My first post. Thanks in advance for any help. I have a 2008 with basic audio. The radio, including the clock, will just turn off. It will come back on a moment later, a little while later or not at all. Sometimes it will come on when you start the car, sometimes not. Sometimes its on a lot of the time and sometimes it won't come on at all during a trip. I took the radio out, put some dielectric grease on the connections, and reassembled. No difference. But I have found by accident that, if I turn the headlight switch from Auto to Parking Lights or Manual Headlight, the radio comes on and works perfectly. If I switch back to Auto/On or Auto/Off the erratic behavior comes back.
In the last couple weeks, I had the turn signals not returning to off after turns, read about straightening a spring inside the switch, but just went ahead and replaced the switch. It fixed the turn signals but didn't do anything about the radio.
I'd hate to go ahead and get a used radio, then pay the dealer to activate it only to find out I still have the problem. I can't envision why a headlight switch position would turn the power to the radio on or off. If I need to, I can certainly drive around with the headlights on but it would be nice to solve the issue. Any ideas would be great. Thanks very much. Love the forum.

 

The only common thing is the BCM. Unless, some after market stuff has been done.
My 1968 Dart had a quirk that when you stepped on the brake and turned the 4 way flasher and the turn signal you could listen to the radio with no key. But that was back when no computers were involved.

The way the radio is wired is it has an always hot wire and the computer sends a digital signal that turns the radio on. It does not have a switched power supply like after market radios. If the memory stays when the radio turns off the problem is in the network wire

 

I have a scantool that will scan for problems with the radio. There may be a shop in your area that can scan for radio issues.

 

Thank you both for the replies. I did have a dealer look at the radio a while back when it was in for something else. Of course, it wouldn't misbehave for them. I assume by memory staying, you mean it remembers preset stations, etc. It does that fine. I did think about changing the BCM but figured, where everything but the radio works just fine and replacing the BCM is no cheap date, why not leave well enough alone and live with the inconvenience. Thanks again for the replies.

 

I did not mean to imply the BCM needs replacing. I meant the wires and connections. Maybe crossed wires.
Has the steering wheel been worked on? Maybe the wires for the steering wheel controls are doing something. The connector and wiring is there whether you have the buttons or not. The wiring is in the clockspring.

 

Hi Don,
Thank you for the thoughts. I figured you meant something in the system not necessarily the BCM. I've had the car for about 8 years so I have no idea of its early life. Since I've had it, there's been no work done around the steering column.I had it as one of my business delivery vehicles and decided to keep it as an extra car when I retired. It only has 60,000 miles and, if I painted the hood, it would look like new. I have the luxury of not needing it every day so, as everything else works perfectly, I think I'll remind myself to not turn an inconvenience into a issue and learn live with it for now. Thanks again for the ideas.

 

Does the turn switch do it every time?
Maybe the mechanical part of the stalk pushes on a wire to the controls.

 

Thanks, on.
The turn signal just started not returning to off after turns in either direction just a while ago. I was dreaming that replacing the switch handle would fix the radio issue but, though the new handle fixed the turn signals, the radio response is exactly the same. But, you give me an idea that it might be worth taking the plastic covers off again and looking around a little near the column top and the two wire connectors on the light switch. Thanks very much. I'll let you know if I find the culprit.