Finally figured out my radio reception problem.

[Ranchero50]

The plastic inner core on my antenna cable going from the isolation module to the receiver shrank allowing the cable's sheath wiring to ground out the antenna wire...

I noticed it because the button on my back glass fell off today and I lost everything. While wiggling around above the headliner the reception came in loud and clear with the glass unplugged so I tore everything apart. The cable had a thin section near the plug so I cut it back and the plastic core was shriveled up about an inch. I think my isolation module is bad too as it didn't make a difference when powered up.

BTW, construction adhesive really makes the liner stick to the roof.

So now I get to figure out how to get the button back on the rear glass and also how to rerun a replacement cable. PITA.

As a quicky I soldered an extension to the antenna lead and the sheath and soldered them to the isolation module.

 

[LS4me]

So now I get to figure out how to get the button back on the rear glass and also how to rerun a replacement cable. PITA.

Get some conductive epoxy to glue the button back on. That's what I did; don't ask...... You will need a hair dryer or heat gun to cure the glue. I believe I used this and it didn't cure until I used a hair dryer (I believe a heat gun would be better) to cure the epoxy.

 

[Ranchero50]

Thanks for the tip. I almost tried to do a quick solder job but had brief visions of exploding rear windows so I held off.

Another tip I was given was to just use regular epoxy and hammer a length of wire to put between the button and the glass to act as a conductor.

I have terrible luck getting anything to stick to glass.

 

[LS4me]

That stuff has held the button for almost 3 years now...... The key is heating the epoxy so it will cure correctly. The instructions do mention that.....

 

[Ranchero50]

Well, I installed the new to me isolation module and chunk of antenna cable. I still have trouble picking up DC's stations but the reception quality is a lot better vs. with just the cable repair. I did preheat the glass with a heat gun and zapped the button back in place with a soldering iron. The solder on the button melts at a very cool temp, much cooler than normal electrical rosin solder. I added some normal solder to make a bubble, then held the button in place with some needle nose pliers and touched the iron to the button for a couple seconds.

Now to get some new subs...

 

[Michaelait]

Hi, I fixed it a little differently. I took a folded tissue and stuffed it into the roof liner to isolate the islolator from roof. Just by pushing on the liner near the isolator I was able to locate where the short problem was and with the aid of a small slot screwdriver I was able to stuff that tissue in between the roof and the isolator and reception went up dramatically. It was amazing.