How is the FM radio reception for you? (1 Viewer)

[LXneewb]

So Im still fairly new into my 100 series ownership. Trying to address all the fixable little imperfections on my 2005 LX and my current project is that the radio has really bad FM reception. The stations I should be picking up clearly, I am not able to get good reception at any lengths of antenna extension. I pulled out the head unit and checked the 2 antenna cables they are both plugged in.

It seems in areas where the FM signals may be a little weaker, my radio will pick up the station but it will be rapid stop and go and not a continuous clear quality signal. It does not seem to affect AM stations.

The antenna mast looks worn out but is intact and goes all the way up and down. I was thinking since I do get a little better signal at full extension vs half extension maybe the antenna needs replacement? I remember when I had a car with an actual antenna and even at half extended the manual antennas would give me a clear signal.

Anyone else have these issues on their trucks? How did you guys fix it? I hope this isnt something else I will just have to live with.

Thanks!

 

[hkeller]

Our 2000 LX pulls in signals from the nest state. Our 2004 barely picks up stations when you drive by their transmission tower. It is pretty frustrating.

 

[TLCJC]

Were these the years of last analog VHF signals for the 2000 versus new digital radio technology signal for the 2005?

 

[LXneewb]

I found the problem...my FM reception is back!!

I was attempting to install a new antenna mast thinking that was the problem. Took out the old mast but the plastic toothed wire would not come all the way out. Had no choice but to open up the motor from the front wheel well and take out the wire that way. Finally got the motor open and found the wire intact but the plastic cog wheel on which it runs had snapped and came out of its housing and the wire was stuck in it. This prevented the antenna from extending fully I think.

Realizing Im screwed I put everything back together and was able to get the broken cog wheel back in its housing, screwed the cover back on hoping the snapped wheel stays in place and installed my new antenna praying it would still work.

Presto! The snapped cog wheel is doing its job, the new antenna extends fully and I get all my FM stations crystal clear now. Will look for the cogwheel part so I have it ready for when it finally fails.

So the moral of the story is not only can the antenna mast or plastic wire snap but the internal cogwheels can also break causing a failure and/or poor reception.

Now on to those Heater T's....

 

[toyuda]

That is very good information. Kudos on pulling off that fix.

I am trying to understand whether the snapped/displaced cog interfered with the full extension of the antenna and that is why the signal was weak. Does your new one extend higher than the old one did?

Dealing myself with reception that seems worse than it used to be. I cannot remember for sure, but it seemed like the antenna used to extend higher than it does now on my '05 (I have maxed out the extension using the buttons). I just measured it at full extension and the tip is 32.5 inches above the metal base. So the tip sits a couple inches above the level of the roof rack. Does that seem lower than others at full extension?

Thank you.

 

[LXneewb]

That is very good information. Kudos on pulling off that fix.

I am trying to understand whether the snapped/displaced cog interfered with the full extension of the antenna and that is why the signal was weak. Does your new one extend higher than the old one did?

Dealing myself with reception that seems worse than it used to be. I cannot remember for sure, but it seemed like the antenna used to extend higher than it does now on my '05 (I have maxed out the extension using the buttons). I just measured it at full extension and the tip is 32.5 inches above the metal base. So the tip sits a couple inches above the level of the roof rack. Does that seem lower than others at full extension?

Thank you.

My new one definitely extends higher. When I got the new OEM antenna I compared it side by side to my old one which was still installed and it was a good 2 inches longer than the old one. If the nylon wire does not come all the way out you may have a broken cog with the wire stuck in between the crack in the cog. Thats what I had. I will try and get you a measurement of the new antenna at full extension when I get back in town.

 

[toyuda]

Great. Thank you.

 

[LXneewb]

Great. Thank you.

I just found my tape measure! I am getting 32 and 12/16 inches for the antenna length from the nut at the base to the top of the antenna