Radio Reception Problems + Changing Radio

[barcelona]

Recently bought a 2000 forte hdi and I've got issues with the radio reception. Basically MW is all fuzzy - FM is fine. It's very important I get this sorted out because my wife now uses this as an excuse to turn off radio 5. Up to recently I had a 1995 TD SX which had perfect MW reception.

 

If I'm forced to get a new radio I'll revert to a 1995 Xantia type radio (I like the MP3 player input socket). It's probably not as simple as taking one out of a scrapyard. Do I need to get new codes?

[Guest Colin Hunter]

This is probably down to failure of the aerial base or cable. The original cable had a small "masthead" amplifier built into the part where it clamps onto the base of the mast. As the car ages, the mast base can start to fail, causing poor contact between the base and securing screw and also allow water to leak into the car. Not enough so you'd notice, but enough to bugger the little amplifier. If you live in a strong FM reception area you probably won't notice any degradation in that signal. However AM signals will die a swift death. A replacement aerial base is less than a tenner and the cable is much the same (From Citroen). A new mast is also pennies as you may not be able to remove the old one from the base.

 

To replace the mast base and cable you have to take off the sun visors to allow LIMITED access above the headlining. You'll see the end of the cable and a nut which both holds the cable and the mast base in place. The cable runs along and down the drivers side screen pillar behind the trim. The trim can be removed by taking off the door rubber. It then wends its way through the dash to the back of the radio. Don't bother trying to pull out the old cable. It's made fast in a loom or something. Just cut off the redundant ends and clip the new one in place out of the way of moving parts with cable ties.

 

Make sure the metal inside the mast base is rust free so that the metal "spikes" on the new aerial cable can earth properly to the body. If they don't you'll see no improvement.

 

The only code you'll need if you replace the radio is the code for that radio. However, I'm not at all sure if a MK1 radio will fit a MK2. You can allways feed your MP3s in through a cassette adapter or an FM transmitter.

 

Cheers. Hope this helps. <_<