The Original Radio FM does not work

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The Original Radio FM does not work. AM does.

1985 SR5 4WD 155k miles

Just posing a question and learning about this car. I would like to find out if this is pretty much standard "electronic rot", and should I toss the original radio in favor of a modern aftermarket or is there a reasonable suspicion the stock head unit can be restored?

My plan:
1) check the antenna (yes, am only starting the process)
2) pull the radio, dissasemble and clean it with contact cleaner. Bench test it.
3) sing to entertain myself and/or passengers / fellow motorists. Or listen to talk radio only.

[dlb]

i say toss the radio. i don't know about you but i love a great stereo so i put a decent one in all vehicles i own. you can get them new quite cheap now, as low as $75, with USB and 1/8" inputs for ipods, blackberries, flashdrives, etc. replace all the garbage 25-30 yr old speakers while you're at it, too.

your antenna is probably fine. it is just a wire that plugs into the back of the radio and runs to the base of the metal antenna on the fender. if you get some radio stations, your antenna works, and if you can't get any radio stations, the wire is either unplugged from the stereo or cut somewhere.

[danzo]

I agree with dlb, toss the outdated-even-in-1985 radio and get something modern. But don't go bannanas and slap in a $2000 Nakamichi head unit unless you want to spent another 2 bills sound proofing your car. These T4 are noisy suckers that no great stereo can overcome by itself. I went the $100 new CD/MP3/ipod/satellite/bluetooth/direct-line-to-god route and am happy with it.

BTW I would think if you have antenna problems you will lose the AM signal first. You could go retro and ditch the radio alltogether, just listening to the music of other cars around you. Problem is if you live in an iffy part of town you're relegated to obscenity laced gangsta rap.

[MR2Di4]

I spent $108 @ Wal-Mart on a Double Din JVC unit in the Clearance section, has CD, AM/FM, USB and 3.5mm Aux inputs. That and another $60 for el-cheapo poly 4" and 5 1/4" speakers made my Tercel sound great. I also ran some heavy gauge cable from work back to an old 400W amp hooked up to some Sony 12" subs I've had lying around to complete the system. I love the looks I get when I thump down the street in my rusty Terc.