Piss poor FM reception...

[doonze]

Ok, so some background, I used to be an audio installer (right before Explorers came out), so I'm not a total rookie. Just wanting to see if anyone else had this issue on these, or any input i can get.

I had the stock unit installed and I replaced all 4 speakers this week. All were rotted, no foam surround left of any of them. I had figured my problems were caused by the bad speakers. However once I had the new speakers in I discoved I don't get FM very good. I mean it will come in, just not as well as other cars at the same location.

Now, back when I was an installer, Factory radios tuners were junk, so I figured I'd just replace with a good Pioneer unit I had in my Trans AM, that got great reception. And when I was an installer Pioneer had better tuners then most anyway, always had very good luck with them.

So, I did the swap, very annoying install as installs go. Like I said I was an installer before Explorers came out, so I was surprised by the pretty much standard rear amp setup. And because of other issues with the wiring harness kit I got from AZ was all in all a very screwy install all around, but I did get it finally.

So, my issue is.... the new head unit has no better reception then the stock unit did. And yes the antenna is plugged in.

So I did take the antenna off last night, some rust in the fitting, cleaned it out, played with it some. My hand on the antenna mount gets just as good reception as the antenna screwed in does, but if I and the antenna move away form the mount lose all receiption. So it IS working, just not well.

Any fixes anyone has had luck with? Do you get to bottom of the antenna mount from the glove box area?? I'm going to check it out this weekend.

 

[nitro71]

My X is getting crappy reception also. A lot of static. I thought it was the antenna connection or something with the grounding. I have power comeing from the battery and the ground connected at the chassis ground next to the battery. My speaks are Pioneers with new wire ran to the head unit. I don't have a ground from the screw hole on the back of the unit. This is kinda low on my priority list right now but it sounds like there is a problem with X's. Maybe a new antenna?

 

[boggs1227]

ah' ha ...another radio installer here ( my first job i had was installing for mundy's car audio in gainesville ) ....


if good reception can not be had then maybe replaceing the antenna wire that is comeing from the antenna ? ( could not hurt ) or just replaceing the antenna all together with one from a yard or maybe a new one ..

tho with the advent of hd radio now days i have noticed that most of the good crap that i always liked and listen to is not so much now days ( maybe i'm getting old ) but i wonder since the economic times we live in that the radio stations are playing better songs on the hd radio freq' and also maybe they cut back on their broadcasting power to save a little on the electric bill each month ( hey it could happen )


.......just listen to your mp3's and compact disks ...you'll be much happier that way .

 

[nitro71]

Good point there about the broadcasting power. I do notice certain stations come in better than others. Think I'll try a new antenna cable to.