2002 Ram 1500 Quad Cab - Radio shuts off five seconds after starting the truck or powering up. Originally, it would go back to normal for a week or two, but now 5 seconds listening time is all, every time. I have checked all fuses multiple times and found none bad. I have seen this problem posted on the internet several times, but never have found a cause or a solution. I am hesitant to buy a new stereo, not know if I would have the same problem with that. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

OEM radio or aftermarket? Stock connections or altered? Anything tapped into there?

 

Everything is factory stock. This truck has some serious dashboard deterioration (cracks/holes) which may have contributed to the problem i.e. damaged harness.

 

More likely something in the power supply is getting hot and shutting down. Could be a cold solder joint or a component quitting due to heat. Dashboard deterioration would only come into play if water is somehow getting down to the radio.

Fuses are never intermittent. Once they blow, they're gone.

 

I'm thinking you may have a chafed wire somewehere's. I would pull the radio out and try to inspect al of the wires to see if any are damaged. I would also try and verify your ground source as well. Factory ground sources for radios generally suck. if you don't have any wiring issue's the next step would be to try another radio out.

 

This sounds like a problem with the anti-theft feature of the radio. Check the owners manual for the radio code. It may be something as simple as re-entering the code.

m.a.c.

 

i have the same exact problem and did install another 02' factory radio and it's the same thing. did you ever figure it out? i bought my ram used and it did'nt come with a manual so i have no idea about the "theft codes".

 

If it was me I would just put a meter or test light on my switched and constant power wires on the radio harness and see which one is dropping out. Then i would simply reroute power from another circuit like the cig lighter. If neither are dropping out then i would look at replacing the radio