AM radio reception

[duber34]

I have the same symptoms on my '98 Explorer. AM reception is fine with the car shut off but unhearable (if that's a word) for all the ignition noise with the engine running. I noticed the condition slightly after I changed plug wires and it has gotten progressively worse. I suspect it's the cheap plug wires that I installed. One of these days I need to pick up a set of good quality wires.


Regards,
Duber

 

[HGM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have the same symptoms on my '98 Explorer. AM reception is fine with the car shut off but unhearable (if that's a word) for all the ignition noise with the engine running. I noticed the condition slightly after I changed plug wires and it has gotten progressively worse. I suspect it's the cheap plug wires that I installed. One of these days I need to pick up a set of good quality wires.


Regards,
Duber )</font>

Absoloutly, dont forget the cheap plugs that usually go along with them /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif.. Sorry for the dig, but always go factory with ignition components, it will save $$$ and headaches in the future..

 

[duber34]

Hmmm, I can't honestly remember what brand of plugs I put in. I think they were Bosch. The only thing I am certain of is that they were not Champions.


Regards,
Duber

 

[rswyan]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If I recall there was a screw near the tuning knob on the radio chassis, and you set the tuner to a station (not sure about the range, but I think in the 1400 range) and then adjusted the screw to "tune" it in. )</font>
I believe this is called an antenna "trimmer" and if I recall correctly I've seen that screw on the backside of radios as well.

I believe it is meant to compensate for the variation in overall length of antenna plus the antenna lead wire (which can vary by antenna location and specific vehical)

 

[RedRocker]

Give THESE guys a look, they have all kinds of AM antenna stuff.

 

[HGM]

Duber,
I really couldnt decide which is worse in a Ford. I have probably changed more Bosch (new) plugs for intermitant missfires, rough idles, hard starting, poor radio receptions, etc. than any other brand. I do believe this has more to do with the fact that most folks know Champions dont work well in these applications. Either way, I can just about guarantee that you will recognize a difference by either installing your old components or new Motorcraft parts. Like I said, dont want to slam anyone, its just a fact that I have learned with experience. I have recommended tune-ups or wires on many ocasions only to have the customer say "I'll do it myself". Then a week later, they'll return telling me I was wrong and they want their money back. I would then go out on a limb and replace the parts at my cost to prove my point. They then had to pay the original price pluss their parts that didnt work. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif..

I'm a Ford guy, but I will only install the manufactures brand ignition components in any vehicle. You wouldnt think electricity would be fickle, but it is..

Anyhow, I think we're hi-jacking the thread a bit, but if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[meledward23]

I find Satellite Radio lacking in many of the good AM programs. I prefer talk radio and am sick of trying to tune am stations which is why I have satellite. But for talk radio, it's just not worth it to me (at least Sirius).

Speaking of Sirius, I have about had it with them. The have changed their station line up I dont know how many times in the past year. But I suppose that is fine when they are expanding and adding stations. But the lastest move ticked me off.

They reorder the stations and move my favorite from xxx to 132. Foxnews used to read across the screen. Well now all it said was news. Then for two months I am listening to foxnews. Then one day I am listening to it and after about five minutes I thought"what gives" cause this sounds like CNN. Sure enough they changed that station over to CNN Headline news, dropped fox completely and never mentioned a word about it.

XM picked up fox.

I will probably be picking up XM. Tuough change since I get Sirius for free in one of my vehicles. The previous owner still pays for it. (My Old Man).

 

[Redbug]

Hello Shiman,

I have a 1991 Gmc Pickup with the original radio. The radio over time, (within a couple months), slowly started losing reception, mainly on the AM side. I had checked out all the logical choices...antenna connections, plug wires, etc. but that did not do it. A diode or other component inside the radio went bad. Considering the temperature extremes, and all the bouncing around, it's remarkable radios work as long as they do. I did some checking around and most factory auto radios are in production for about 5 years. Then it gets hard to locate one...junkyard maybe. United Radio rebuilds the older auto radios. It's where most dealers send theirs. You send in your old radio as a core and they send you back the replacement. That's what I wound up doing. http://unitedradio.com ...just a thought as a last resort.

 

[6or7dazeaweek]

Shimon: Before you go out & pop for the expensive noise filter, you might want to go to your local Radio Shack store & see if they have any "ferrite beads". They look like small donuts. Take & remove the power lead from your radio & pass it thru the donut, looping it thru a couple of times. This MAY help. You could also do the same with the OUTPUT wires that are coming from your alternator. AM reception is tough when ignition and noise from alternators come into play. Ferrite beads are cheap and I'd put them wherever I could trying to eliminate any pulse type noise that may be radiated into the air. You may find that you get some improvement by doing this. If you do find improvement and it doesn't completely remove the problem noise, just keep trying. Sometimes just taking a small battery operated AM radio & running it along wiring harnesses or electrical components such as alternator or distributors will give you a clue as to where the problem or problems lie.

I've got lots of techie info that I can print out if you need more guidance. Just let me know.

Good luck!
Jon

 

[RobertN]

Interesting about the Fords. I had a '80 F250 with a 400 in it. I did a full tune up on it one time, wires, cap, rotor, plugs ect. It ran terrible!

Turns out, I had pulled all the plug wires off and started from there. I ran them all neatly and had everything in the wire holders ect. Well... I did not put them in the same place in the wire holders. A couple of the wires were cross firing! Turned out, the wires had to be in a specific spot in the loom and holder, or else they would cross fire on one side of the engine. I had the factory manual, which pointed this out. Of course, I didn't read that stuff until I had spent a few hours dinking with it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

It did seem to affect the radio too, but the truck ran so bad that the radio was not an issue...