Car Stereos: Radio goes comes on and then shuts off, wiring circuitry, dodge van

Question
I have a 1995 Dodge Van and I can turn the radio on and it stays on 5 to 10 minutes and then shuts off. I will turn it on again and it stays on only a minute or so and it's off again. What could it be? Please help me. I hate driving without any music on. Thanking you in advance. Shirley

Answer
Hi Shirley,

Sounds like overheating.  Try pulling the radio out, and checking its connectors/harness in the back.  Make sure they're tightly clipped in place.  If they are, try leaving it out, but plugged in (loosely in its installation position).  Turn it on and listen (but don't drive like that).  If it continues to do it, as soon as it turns off, check it with your hand.  If it's too hot for you to keep your hand on it, it's probably got some internal wiring/circuitry issues and is overheating and frying itself.

If it keeps working when installed loosely, try installing it again to see if you just made the connections better.

Justin