electrical gurus - need your help - clock radio

[bleepster]

1997 Lumina
122,000 miles
3.1 engine

went into shop last Thursday-Friday for a timing cover gasket and water pump replacement.

picked it up - got in an noticed that with the car OFF, the time was illuminated on my clock (original radio/tape deck). did think anything of it.
started it up, and on the way home, NONE of the buttons worked on the radio except for the volume and the manual tuning. Nothing else worked.

Got home, shut the car off, and the Clock was still displayed. Called the shop that did the work, and they have no idea. they said they never touched anything electrical when they did the repairs. not even disconnect the battery (although i thought that was common procedure so as to not short anything out). they said if it still like this Monday - bring it back and they will look into it.

so, Friday night i was messing, worrying that my battery would drain. I pulled the radio fuse. CLOCK WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AFTER PULLING FUSE. However - with the car running, the radio didn't work. this is odd.

needles to say -come Sunday morning - car is deader than a door nail

i dropped off car to shop for them to look at.

what do you suspect is wrong? coincidental that the radio wigged out at the same time as the repair?

a few more things to note. after jumping Sunday - only 1 speaker was working (driver front door) where as Friday ALL speakers worked. I popped a tape in - the tape deck works, but I cant Eject or FF/RW

if a radio wiggs out - can it wigg out in such a way that there is constant power to it to illuminate the clock - even AFTER the fuse was pulled???

HELP ME PLEASE

[jeffcoslacker]

I know there are two seperate feeds to the radio...one fused (power and amp) and one battery voltage (for preset and clock functions)...it sounds like a bad board in the radio, truthfully...

[jeffcoslacker]

PS, I have the OE AM/FM/Cassette unit from mine (1997)...you can have it for the price of shipping if you need it...you'll have to "disarm" the security lockout after powering up...we can walk you through that, I'm sure...

I used to have the correct phone # and Dealer code to do it, but it has been changed...

[jeffcoslacker]

Since they had to remove the alternator to do that repair...they are either

1.) lying about NOT unhooking the battery, or

2.) responsible for zorching your radio, most likely....

May have shot a big surge through that low amp feed I mentioned for the memory, and toasted the board....

[bleepster]

i think they torched the radio - thats my gut feeling.

I have a spare radio - i will use that if need be.

thank you for your offer.

I beleive they didnt unhook the battery, as the posts and terminals show no sign of a wrench being on them, they probably plopped the alternator o the side and sent a surge and fried the radio

i called them - they said they will look at it before noon.

will keep you posted.

[Blue Bowtie]

At least they are willing to look. That's a good sign.