Hey so after finally getting my radio and Cd player out. (someone took them out and was a little too forceful putting them back in...) I'm trying to troubleshoot why my radio was not turning on. I put my voltmeter to some of the wires and ground and found out that when I hook it up to 1J (bose wiring diagram here: https://www.rx7club.com/interior-exterior-audio-26/bose-wiring-diagram-25090/) that there is no voltage across it to the chassis. So I figure either the radio relay is bad or the place where it is grounded is bad.
1. Is this a correct assumption?
2. if so, how do I test the relay to see if its bad?
3. where is this grounded to after the relay?

 

sad....i thought this would be a quick and easy thing....bump

 

Okay I am assuming you have the bose stereo system (with the acoustic wave in the trunk).

The radio relay has nothing to do with powering up the stereo deck itself. The relay is so the deck can power up the speaker amps. If you are having the problem of the deck lights up but there is no sound then the relay is a likely culprit. I suspect that you are thinking about the relay incorrectly. Please read the beginning of the wiring diagram they do a pretty good explanation of relays and how they function.

However it sounds like nothing is powering up; If that is the case you need to check the fuse first (15 amp cigar fuse) and then check the terminal 1A (Blue with a black stripe) and also 1C (blue with red stripe) in the J2-01 plug against ground you should see about 10-12 volts. You should not be checking terminal 1J as that will only show voltage after the deck has powered up.

Hope this helps.

 

Yeah that is correct nothing is powering up. All my fuses are good. I'm wondering if it could also be this power on problem explained here:

http://miata.net/garage/radio.html

as it did sit for a while while the last owner had it, and this is washington lol. But thanks I will check those things you listed as well. I'm doing the aux jack mod explained here:
http://www.miata.net/garage/external...interface.html

so hopefully this will work.

 

here is a thread about adding aux in to the bose on an rx7

https://www.rx7club.com/interior-exterior-audio-26/bose-cd-auxillary-mod-716870/

I don't know that the solution for a 91 miata radio will work on the rx7 stereo even though they are both bose, and they have the same plug. Though its worth a shot. I would still check those power terminals especially 1A as that is the wire that tells the radio to turn on.