Replaced the factory radio with a Pioneer AVH-3700, unplugged the amp connection and every works. Did not hook up the blue/white wire. Now I have very poor radio reception. Radio reception was very good prior to changing the radios.
Poor radio reception after replacing Factory unit
- Thread starter maddss
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Presume you simply unplugged the antenna connector from the old unit and plugged it into the new one? Does the mast extend with the HU source turned to Radio?
I've got crap reception with my new HU as well, however I also lost the antenna up/down button functionality at the same time. I'll be watching.
OK, so you can manually extend the mast but it does not automatically switch to bring up the antenna when you switch the HU to Radio as the source?
Is the reception bad even when the antenna is manually extended? Or just when the antenna doesn't go up?
Been a long time since I did mine, so I'm not sure whether the blue/white wire you are talking of is on the new HU or on the truck's wiring harness?
If the blue/white wire is the wire that signals the antenna to extend, that may be the issue.
However, if the antenna is plugged in, was working with the previous radio, is extended, and the HU source turned to Radio, you should have everything that you need to pick up a signal.
Have you tried reception in a different location?
I haven't run across this myself, but if everything checked out, it may be a tuner with issues. Some folks say they don't pay as much attention to building tuners any more, so they're often not as good as they used to be. But it could be a warranty issue with the new HU, too, and worth following up. You might want to check online reviews for any comments about the tuner or reception problems with the HU you have.
Yeah, that's right. I've had too many radio questions up in the air at once.
If it was good before and all that was done is replug things, then it may be a radio issue.
For the OP, are you talking AM or FM or both? If you've only been on one, check the reception on the other just to see how it is.
If it was good before and all that was done is replug things, then it may be a radio issue.
For the OP, are you talking AM or FM or both? If you've only been on one, check the reception on the other just to see how it is.
Make sure it's not something in the HU setup, like local/distant reception selection. Then be sure the antenna is in all the way. Sometimes they're a tighter fit and feel pushed in all the way when they're not. I don't think any wire in the harness could do this.
Same symptom occurred after I swapped out the factory unit with a Nakamichi HU.
The Nak has had better than great AM/FM reception in two previous vehicles (Rangie and BMW).
Reception using the stock antenna was piss poor at best.
FM slightly better than AM
In the Rangie, I could get AM local KGO 810 everywhere (Whitney Portal, Klamath Falls, Quincey, Reno, Death Valley)
In my LC it doesn't even come in from direct line site at SF Bay sea level or Berkeley Hills.
Resorted to TuneIn App through iPhone/Aux.
The Nak has had better than great AM/FM reception in two previous vehicles (Rangie and BMW).
Reception using the stock antenna was piss poor at best.
FM slightly better than AM
In the Rangie, I could get AM local KGO 810 everywhere (Whitney Portal, Klamath Falls, Quincey, Reno, Death Valley)
In my LC it doesn't even come in from direct line site at SF Bay sea level or Berkeley Hills.
Resorted to TuneIn App through iPhone/Aux.
One troubleshoot is to buy a cheep $10 antenna from autozone and plug it in. If nothing changes then its your HU, if it gets better its in the existing antenna. Conversely you could try hooking up the stock unit and see if it still works. The coax could have been damaged during the installation.
My problem is that I lose sound about every 2 days (just sound everything else wotks), not sure if it's related to the amp? Which harness you use to bypass it?
I didn't connect the the blue wite either.
I didn't connect the the blue wite either.
partially plugged/loose connector?
Everything is soldered thou
- Thread starter
- #14
Both AM and FM
I know its a pain, but has anyone replaced the stock antenna with something else and if so what? Cant hook the stock radio up, dont ahve the security code.
Both AM and FM point to an antenna issue, but not conclusively. If the plug on the coax is fully in, then if that's all that was involved, doubt you damaged the coax.
If you do pull the antenna and coax, be CERTAIN you attach a fish line to the plug and pull it out through the firewall and fender as you remove the old. Otherwise it's a royal PITA to get the new coax in. There's a 90 degree turn at the back of the fender that is virtually impossible to navigate without the help of the fish line to get it back inside.
I will say that at least on my 97, the stock power antenna's reception is very good. I'm a radio monitor and really do notice how well antennas perform. That said, things can go wrong. Others have reported using various other options, like rubber duckies, etc, but you'll face the issue of pulling the coax back in regardless if you switch.
If it was mine, I'd pull the new HU and rig it with another antenna temporarily just to confirm the issue. I still suspect a HU problem of some kind could be in play here.
If you do pull the antenna and coax, be CERTAIN you attach a fish line to the plug and pull it out through the firewall and fender as you remove the old. Otherwise it's a royal PITA to get the new coax in. There's a 90 degree turn at the back of the fender that is virtually impossible to navigate without the help of the fish line to get it back inside.
I will say that at least on my 97, the stock power antenna's reception is very good. I'm a radio monitor and really do notice how well antennas perform. That said, things can go wrong. Others have reported using various other options, like rubber duckies, etc, but you'll face the issue of pulling the coax back in regardless if you switch.
If it was mine, I'd pull the new HU and rig it with another antenna temporarily just to confirm the issue. I still suspect a HU problem of some kind could be in play here.
Probably the antenna adaptor maybe bad. For my 80 i connected everything by the book and to get good radio reception when i actually listened to it I had to raise the antenna mast up with the button inside the cab until the sound was clear. You also might want to check the wiring also. Crimping wires are always better for car audio instead of solder. Sound can be degraded through solder. Its good for power wires though.
Oh man, and I though solder was better do'h
Thx
Thx
Yeah, I dunno about solder being bad for sound. It works for me.
But the factory Motorola plug on the coax is crimped and should work unless obviously damaged. However, the issue may be that someone tried to previously R&R the radio and perhaps cut the insulation protecting the coax cable. If that grounds against the body somewhere on the way between the HU and antenna, that could be the problem. The fact that the radio worked before suggests that's not the issue, but if it was damaged and then the new install moved it into contact, that might account for the issue.
But the factory Motorola plug on the coax is crimped and should work unless obviously damaged. However, the issue may be that someone tried to previously R&R the radio and perhaps cut the insulation protecting the coax cable. If that grounds against the body somewhere on the way between the HU and antenna, that could be the problem. The fact that the radio worked before suggests that's not the issue, but if it was damaged and then the new install moved it into contact, that might account for the issue.
Bad crimps or cold solder joints are bad but a good solder joint would be preferred. Are you sure it is properly grounded. It looks like the AVH X3700BHS also has HD radio. What is the reception like with that or playing an MP3? Please be more descriptive of bad reception. Is it static, weak signal? Is the reception poor with the engine off as well? Some time the tuner sections in radios can be too sensitive exhibiting multipath distortion in urban locations or receive multiple stations in rural locations. Have you tried raising and lowering the antenna at different heights?
I had crap reception on my JVC--switched it to a pioneer--still crap. Fuzzy, like it was out of tune. Didn't matter if the vehicle was running or not Both Sounded great through the USB iPhone on PANDORA or iHEART radio or iTunes though
Put the factory radio back in--everything is fine. Reception perfect. All 3 were done with the vehicle in the driveway, not running, and in a 3 hour period. Clear, sunny day. So nothing about the available signal should have changed
I don't get it either.
Put the factory radio back in--everything is fine. Reception perfect. All 3 were done with the vehicle in the driveway, not running, and in a 3 hour period. Clear, sunny day. So nothing about the available signal should have changed
I don't get it either.