Radio problems

[Jacob Gleason]

The radio in my 2004 cummins is acting like there is a really sketchy connection between the head unit and the antenna. It powers up and everything just fine but won't bring in any music unless i'm right in a town that has a station. Any ideas?

 

[MegaMouseGW]

You may need to remove the radio and check the connection where the antenna goes into the radio. It is possible either the part that is inside the radio has separated from the pcb board, might be corrosion in the connection, or the antenna wire ahs parted somewhere in the middle.
Corrosion is an easy fix. Clean up the antenna's end where it goes into the radio, clean up the inside of the radio's connector as best you can, then coat the antenna connector with some dieletric grease (more commonly called bulb grease), and reconnect the antenna.
A failed connector inside the radio will mean you will have to get a new radio.
A failed wire means a new antenna and wire will be needed.
Obviously the easiest fix is a corroded connector, lets hope that is it.

 

[Jacob Gleason]

Thanks for the help. I had the radio out last night but couldn't get the wire out of the back of the radio. Is there a trick to it or is it just that stubborn?

 

[ADUBIS]

I think you have to pull the black sleeve on the antenna wire back before pulling the whole thing out. This came from a post by MegaMouseGW in another thread. I guess its kind of like an air chuck. Before pulling it out, try wiggling it and see if any stations pick up. Back in the day, if the antenna wasnt hooked up the radio wouldnt work at all. Not sure if this is the case nowadays.

 

[MegaMouseGW]

I think you have to pull the black sleeve on the antenna wire back before pulling the whole thing out. This came from a post by MegaMouseGW in another thread. I guess its kind of like an air chuck. Before pulling it out, try wiggling it and see if any stations pick up. Back in the day, if the antenna wasnt hooked up the radio wouldnt work at all. Not sure if this is the case nowadays.

OOps forgot that part. Thanks for pointing it out. Was a bit imbibed on Honey Jack Daniels when I posted here.