score
50
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
First Name
Allie
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Vandura 2500
Engine Size
350
no idea what the colors are for ... b/u lamps work
 

heartbraker666

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2024
Posts
18
Reaction score
50
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
First Name
Allie
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Vandura 2500
Engine Size
350
Oh ok so it's wired directly to the battery , as you mentioned, a power drain. Reconnecting the wiring now and it worked! but I'm hoping it wont kill my battery. I feel like previous owner disconnected because the van was parked forever?
 

Catbox

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2018
Posts
4,452
Reaction score
16,675
Location
Just Outside of Portland Oregon
First Name
Peter
Truck Year
1979
Truck Model
C20 Silverado Camper Special
Engine Size
461
The radio should have 3 wires it needs to operate.
-Black for ground.
-Red for 12v constant power. This will be fed from the battery all the time.
-Yellow for 12v switched power. This will be switched from the key.

Then you will have the speaker wires.

This is how most work, but I have not played with a deck as vintage as yours in quite some time.
I just rewired the entire stereo in my daughters Camaro.
 

heartbraker666

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2024
Posts
18
Reaction score
50
Location
Santa Cruz, CA
First Name
Allie
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Vandura 2500
Engine Size
350
Oh ok so it's wired directly to the battery , as you mentioned, a power drain. Reconnecting the wiring now and it worked! but I'm hoping it wont kill my battery. I feel like previous owner disconnected because the van was parked forever?
It was working great then I drove it a couple miles and then it just cut out. I’m wondering if it’s a bad ground somewhere? Eh .
 

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,693
Reaction score
6,869
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
so wired directly to the battery sounds like they werent using the Radio tap on the fuse panel. @Turbo4whl were you an expert on the fuse panels? Someone here is very knowledgeable. Im thinking the switched ignition is the tap, and the fuse itself is the constant.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,160
Posts
950,628
Members
36,273
Latest member
dannyphx
Top