Break in radio antenna line?

[RatLabGuy]

My radio reception has suddenly become terrible, for stations I have always received clearly - as though the antenna line has either become disconnected or barely hanging on... or maybe something intefering...
Before I go following the wires, tracing circuits and reading diagrams, are there any common problem areas that would be a good start?
Lucky me, my factory warranty ran out 2 weeks ago.

 

[B1GHAM]

not sure on current conditions, but solar flares can affect radio reception for up to 2 weeks in some cases...

possibility this might be your problem?

best way to track down your problem though is to find out what has recently been changed or moved... have you added anything to the vehicle recently? Have you removed the headliner, or had major jolts to the car (as in huge bumps, accidents, etc)?

 

[thrasher]

I've had the tuners go in a few decks in the last 5 years. Just not made like they used to be I guess...

 

[P-Funk!]

Check the base of the antenna - where it screws to the base. Check for corrosion.

Really bad? Check that the plug at the head unti didn't get pulled out - or is just barely hanging...

No other 'known' issues (not like jeeps - the 'second connection' behind the glove box works itself loose).

Let us know the fix, eh?

 

[RatLabGuy]

OK, so here's the oddity.
First off, no cganges, mods, accidents, incedents, etc. Only thing even close is that teh evening I noticed it was my last welding class and I'd thrown in about 100lbs of metal in the back (made some rock sliders for my truck).
So yesterday wife and I were driving... noticed radio was fuine. Then got out, back in - staticky.
get this - I realized that if I turn the engine off so the key is on ACC but not ON, it soudns fine, but then to ON or ignited... and it's there.
This sound almost like a grounding problem, eh? No engine noise in the radio or anything, jusst static like poor antenna ground.
Making it more fun... I *think* that if I press the brake pedal, teh static increases. The difference is subtle though... so who knows, that may be in my head.

Fun, fun, fun ahead of me here....

 

[pasadena_commut]

I realized that if I turn the engine off so the key is on ACC but not ON, it soudns fine, but then to ON or ignited... and it's there.
This sound almost like a grounding problem, eh?

Or a loose antenna connection and a vibration problem. Try putting it on Accessory, turn the radio on, and then pound a bit on the dashboard.

Check the stubby antenna on the roof, it might have unscrewed a bit. That probably isn't it, but if it is then the fix is trivial and you won't have to mess with the dash. (Plus you'll feel like a total moron if you take the whole dash apart and it turns out it was the roof antenna.)

If it isn't the roof antenna, then as noted in one of the earlier posts, you'll need to verify that the antenna cable is firmly plugged into the back of the radio. I've never done this on a P5 but on some cars if your arm is skinny enough you can pull off one of the panels on the side of the center "pedestal" on the dash and reach up behind to get to that plug. Otherwise you'll have to pull the radio to check. If the connection is good (tight and not corroded) then you'll probably want to ohm out the cable to make sure it is ok, and you'll need the cable off the radio to do that.

Keep us informed how it turns out.

 

[thrasher]

Or a loose antenna connection and a vibration problem. Try putting it on Accessory, turn the radio on, and then pound a bit on the dashboard.

Check the stubby antenna on the roof, it might have unscrewed a bit. That probably isn't it, but if it is then the fix is trivial and you won't have to mess with the dash. (Plus you'll feel like a total moron if you take the whole dash apart and it turns out it was the roof antenna.)

If it isn't the roof antenna, then as noted in one of the earlier posts, you'll need to verify that the antenna cable is firmly plugged into the back of the radio. I've never done this on a P5 but on some cars if your arm is skinny enough you can pull off one of the panels on the side of the center "pedestal" on the dash and reach up behind to get to that plug. Otherwise you'll have to pull the radio to check. If the connection is good (tight and not corroded) then you'll probably want to ohm out the cable to make sure it is ok, and you'll need the cable off the radio to do that.

Keep us informed how it turns out.

You can remove the glove box, then reach through there. I hope you have 2 elbows...

 

[pasadena_commut]

You can remove the glove box, then reach through there. I hope you have 2 elbows...

Or there's a double jointed skinny kid around.

 

[P-Funk!]

Check your grounds at the battery - if the engine is grounding through the body (and not directly to the battery) - that could do it.

Check for corrosion and then ohm the cables.

 

[P-Funk!]

.. and check your hood ground strap. It 'contains' engine EMF noise from propagating to the radio...

 

[thrasher]

.. and check your hood ground strap. It 'contains' engine EMF noise from propagating to the radio...

hood ground strap?

 

[RatLabGuy]

Definitely NOT engine EMF noise... (A) it's not cyclic or RPM variable like that, and (B) it does it when the key is just to ON but the engine isn't on yet.
today it sounded great.
I wasshed my car yesterday.
Maybe that's what it needed, lol.

 

[Kansei]

hood ground strap?

I'm on hood #6 right now.. there is no ground strap attached to the hood.. but I would just check around at various major engine grounds, such as the one that the wire from the negative cable to the battery.

 

[P-Funk!]

Definitely NOT engine EMF noise... (A) it's not cyclic or RPM variable like that, and (B) it does it when the key is just to ON but the engine isn't on yet.
today it sounded great.
I wasshed my car yesterday.
Maybe that's what it needed, lol.

ahhh- i missed that.

Most cars have a hood grounding strap - i just ASSumed we did too.

meh.

 

[RatLabGuy]

Just an update, since some folks asked about it.
No problems with it since last post.
This is by FAR my least favorite kind of problem.

Maybe it DID just need to be washed.