Non-existent radio reception- aerial base replaced

[Patrick Bateman]

Recently changed back to a standard CD player giving me bugger all radio reception. Read about the aerial base giving problems so I just replaced that today and it hasn't made a difference.

Could it be the aerial itself?

 

[Louis]

Has it got a stubby aerial?

 

[Patrick Bateman]

It's just the original Renault one AFAIK. Certainly not stubby though.

 

[Louis]

It's worth replacing as it could be knackered inside. For the cost of one. Either that or swap one over from a friends? Where you from?

 

[Louis]

I got good signal in my 1.2, but since fitting a stubby aerial in my 182 it's crap. You could get a booster

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Also worth mentioning, the car is a Trophy so it has the V6 spoiler but I only noticed recently that the boot struts the previous owner fitted allowed the boot to open too far and actually foul the aerial and spoiler.

I've since replaced the struts but if the aerial itself could be sensitive to getting stressed like that then it would explain it.

 

[Louis]

Also worth mentioning, the car is a Trophy so it has the V6 spoiler but I only noticed recently that the boot struts the previous owner fitted allowed the boot to open too far and actually foul the aerial and spoiler.

I've since replaced the struts but if the aerial itself could be sensitive to getting stressed like that then it would explain it.

Worth changing over then mate. You say you just refitted the standard radio, what was the signal like on the headunit you removed?

 

[STEVE.M]

Driving different vehicles at work, I have noticed that radio reception is poor when I connect my phone to the power/lighter socket with some installations.
Try a dedicated power supply & earth arrangement.
@Patrick Bateman

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Worth changing over then mate. You say you just refitted the standard radio, what was the signal like on the headunit you removed?

Pretty good but I'm assuming as it was an aftermarket affair it was digital. Never gave it any thought.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Aerial now replaced too and not a blind bit of difference. Still zero signal.

What are the odds on the radio itself being the issue? CD works fine and it goes through the preset stations no bother.

 

[Louis]

Try putting in your other headunit if you still have it. Where are you from? I have a spare you could try.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

I binned the aftermarket unit but there was nothing wrong with it functionally. Just not sure on the likelihood of the radio itself being duff.

It's an 'update list' which is what I should need for my car (2005) as far as I could find.

I'm in Carnoustie, appreciate the offer but I'll hold off at the minute.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

On the drive to work today there was the faintest of signals and it would find stations when searching through. It was fleeting though.

If it is the signal, what else could it even be with a new aerial and base fitted?

 

[Coops Mk1]

Have you actually removed the radio again and made sure the aerial connection to the back of it hasn't fallen off when you slid the stereo into the dash?

 

[Patrick Bateman]

This is what I've got.

Please tell me there's just a cable in the wrong place.

 

[Louis]

There's another cable for the aerial. A seperate black one.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Do you mean the one behind the C-pillar? I checked all that while I still had the headlining out.

 

[Louis]

No there's the actual aerial plug that goes into the back of the headunit. On the other side to that block

 

[Patrick Bateman]

No there's the actual aerial plug that goes into the back of the headunit. On the other side to that block

What a f**king pillock.

You are a god send. It was tucked away down the side, had never noticed it before.

 

[Stay Puft]

The cliospor USB/lighter thing stops my signal from working, dont suppose you have that plugged in??

 

[Louis]

This thread delivers.

 

[Louis]

I can't believe you went to all the effort of removing your headlining too.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Don't worry, I'll be telling myself the aerial base was fucked anyway.

 

[Louis]

It's the fact you must have disconnected the aerial from the other headunit too???

 

[Patrick Bateman]

It's the fact you must have disconnected the aerial from the other headunit too???

Can't honestly remember.

Having left it overnight and the cable hiding away out of view I must have just forgot. Just had the 3 connections in my head and that was me.

 

[Gus]

@Patrick Bateman can you tell me more about replacing the aerial base. What tools, how it's fixed and is there a connector of some sort . Also is there room to work without damaging the headlining.

Want to change mine but don't want to jump in to it blindly

 

[Louis]

@Patrick Bateman can you tell me more about replacing the aerial base. What tools, how it's fixed and is there a connector of some sort . Also is there room to work without damaging the headlining.

Want to change mine but don't want to jump in to it blindly

I believe you can get to the aerial nut, by just unpopping the back of the headlining. I'm not sure how far the connector runs through underneath the headlining though to unplug it.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

@Patrick Bateman can you tell me more about replacing the aerial base. What tools, how it's fixed and is there a connector of some sort . Also is there room to work without damaging the headlining.

Want to change mine but don't want to jump in to it blindly

The bit everyone forgot to mention in all the posts I saw was that one of the connections (there are 2, the easy one is within a few inches of the base) is right down the driver side C pillar. As in the video, you'll want to remove some of the boot trim and rubber cover on the top mount to allow a bit more movement to get access.

The base itself is simple enough, think the socket I used was 20/21/22mm, can't remember which. It shouldn't be too tight though. Plastic pry tools make all the difference for getting the headlining and trim loose without damaging anything like a screwdriver can.