Problem: I have VERY poor AM radio reception in my 2000 Corvette Coupe. The local dealer has replaced a module (?) in the kick panel to the left of the driver, but still - very poor reception from stations that should come in loud and clear as they do in my other cars.

Question: Assuming the stock (AM/FM Delco 12-CD Changer Unit) radio is as best it will ever be, what can be done to enhance the radio reception without changing out the actual stock radio (e.g., adding a booster or some other component)? If you've done this or are in the radio repair industry, where can I go to acquire the part or obtain the service?

 

do you have the antenna wire embedded in the windshield? Is the reception just bad on AM?

 

Its the antenna, my cars the very same way. You could have the dealer install a antenna like the frc in the fender.

 

You have two antennas in your coupe, one in the front windshield and one in the rear hatch glass. The front only recieves FM frequencies. The rear recieves both AM and FM frequencies. The module that you are talking about determines which signal is better, the front or the rear (only for FM since the front doesnt do AM) and then relays the good signal to the radio. Basically it has two wires coming in and one going going out. Since you say that the AM is bad, check the connection going into the top of the module (the one from the rear antenna). Its simple to remove the rocker trim. The simple way to check is to put the radio on AM. Undo the connection from the module for the rear antenna and hit the seek button once. It should continuously search for a good station and since the am antenna is disconnected, it should keep searching. Then plug it back in, now, if it was indeed this connection your radio will tune into a good station within a second or two. If not thats not the connection that is bad. The rear antenna, signal goes through a buffer before it makes its way to the module. The buffer is located right behind the rear latch for the targa top. Remove the trim panels and check the connection at the buffer and directly at the rear hatch glass. My rear wire had disconnected itself from the module...i plugged it in and its perfect now. This may come undone again and ill have to replug it back in in the future...seems like a common thing with that module...just to make sure, i might even tape the wire to the module once i got a good connection just to make sure it wont back out over time.

Good Luck. And sorry for the long post!

Let me see if i can find the GM drawing for this! Be back in a few!

Rian

 

Right from the General...sorry about the size

Antenna Explanation:


Here you can see 1, 4, 5. This is the module in the rocker area.
1 is the rear antenna:


Heres a pic of the buffer:


Heres the overview:

 

Thanks for the info Stealthy4. Looks like i have something to ad to my to do list.

 

the dealer told me the reason i have poor reception in my 2000 coupe, is due to the after market tint on the rear window.........the CD's sound graet

 

I have the same thing. Very poor reception or poor quality sound. CD is great. I believe that the antenna is not doing its job. I do not have any tint.
2003 Coupe

 

Id bet money that #10 isnt connected to #11.

 

I took all of the interior apart and while I didnt find any of the points disconnected, I did unplug all of them and wipe them down before putting it back together and it worked like a charm. I thought I had a crappy am antena, but now it is just fine.

 

This is an old post but I'm going to revive it because the information is so good. I put a Kenwood DVD/Nav radio in my 2004 coupe in April and FM reception was at least as good as the factory radio. Several days ago, FM reception degraded to where what had been good stations were hard to get and full of noise. I found this post and tried to find the antenna buffer, number 5 in the parts overview drawing, and could not get to that location. If there is a buffer in that area, it's not accessible by pulling the trim panel below the roof bar. The antenna module, number 11 in the parts overview drawing, is easily accessible by pulling the door sill and seat belt panel cover. I cleaned the ground, sprayed the antenna cable and two electrical connections with electric parts cleaner and put it back together. Problem solved - FM Radio stations are strong again as before. This may not cure all reception problems but it's a good place to start.

 

If the tint was Gold Leaf, then I might agree. Otherwise,

 

I asked several years ago about marginal AM reception and got almost no replies. Have a vert with the power antenna in the right rear fender.
AM is plagued by some hum or alternator noise and there appears that like older car AM radios there is no adjustable trimmer capacitor. Have said before that the C5 OEM radio has a good FM radio and a marginal AM radio. If you are using the windshield and hatch antennas I suspect your reception is worse than mine.

 

Hi there. Your images appear broken. Is there a way you can upload them again please?