AM/FM tuner does not work on my Panasonic SA-5500

[mightythor]

Hello, I just recently picked up a Panasonic SA-5500. Everything appears to be working, with the exception of the radio, neither AM nor FM are picking up any stations. The "Tuning" indicator never moves off of "0". The dial turns smoothly and I do see the string moving as well. All lights work and none of the fuses appear to be blown (these are perhaps unrelated to the issue). I do not have an external antenna hooked up, however, I would think that I should at least pick up static. I am not getting any sound to the speakers when in FM or AM mode, other than a slight hum, when the volume is increased

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am not sure if this issue would be generic to all stereo receivers or not....

I do not have any way to test, nor the knowledge at this point. Thank you

 

[cademan]

I do not have any way to test, nor the knowledge at this point.

Can't really help you then. Sorry!

You'll probably need to take it to a repair shop.

There might be an AK'r close to you in CA that might be able to help.

 

[Ylli]

Well, we would need the correct model as a start. The Panasonic SA-5500 is an amplifier, and does not contain any tuners.

 

[cademan]

Look up Panasonic/Matsushita.

I get a receiver.

 

[Ylli]

Yup, my mistake. I asked google to look up a Panasonic SA-5500 for me, and instead it looked up Pioneer SA-5500.

 

[mightythor]

Can't really help you then. Sorry!

Well, I do own a multimeter and a soldering iron..just don't know where or what to test for this issue...if these tools will help...

Well, we would need the correct model as a start. The Panasonic SA-5500 is an amplifier, and does not contain any tuners.

See pics.....

 

[ryuuoh]

Unplug the unit and use your meter to measure the fuses. The can appear good, but still be bad.

Here's a service manual for an SA-5800, which looks similar:
https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/panasonic/sa-5800.shtml
And a service manual for the SA-5500, but you have to contact the site to get a copy:
https://www.radiomuseum.org/r/panasonic_technics_sa_5500.html#

 

[cademan]

Maybe wiggle the selector switch in the AM or FM positions. Could be dirty.

 

[kwayde]

Yup, my mistake. I asked google to look up a Panasonic SA-5500 for me, and instead it looked up Pioneer SA-5500.
View attachment 2473355

I've noticed that google search has really sucked lately. Limited items and many times something not even close to what I was looking for/

 

[Okke 70s]

I do not have an external antenna hooked up,

You can use a piece of wire for FM antenna.

But if you don't even get static noise (assuming you got the mute off like in the pic) something else is wrong.

First suspect, as mentioned is the input selector switch. But if wiggling and such still gives absolutely no sound at all, left or right, AM or FM then it might not be the culprit.

Doing absolutely nothing on both sides would have me suspect the power supply toward the tuner section. This is where you get to use your multimeter, if your man enough to go in

 

[mightythor]

Unplug the unit and use your meter to measure the fuses.

All 6 fuses tested good for ohms and continuity…

 

[mightythor]

But if you don't even get static noise (assuming you got the mute off like in the pic) something else is wrong.



Doing absolutely nothing on both sides would have me suspect the power supply toward the tuner section. This is where you get to use your multimeter, if your man enough to go in

I’m ready to dive in, just not sure what to test…thanks

 

[mightythor]

Would love to set this unit up in the garage…thanks for all the suggestions thus far!!

 

[Ylli]

Find the board with IC301 (AN211) on it. (First pix from your post #12) Look for terminals on the board that are labeled either 116 or 120. With the unit powered up, measure the voltage at either of those points. If you can't find 116 or 120, then you could also measure on IC301 pin 12, but be careful not to short pins when measuring. You should see about -8.6 volts.

 

[Okke 70s]

Look for terminals on the board that are labeled either 116 or 120

I'm assuming this is where the power comes in (haven't checkt). So what did you find?

 

[Ylli]

Yes, this is where -8.6 volts comes in from the power board and feeds power to the tuner section. One fairly common failure is a shorted Zener diode, and if the OP finds low or no voltage at this point that would be my first guess (D702?).

 

[Bone Yard]

I deal with this all of the time, it's much more common in portables but recievers have the same issue, the function selector probably needs a good cleaning. In fact I'm working on a 70's Sanyo Mono Boombox as we speak with the exact same issue but it's close to being fixed and enjoyed. The brief moments I get life, it pulls in everything.

Look up Arkay's Idiot's Guide to DeOxit, it will help out a ton, you can get DeOxit online or most musician's stores carry it, personally I get both DeOxit and FaderLube. If your in a bind the local auto stores usually carry CRC Cleaner for electrical contacts.

 

[Doug G.]

I hate search engines that assume or ignore the primary search terms. It's like, "Hey google, did you see me enter Pioneer as a criteria? NO!"

Anyway, the thing is, many tuner sections, particularly FM, need to have some kind of antenna attached or there will be silence. Typically the AM section will have a rod antenna already attached to the front and so, there should normally be some noise but you need to be sure there IS one attached/connected.

Manipulating the selector, even if it's dirty, should elicit some kind of response even if only momentarily and only infrequently. If this doesn't happen, especially after applying a cleaner like Deoxit, the problem is most likely electrical and, in this case, being neither FM OR AM work it is almost certainly a power supply problem, as Ylli indicated.

Doug

 

[goodolpg]

I've noticed that google search has really sucked lately. Limited items and many times something not even close to what I was looking for/

Related, but not audio...When I get a phone call whose number I don't recognize, I will Google the number.
Googling phone numbers the last couple weeks has SUCKED BIG TIME.
That OR the scammers are entering area codes and local exchanges that don't even exist into their spoofing machines*

*I'm fairly certain that's not what they call whatever they use to make spoofed numbers show up on caller ID's but darned if I do know what they are called.

 

[cademan]

Those are disposable numbers. I get them all the time and when I call them back immediately, it is disconnected.