Any - Poor AM and FM reception | Technical matters | Back Room Forum

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Wed 29 Feb 2012 21:42

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - balleballe

Recently purchased a new (used) car.

The FM reception is poor and the speakers 'crackle'

AM reception is the same (but not bothered as I seldom listen to AM)

Replaced the antenna and have the same problem. So it's most likely a wiring issue of some sort.

Any idea what the problem may be and how expensive it is likely to be to fix?

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Thu 1 Mar 2012 08:11

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - elekie&a/c doctor

Sorry,crystall ball not working today.Make,model,year of car would help.

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Thu 1 Mar 2012 08:17

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - xtrailman

Try fitting a suppressor, or two.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_189944_langId_-1_category**_165626

Edited by xtrailman on 01/03/2012 at 08:19

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Thu 1 Mar 2012 11:48

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - dieselnut

When you say you replaced the antenna, did that include the antenna base. This usually has a built-in amplifier & being at the lowest point attracts water that gets past any seals so stopping it working.

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Thu 1 Mar 2012 13:30

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - Quicksilver

Check the coax connection into the radio at the back. It could be loose.

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Thu 1 Mar 2012 21:55

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - balleballe

Sorry

It's a mazda 3 04 plate.

I was on the way to work today (40 mile journey) with the fm radio on. The reception would 'black out' once in a while with the words 'searching' displayed on screen. The sound quality was intermittantly poor.

On the way back from work - no such problem occured

I shall have my local mechanic look at it tomorrow and mention the advice above - cheers folks

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Fri 2 Mar 2012 12:45

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - xtrailman

Thats different to your OP.

I would have to agree with the others, you are simply lossing radio reception, probably the RDS is searching for a stronger signal.

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Sat 3 Mar 2012 10:50

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - balleballe

Thats different to your OP.

I would have to agree with the others, you are simply lossing radio reception, probably the RDS is searching for a stronger signal.

Yep - it's an odd one. Sometimes its fine - other times it just crackles, and other time it loses reception

I've ordered a new Antenna base (which has the amplifier) from mazda on the suggestion from my trutsy local mechanic. It's only £30 so we'll see if it sorts the problem.

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Sun 4 Mar 2012 15:49

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - Mister_B

Thats different to your OP.

I would have to agree with the others, you are simply lossing radio reception, probably the RDS is searching for a stronger signal.

Yep - it's an odd one. Sometimes its fine - other times it just crackles, and other time it loses reception

I've ordered a new Antenna base (which has the amplifier) from mazda on the suggestion from my trutsy local mechanic. It's only £30 so we'll see if it sorts the problem.

Since you're driving 40 miles to work, are you sure you're not just driving out of the radio stations TSA?

When it losing reception or crackles, just tune around and see if it's just that you've lost reception of that particular station.

I work 28 miles away from my location, and have to retune from BBC Radio Sheffield for that very reason !

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Thu 1 Mar 2012 22:00

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - balleballe

When you say you replaced the antenna, did that include the antenna base. This usually has a built-in amplifier & being at the lowest point attracts water that gets past any seals so stopping it working.

Nope - just the actual aerial. Thank for the suggestion

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Sat 3 Mar 2012 19:33

Any - Poor AM and FM reception - Collos25

Sounds. to me as though the aerial amp is faulty

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