These radios have separate tuners and amps--maybe the amp is working (the hiss) and the radio head isn't? I know that there are two fuses on the back of the radio, and although I have no idea just whet they control, you might start there. I have heard of these radios losing their display, and occasionally part of the FM circuit (intermittent FM), but they rarely go flat-out dead. Check to be certain that the tape mechanism isn't running, cutting out the radio...