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#1
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Sudden AM radio static
All of sudden last week my AM radio started to have much more static. I guess it could be my biodegradable wiring harness finally giving up, but I am kind of hoping it might be a common symptom of needing a new battery or alternator or something. I never had great AM, but all of sudden it got much worse. I can even get synchronized static with revs from the motor, which never happened before. I can also hear changes in the static when I mess with the AC controls and maybe other electrical things.
I can live without my AM radio, but I am afraid it may be a symptom of some other problem. It just seems weird that it changed quite suddenly. One day I started up the car and I had more static. First I thought it might just be a bad reception day, but it has continued for over a week now. It seems it must be something with the car. It has been about 5 years since I replaced the battery, so I am wondering if that could be the problem. If the battery needs more work from other electronics to keep it charged could it demand extra current that ends up in my AM radio? I may get a new battery anyway, since we are going into the winter and I have always read that it is good to replace the battery on a regular basis. Any ideas would be appreciated.
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I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320. I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend. You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better. Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320 http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/ |
#2
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AM static increase.
A number of years ago Cadillac had a radio noise problem that was caused by a 'bad battery' . The battery would operate / start and do all that it was required to do but was the noise source.
Since you are using a very elderly battery and mentioned that you were going to replace it anyway that would be the first step. You mentioned that 'fooling ' with the AC seemed to change things. Is the static there when the car engine is not running ? What happens static wise if you turn on the lights with no engine or anything else running? If you can isolate the radio DC power supply ( another battery clipped to the 12 volt DISCONNECTED POWER LEAD ) with nothing else operating and there is no static you have to look at the rest of the cars circuitry. Finding the cause of 'static' is a matter of observation, disconnecting and isolating components and observing the effect. Islandmerv |
#3
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Thank you for the reply. I am slightly encouraged to hear that a bad battery caused an issue for you.
With the car off there is little or not static. There is static with the car off but ignition on and running the fan with or without AC compressor engaged. I think my lights also hav an affect. In fact it seems everything affects the AM radio now, but it certainly wasn't this bad in the past. The thing is that it became worse suddenly. Everything else seems to be the same, but the AM has much more static.
__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320. I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend. You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better. Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320 http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/ |
#4
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AM reception is very sensitive to shielding of the ground of the antenna cable. A break in the shielding can cause the symptoms you describe but FM will still sound fine. Good luck.
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#5
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More on 'Static"
There are lots of different types of static.
Some are caused by ignition and sound like a small machinegun, some are scratches that continue in long bursts. You can investigate a bit more with a small portable radio to see if the noise is coming in 'over the air'. The alternator will make a siren type whine whcih increases in pitch as the RPMs increase. You don't describe the type 'static' you are experiencing. If you are married you will recognize different types of Nagging. Some is continuous, some comes in bursts, some is subliminal. All are annoying. Same with static. You have to describe the sound and note what is going on at the time the racket started. Islandmerv |
#6
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Quote:
Quote:
Thanks for your comments and I did appreciate the humor
__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320. I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend. You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better. Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320 http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/ |
#7
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Quote:
Thanks for the tip.
__________________
I just couldn't give up on my 1995 E320. I think it might be like always going back to that same bad relationship with an ex girlfriend. You feel you love them too much, or you are just too stupid to know any better. Flickr slideshow of my 1995 E320 http://www.flickr.com/photos/24145497@N06/sets/72157616572140057/ |
#8
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Actually, the shield is braided so it's more likely to happen at a connector. Hope this helps.
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