Radio reception up date

[llfish]

I have a 2001 Ford Escape and the radio reception sucks. I have talked to several radio shops and they say the only way to improve reception is change out radio. Is there any other ways to improve the reception.<br /><br />On the same road the 01 will lose the signal about 40 miles before our 03 escape. Driving through town 01 radio will be fine then three block down street turns to static. No problem in 03.<br /><br />Happy New Years and thanks for the help!!

 

[BassMan283]

Re: Radio reception up date

Could be a defective antenna cable. We make instrument panels for OEMs and recently a couple of DCX plants we ship to have experienced a number of defective antenna cables, usually due to bad crimps on the connectors. Main symptom is weak AM reception. Apparently FM seems to be OK since it's not really affected by the external antenna. Some others were the result of a "soft connection", i.e. the connector wasn't pushed all the way on.<br /><br />If it's both AM and FM that are bad, I suppose that could probably be the radio itself.<br /><br />Easiest way to check is pull the radio and make sure the connector is fully pushed on the radio connector and tightly crimped to the coax. The other end mught be harder to check but you might be able to find it by taking out the glove box. They should be able to bench test the radio by hooking it up to a known good antenna.

 

[llfish]

Re: Radio reception up date

FM is the one that is bad. The connector is fully pushed in.<br /><br />Bench test radio sounds good. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Radio reception up date

Some of the Chevy Malibu's had the same problem and it turns out that the cable is a two piece cable and was becoming unplugged at the connection. You might want to trace the cable and find out if it is 2 piece. The other alternative is to try a replacemnt antenna assembly. Maybe there is a plastic washer or busining gone bad and is grounding out.

 

[Drowned Rat]

Re: Radio reception up date

Make sure your DX feature is turned on if the radio has one, otherwise it's just looking for strong local broadcasts and will filter out weaker transmissions. You'll probably need to look in the vehicle manual to figure out how to activate it. Sometimes the radio can reset to it's defaults like when you change the car battery or something.

 

[Kalian]

Re: Radio reception up date

Could be the sparkplugs. Aren't there a certain type that cause interference with the radio?

 

[llfish]

Re: Radio reception up date

Not spark plugs because in some areas the reception is fine go down the street 3 blocks and all you get is static. 03 Escape same radio and that does not happen, same street. This station is picked up while using seek.<br /><br />Two piece cable makes sense. Will pull radio out of 03 and place in 01 and see what the difference that makes.<br /><br />Thanks for the ideas. Someone will come up with the answer.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Radio reception up date

Have you searched the web for recalls on it? It may have a service buletin (never could spell that werd) issued on it from Ford. If so, free fix.

 

[llfish]

Re: Radio reception up date

No I have not 12 footer but I will. Thanks for the advice.