'77 Vandura radio not working

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heartbraker666

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Santa Cruz, CA
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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

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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

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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

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AuroraGirl

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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

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Vandura 2500
Engine Size
350
no idea what the colors are for ... b/u lamps work
 

heartbraker666

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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

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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

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Location
Santa Cruz, CA
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Allie
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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

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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.
 

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