Hello,
I had my 51 Mondeo repaired after an accident last month - damage to all four offside panels. Since the repair, FM radio reception is terrible.
Some days, I get great reception (it's an hour each way to work and I can listen to FM the whole time). Some days, I get only hissing, and searching the band finds nothing. Some days, the radio recpetion cuts out after a little while - seconds, minutes, there's no pattern. When it cuts, it fades very quickly to hissing and searching the band finds nothing. I can always get MW reception.
I don't have lots of time (or skill) to investigate - can anyone suggest what might have happened or how to narrow the fault down? I've checked the transmitter info - there's no work going on or power reduction etc. The very old radio in my other car works fine - so I'm completely confused. Thanks!
CD
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Take it back to the body shop?
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I agree with cheddar's post above, but would just say that I had reception problems with the radio in my Mondeo at one time. I even complained to the Ford Main Dealer about it as the car was then still under warranty. They said it was OK, which it probably was whilst they had it in their workshop; the problem was intermittent.
I purchased a pair of radio removing tools, pulled the radio out and found that the aerial lead was just about making contact with the socket on the back of the radio.
Pushed the lead right back and replaced radio; no further problems to this day. Always check the simplest of things first.
Now you would have thought that the FMD would have done that, wouldn't you? Oh well, perhaps not!
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My Mitsubishi has an 'active' aerial with an amplifier, that needs 12 volts. This is normally fed from the radio. Perhaps your Mthis extra wire has been disturbed. The unamplified signal gives very similar symptoms to those described. I found this out when changing the radio/tape/cd player. I had to find the wire which became 'live' when the radio was selected.
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oops, pressed send too soon. I meant to say:
Perhaps your car is the same system, even though the make is different.
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I don't have lots of time (or skill) to investigate - can anyone suggest what might have happened or how to narrow the fault down?
>>
If the radio has the common means of removal then try this.
(By common I mean there will be a pair of small holes on each side of the unit.)
Buy a set of extractor tools from halfords / factors for about £3.
Pop the extractors in the holes then slide the unit out.
Check the aerial is plugged in.
Minimum skill required. Time taken is getting the extractor.
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And buy a Haynes manual while you're in Halfords.They show you in pictures.
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I had my 51 Mondeo repaired after an accident last month - damage to all four offside panels.
Is it a saloon or hatch? If it's a saloon then the reason might be that the antenna module that controls the heated rear window/radio ariel is situated on the C post, and if that panel has been repaired/replaced then during the strip down and rebuild it might not have been connected back up correctly. Is the heated rear working ok?
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Thanks for the tips so far. I have pulled the radio out and all the connections look and feel sound. I turned it on while it was out, and it worked, so I slid it back in to the cradle and listened to it for a bit - after a minute or two, reception was lost. So I pulled it out again - no sign of any loose connections. Unplugging and replacing the ariel plug while it was on made no difference, nor did manipulating all the wires going into the connectors, so I'm snookered.
It's a hatchback, so I don't think it's the antenna module. Everything else works - heated front and rear etc.
I can't take it back to the bodyshop as they are 50 miles away (insurance company's choice, not mine) and I need the car for work every day.
Could something have gone in the radio itself - something to do with the electronic tuner? Any other ideas?
Thanks,
CD
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Most modern Ford have the aerial over the windscreen.
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Hi, Have you had any luck on the radio reception? I too have got his problem with no fm reception. I have checked all connections, they are ok but it just doesn't do the fm bit! CD is fine, can you help me at all? -Cleo
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Regarding the original post, he states ?I can always get MW reception?. This is a good test for an aerial, if the AM works, all those ?boosters and amplifiers? described, are connected and working. Unless the OP confirms otherwise, my guess is that the radio itself was at fault. If you get good AM reception, then get the set checked. If AM reception is ?dead?, then it is worth looking at connections etc.
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pull the radio out & put a piece of wire about 3 meters, bare one end and put it were the aerial goes if it works ok for a while then that eliminates your radio & the only thing left is your aerial? they may have nipped the coax when removing old parts. good luck
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