Poor radio reception

[Des]

Original radio fitted in 02 406 Estate has started loosing the signal and I am getting an intermittant hissing sound.
Suspect that it is a poor connection but cannot see how to access behind the radio in console.
Any ideas ?

[rwb]

See the two holes in the radio? They're for sticking something in for pulling it out. Mine would come out using a narrow screwdriver.

I had poor reception (also 02) but not the hissing. Fixed by replacing the radio.

[rwb]

And hi and welcome too

[MacWomble]

Hi Des,

My radio module came out by lifting cassette cover flap, putting my fingers into the cassette hole and it simply pulled out as one big module.
Check your antenna connection too, mine leaked and corroded causing problems. It's behind the front interior light module.

Hope this helps.

[Des]

Hi ,
Managed to remove radio as suggested and checked wiring, so far so good reception is perfect, yet to try radio over longer time period though, this is when the problem seems to start.

Many thanks,
Des

[Doggy]

I've putting off doing something about mine until this holiday - it's had lousy radio reception since I got it, but has recently spent more time 'searching' for a signal than playing anything.
Added to that, I have the characteristic 'BANG' going over bumps, (which it's also had from day 1) and my Parrot, (which I added about 6 months back), works but takes ages to disconnect when you get out the car. Inside the house is still in Bluetooth range, so if you answer the phone you can't hear anything, since is still using the car speakers.

DAY 1

Removed the radio, double checked the aerial cable etc.
Tried an additional chassis earth - no difference.
Proved wiggling the 'speaker' ISO connector gives you a bang through the speakers.
With some misgivings, set about re-soldering everything accessible. The most likley failure point is the solder joints to the PCB carrying the ISO connector pins, but access isn't easy, also did the PCB/main board connections. While I was at it, I went over all the antena / radio related stuff on the main board.
Put it back in - what an awkward operation this is. Not easy with the standard wiring, once you add anything else......

Results -
- No more bangs.
- Radio improved, but still not great.
- Phone mute no longer works.
- Forgot all about finding an alternate Parrot supply that shuts off quicker.

DAY 2

Removed the radio again, found I'd pulled the bullet connector on the mute lead apart last time.
Spent ages re-solving the, 'Which of the THREE mute connectors is correct' riddle.
Set about determining why the parrot takes minutes to shut down. Turns out the 'compatible' ISO connector takes it's permanent live, correctly, from pin 7, but it's 'ignition live' is tapped onto pin 4, not 6 as it should be. (Pin 4 is one of the VAN bus connections - realisation belatedly dawns on me).
Sure enough, Pin 6 loses it's feed immediately you turn the key off.

Results -
- Phone mute working again.
- Parrot disconnects about 10 seconds after you take the key out.

Suppose I should have known really, but I thought maybe the radio works like the MFD - still powered up with the key off, just 'told' via the VAN bus to shut down....

Ah well, all good in the end - how did 2013 end for you?

[Des]

Sorry for not replying sooner but have not been looking at the site recently. Sounds like fun what you have attempted.
Still have problem of loss of signal.
Radio works fine for 10 mins then the signal breaks up and the hissing starts again, though oddly this doesn't happen on Long Wave where the reception is poor anyway.
Suspect problem is with the aerial have heard that they have a booster but as yet have not investigated further due to all wet weather. Thank goodness for CD,s which work perfectly.

[Doggy]

Still more or less on the same page myself. Radio's still about the same as yours, particularly bad in wet weather, (but everything else is now OK).

As you say thank god for the CD changer.