Everything else on my Cd player works, but I'm not getting any radio channels. I suspect something is wrong with my antenna, but I have no idea where to look or how to get there. Any ideas?

 

Make/model of the HU?

 

It's an Alpine CDA-D852. It's an older model. I don't understand what the model has to do with it?

 

Some makes and models have their problems. If you had said Sony/Aiwa/Jensen/Dual, well they’re not the best to start with. Had you said JVC I would have thought solder connection problem in the radio. Had you said Pioneer I would have asked if the stereo indicator was lighting up as that’s a SYS8V or TUN3.3 line problem. Being you said Alpine I know to start with a problem with the car. Ground’s are VARY important for the tuner. Check grounds at the antenna first. Did this start when you put the radio in? Was the radio in there and working for a bit? If so did this start all of a sudden or slowly? Are you getting NO reception or vary vary bad reception? If you tune the radio to a known good station and wiggle the antenna, what happens (this would indicate a ground problem at the antenna)?

 

I get no channels at all. If I hit the seek button, it just keeps going without stopping. How do I check the ground at the antenna? This all happened when I first installed it. All the connections for the radio are fine, I think it's the car antenna, but I just don't know where to look and how to get to it.

 

the antenna wire at the back of the cd player is a thick black wire (looks sorta like coaxil tv cable) it has an end that plugs into the cd player. check and see if its connected securely

 

Did you get the GM antenna adaptor? GM decided to use a smaller diameter plug than your typical unit, so your car's stock plug won't click into the hole. You can swing by best buy/circut city/wherever and pick up an adaptor that will convert it to the standard size.

 

I'll go check that out. That might be it because I know the plug didn't click in for sure.

 

Well, the antenna needs to be plugged in. And for a after market HU into a GM you'll need the antenna adapter.