AC blower/stereo power issue

[ConchZ]

I've had a strange thing going with my radio and AC blower for some time, and its now become a major problem. It started a few days after I removed and replaced my dash. When I shut the car off, sometimes the AC blower and radio would remain on for a few seconds to a couple of minutes. I just started up the car today, after not driving it for a couple weeks. The blower motor no longer works. However, when I turn it on, it causes the radio to stop working. The radio won't work again until I turn off the car and turn it back on.

I'm hoping this will click with someone, so that I can find a starting place in my troubleshooting. Speaking of clicking, there's a relay at the top of the passenger kick panel that gets warm. It also clicks when you turn the key to ACC, and again when you turn it off. It doesn't click when you turn on the blower (which kills the radio). I seem to remember that the aftermarket radio is wired into a solid blue wire, and this wire was also connected to the blower, although I could be wrong. It's a pain to take apart the HVAC controls and radio far enough to check this, but that's where I'm headed next. Just wondering if there's an easy to replace relay that I should be checking first.

Please help. I was wanting to drive the car from Key West to Miami on monday, but not if I won't have an AC blower.

Matt

Edited August 28, 2009 by ConchZ

[Mikes Z car]

I wonder what would happen if you temporarily hooked a wire from the radio chassis to a known good ground.

[ConchZ]

I fixed it. I was really thrown off by the radio turning off when the fan was turned on, and all that. Couldn't see how a loose wire would cause that, but that was all it was. Whew.