Car radio - no signal

[nickymanley]

Hi guys,

I have finally got my car stereo code (thanks for all the help on previous post) for my original Blaupunkt radio fitted in my Vauxhall Corsa. Except now I can only get 2 stations, one local one and BBC radio one - I used to be able to get all stations but now the signal is really bad. I have tried taking out the aerial from the back of the radio and re-connecting it but that didn't work - and there is nothing wrong with the aerial on my car - any ideas? Thanks

[BillyNoMates]

Are you sure there is nothing wrong with the aerial ?

Possibly bent the radio connector so that the centre pin is now shorting to earth ? Easily done.

[Tim Baxter]

Try a length of wire direct from the aerial socket to the outside of the car, just poking out of the car a couple of feet will do, make sure you put uninsulated wire into the socket.  If there is no improvement then the fault is in the radio.  Some radios have settings enabling them to only receive strong radio signals (sometimes called DX on/off or local on/off) It could be that yours is set to local on or DX off.  If there is improvement with the direct wire the fault is in your aerial.

[nickymanley]

Thanks guys, will try both - BillyNoMates - how would I know if I have bent the centre pin (I am guessing it would be obvious?) and how would I fix it?

I have just found a radio manual and that mentions that my radio does have a local/regional setting so I will try that as well thanks Tim.

[BillyNoMates]

Borrow a test meter and check the resistance between the centre pin and the outer sheath. If it's zero or close to zero there is likely to be some tpe of short.