Terrible reception... bad antenna ground?
08-01-2011, 01:53 PM
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Car: '88 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Terrible reception... bad antenna ground?
I have an '88 Trans Am w/ about 105k miles. She's a garage queen and only gets driven in the summer. I've had reception problems over the last several yrs, but it's really gotten bad this summer (the tuner is basically useless, even w/ really strong stations). But when I listen to a CD, the system sounds great.
Last summer, I installed Kenwood HU that's probably about 5yrs old. It got excellent reception when it was in my daily driver. And the HU I had in there before that had similar issues. So I know it's not the HU.
Given the age of the car, I'm guessing there's a corroded connection somewhere in the antenna system. I remember seeing a star washer on the bolt for the antenna support inside the fender... could that have something to do w/ it? And what about where the antenna screws in on top of the fender? I don't wanna tear that all apart if it's not gonna make any difference. Anywhere else I should look?
Last summer, I installed Kenwood HU that's probably about 5yrs old. It got excellent reception when it was in my daily driver. And the HU I had in there before that had similar issues. So I know it's not the HU.
Given the age of the car, I'm guessing there's a corroded connection somewhere in the antenna system. I remember seeing a star washer on the bolt for the antenna support inside the fender... could that have something to do w/ it? And what about where the antenna screws in on top of the fender? I don't wanna tear that all apart if it's not gonna make any difference. Anywhere else I should look?
08-01-2011, 02:46 PM
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08-05-2011, 09:18 PM
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Car: 2003 Hyundai Tiburon GT
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Re: Terrible reception... bad antenna ground?
Well, to clean everything up, you need to remove the antenna and the nut underneath it, and then the inner fender plastic. Reach in there with a 10mm socket and undo the bolt holding the mast up. Bust out a grinder or something with a wire wheel on it and clean up the base of the antenna mast, the bolt, the star washer, and the mast mount, and put it back together again.
Also check the cable connection to the radio... I can get twice as many stations with my 4 year old Eclipse HU than my father can with the radio in his 08 Malibu, including distant ones that won't even attempt to come in to the other car. Of course, I had to replace the entire antenna mast because the radio plug broke on my factory mast
. Got one of the last GM antennas in the country from the dealer 
.
Also check the cable connection to the radio... I can get twice as many stations with my 4 year old Eclipse HU than my father can with the radio in his 08 Malibu, including distant ones that won't even attempt to come in to the other car. Of course, I had to replace the entire antenna mast because the radio plug broke on my factory mast
. Got one of the last GM antennas in the country from the dealer .
08-06-2011, 01:19 AM
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Re: Terrible reception... bad antenna ground?
Why I always buy Pioneere
SuperTuner rocks, no antenna needed.
any Pioneere DEH-xxxxx HU is good.
SuperTuner rocks, no antenna needed.
any Pioneere DEH-xxxxx HU is good.
08-08-2011, 01:46 PM
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Car: '88 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TBI
Transmission: 700R4
Re: Terrible reception... bad antenna ground?
Well, to clean everything up, you need to remove the antenna and the nut underneath it, and then the inner fender plastic. Reach in there with a 10mm socket and undo the bolt holding the mast up. Bust out a grinder or something with a wire wheel on it and clean up the base of the antenna mast, the bolt, the star washer, and the mast mount, and put it back together again.
Also check the cable connection to the radio...
Also check the cable connection to the radio...
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