am radio static!

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Aug 5, 2007 | 11:17 AM

vcatteruccia

Thread Starter

5th Gear

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 5

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am radio static!

Purchased used '98 vette with am radio static. It increases with acceleration. It's nerve bending and irritating. Have changed wires three time with no resolve. Inquired at dealer and they have no answers. They have changed radios and antennas on many vehicles in an effort to correct but have no answers. They reported that it is like looking for a needle in a haystack. They asked that if I find an answer that I should inform them? Anyone experiencing this same difficulty and if so what have you discovered as a resolve to problem??? Help!
V. Catteruccia

Aug 5, 2007 | 02:48 PM

Roc87

Burning Brakes

Joined: May 2002

Posts: 831

Likes: 0

From: Albuquerque NM

You have window tint? There was a booth at the SEMA show with some new special window tint film with a working example of how normal metalized window tint effects radio reception.

Aug 5, 2007 | 08:13 PM

BanditDude

Drifting

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 1,799

Likes: 1

From: Dayton Ohio

Common problems include bad spark plugs or wires, as well as a bad antenna ground. Good luck.

Aug 5, 2007 | 08:25 PM

TLewis4095

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 8,145

Likes: 1

From: Bradenton FLORIDA

Inherent issue with early C5's. Mine is horrible.

Aug 5, 2007 | 08:35 PM

Stealthy4

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 1,227

Likes: 15

St. Jude Donor '06

This is very common. See here:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

Here are a few more instances.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...hlight=antenna

Aug 5, 2007 | 08:43 PM

johninar

Drifting

Joined: Jul 2002

Posts: 1,869

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From: Maumelle AR

If you have changed plug wires three times we can probably eliminate that (if at least one set you tried were OEM).
Start looking at grounding issues.
It could be a ground potential. That is an electrical difference in ground at two points. One way to eliminate that as an issue is run a separate ground wire from the ground of your antenna, and one from the radio itself and run to a good frame ground. They don't have to be permament wires, just a test to see if it makes any change in the static. If it does, start looking at bad connections at one of those point. You can measure ground potential with a good volt meter. If you measure voltage between two points (antenna and stereo head unit) there should be ZERO voltage.

I had a car audio shop years ago, and some cars were a pain to fix. Don't overlook spark plugs either. A cracked insulator can cause a lot of electrical noise. Modern cars run very high spark voltage.
If you find a good car audo shop they may be able to help you. This is just the tip of the iceberg for fixing static in car audio.

Good luck.

A.M. in a Vette? I had no idea.

Aug 5, 2007 | 11:34 PM

docohm

Racer

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 352

Likes: 42

I had something like this on my 2001 Coupe, I tried this and that and the other but finally fixed it when I disconnected the rear window defroster. It's a couple of wires on the back window, one on each side. The one in the middle at the top is the AM antenna itself. Check that connection too to make sure it's good. I also checked the little matching circuit that connects to that wire, it's under the 'roof' piece of plastic that goes from side to side behind the seats. All that was good on mine but when I disconnected the rear window defroster (even though it wasn't turned on!) the AM noise went away. I left it disconnected since I don't plan to drive her in that kind of weather....
Hope that helps, let me know...
Doc

Aug 6, 2007 | 12:04 AM

LoneStarFRC

Team Owner

Joined: May 2001

Posts: 36,836

Likes: 244

From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.

St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16

If all else fails, try installing a "choke" in series with the main power feed to the radio. A choke is just the name for an electronic device that is a type of coil.
Years ago I installed a "poor man's" choke because of static. I bought a small transformer at an electronics shop, and connected the power lead from the radio, in series, with the secondary side of the transformer. Worked like a charm. Cheap and effective.

The reason I did this was due to interference being introduced into the power lead going to the radio, and not a disconnected or poorly connected antenna. Sometimes the interference comes as a result of aftermarket equipment being installed too close to the radio's power lead.
I agree the antenna lead should be checked first.