Kentetsu

The only way I can pick up a radio station is if I am parked in that stations parking lot! Reception is terrible. This is a stock radio with manual tuning. Okay, review the obvious things...

1. Replaced antenna with three different types over the last year with no change.
2. Replaced the head unit with another used one with no change.
3. Replaced the antenna cord (between antenna and head unit) with a new one, and again, no change.
4. Does not matter if motor is running or not.
5. This is the one that gets me. When installing the new head unit, I plugged everything in and tried it before installing it into the dash. Reception seemed to be excellent so I was happy that it was fixed. But after mounting it, the problem remained. This is what led me to believe that the antenna wire was bad (maybe a short that moved with installation).

What else could be causing this? Is there anything else in the radio system that would cause reception issues? Amps maybe? I'm all out of ideas here, so if you have any please let me know. Thanks!

alxpril

Is there a power antenna wire in the head unit?

RX7Rox

Are you using the original antenna cable extension? Could be the culprit. Remove the radio and wiggle the cable to see if you can make it act up. Find a cheap antenna that comes with the cable attached and plug it in without actually mounting it.

Kentetsu

The car came with a power antenna, which was broken when I bought it. Based on that, I assume that there is a power wire coming out of the head unit. Could that cause the issue?

alxpril

Well i was just reading this http://www.carsound.com/cgi-bin/UBB_...2;t=004391;p=0 when i asked thinking you might have a similar problem..if there is a built in antenna amp.


..but I don’t know why it would work and then stop when you installed it....Have you tried taking the HU out again, turning it on and then installing it while its still on and working? You shouldn’t be installing it with power hooked up normally so be careful not to electrocute yourself or anything, but if the reception doesn't slowly get worse going in but just dies out, something might be getting unplugged?

$100T2

iTrader: (1)

If it works well when it's out of the dash, then to me, I'd think that when you're installing it, you're bending the antenna wire... Bent far enough/long enough, you might have broken the actual wire inside the cable. Either that, or when you're putting the head unit in the dash, the cable is having some sort of pressure exerted on it, making it not connect with the plug on your radio.

Kentetsu

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking at the time. I tried wiggling the antenna cable around behind the HU after it was installed to check for a short, but there was no change. After that, I replaced the entire cable between the HU and the antenna, again with no change.

I guess I'll have to find the time to pull the HU again and see how the reception is when its out of the dash. This is a really weird one. Thanks for your thoughts.

darkfrost

iTrader: (1)

Worst comes to worst, you could try one of these and mount it under the dash

http://www.stylinconcepts.com/parts....Loc/BrandID/13

alxpril

Wouldn't the car act as a faraday cage if the antenna is inside the car?

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

Check the ground on the antenna, my stock antenna with aftermarket radio has limitations also.

Kentetsu

Thanks for the link. I'll take another look at the wiring at the antenna and see what's there... Should be a power lead for the up/down function.

aussiesmg

iTrader: (1)

The grounding contact is where it mounts to the body, if it has become rusty you will have a problem with receiving radio signals.

Kentetsu

Nice and clean- no issues there. Keep the guesses coming though...

64mgb

iTrader: (1)

This sounds like some sort of grounding issue to me. The only difference between testing the head unit mounted in the car versus not mounted is that it's grounded when it's in the car. You could test this theory by testing with the head unit not mounted, and attach a good solid wire from the head unit chassis to a good ground on the car and see what happens. I'm not sure how you would fix it if this is the problem, but that's what I'd be looking for.

Good luck!

Rich

Kentetsu

Thanks Rich! Pretty much came to the same conclusion myself, but couldn't understand what would cause that situation. I've tried everything else already, so it's gonna come down to pulling the HU out today. Might as well take a closer look at the wiring behind there anyway.

I'll do as you suggest if it does improve upon removal from the dash. That will narrow it down really fast between the grounding, or some other wiring issue.

It's going to be a couple hours before I can start on it, but I'll keep you posted. Thanks again.

Kentetsu

Okay, this project has been officially moved to the back burner. My son was playing a little too rough with the dog, and got his lip torn open as a result. So my afternoon was spent in the emergency room while he got stitched up.

Good news is, before that happened I was at least able to put on all new tie rod ends and center pieces. I was hoping to put my new Carter fuel pump on, with the Holley FPR, but its starting to get a little late. Might have to wait until tomorrow for that.

Anyway, radio issues are my last priority right now (unless I get a bug up my butt). I'll get back to this with the results once I get the HU pulled out. Thanks for the help guys...

riceburner1r2001

iTrader: (4)

i have xm radio oh yeah baby