UConnect radio reception issue

[BigFrog]

I have a 2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn and the reception on all channels are horrible (am and fm). There is a lot of static on all stations, all the time - even the local stations I know should be crystal clear. My Mercedes, my girlfriend's Jeep Wrangler and my neighbor's 2022 Ram 1500 Big Horn reception are perfectly clear. I have nothing installed in my Ram that would interfere with reception. I even tried 3 different expensive antennas and still get the static. I've screwed back in the OEM antenna (tight seated) and returned the aftermarket ones. I use the SiriusXM and my phone and it's crystal clear. Anyone have any suggestions on what's going on?

 

[SitKneelBend]

I have a 2016 Ram 1500 Big Horn and the reception on all channels are horrible (am and fm). There is a lot of static on all stations, all the time - even the local stations I know should be crystal clear. My Mercedes, my girlfriend's Jeep Wrangler and my neighbor's 2022 Ram 1500 Big Horn reception are perfectly clear. I have nothing installed in my Ram that would interfere with reception. I even tried 3 different expensive antennas and still get the static. I've screwed back in the OEM antenna (tight seated) and returned the aftermarket ones. I use the SiriusXM and my phone and it's crystal clear. Anyone have any suggestions on what's going on?

Have you checked the connection on the back of the radio? Any antenna shorter than factory will lower signal quality. LED or HID headlights/fog lights can cause EMI when on that will cause static on AM/FM signals as well.

 

[RamDiver]

Interesting...

Have you tested the radio performance without the truck running?
Does this make any difference in the sound quality?

Many years ago it was commonplace for ignition noise to completely trash vehicle stereo performance.

The next step in my mind is to confirm the antenna connection at the radio.
.

 

[BigFrog]

Interesting...

Have you tested the radio performance without the truck running?
Does this make any difference in the sound quality?

Many years ago it was commonplace for ignition noise to completely trash vehicle stereo performance.

The next step in my mind is to confirm the antenna connection at the radio.
.

Just checked and gets static when running. Doesn't do it with engine off and on accessories.

 

[Random_Walk]

Many years ago it was commonplace for ignition noise to completely trash vehicle stereo performance.

Truth. Usually a choke coil put inline fixed that. Not sure where you'd stick one on the back of the PCM, though.

One thing to check if you don't have a factory antenna - did water get in between the antenna and the connection or is it loose?

 

[BigFrog]

Truth. Usually a choke coil put inline fixed that. Not sure where you'd stick one on the back of the PCM, though.

One thing to check if you don't have a factory antenna - did water get in between the antenna and the connection or is it loose?

Factory antenna. In fact, I have 2 of them and both do the same. Tight as a duck's ****. I even tried it loose. Is there a black plastic washer type where the antenna screws in? It screws in tight, but not sitting metal on metal.

 

[SitKneelBend]

Just checked and gets static when running. Doesn't do it with engine off and on accessories.

You have a bad ground and or a device creating EMI. You can improve the factory grounds in the engine bay by cleaning them and maybe removing some paint to improve them (you'll want to seal it up somehow after refastening the ground, I used liquid electrical tape).

Do you have aftermarket LED/HID bulbs in the foglight and/or headlights?

 

[tron67j]

Definitely sounds like a bad ground as stated already. But possibly not the radio ground but some other ground that is creating the interference. Start with major ground wires and work backwards, checking the integrity of the wires, cleanliness of connection points, and tightness.