Radio Poor Performance

[LSV8FAN]

The 2005 LS Ultima has the OE Navigation unit and have been experiencing intermittent reception on the AM band and sometimes on the FM band. At times one can get good reception on most the AM band stations, but other times, all the pre-set stations above 1000KHz are nothing but noise. In addition, when the windshield wipers are operating, a whining sound is heard on the AM band, and sounds synchronized with the wiper motor operation.

The dealer first replaced the antenna isolator module and then the whole radio (fortunately still in warranty), but the problem is still there.

All other functions of the unit (CD player, navigation and BT connection for the cell phone) are working fine.

I wonder if any of you had a similar issue and can offer some suggestions to fix it.

 

[regiment1]

I know this isn't much help, but there must be an exposed wire or short somewhere in the wiring to your antenna. My guess is someone needs to trace the wiring all the way from the head unit to the antenna(s).

 

[blwnbyu]

Who the **** listens to AM radio lol?

 

[Ranchero50]

I got the best results by putting a dab of grease on the button connection at the back glass. It still goes wonkers with the defroster on but otherwise it's ok.

 

[scjmc]

who the **** listens to am radio lol?

+1

 

[Robot]

Who the **** listens to AM radio lol?

I listen to AM. WFLA 970. I listen to Coast To Coast AM every night.

Robert "ROBOT" Wicker

2006 Lincoln LS
Cashmere Tri-Coat Metallic
Custom Trim Options
Engine programming optimized for MPG

 

[RigsLS]

Who the **** listens to AM radio lol?

One of our local radio stations broadcasts our local NHL team, game day on AM 1200,
I listen to it sometimes when I'm out and about town and not in front of the TV.

 

[RigsLS]

Antenna


The radio antenna is concealed on the inside of the rear window glass. The AM antenna consists of the rear window defroster grid and the FM antenna is the conductive tracing above the rear window defroster grid. The radio antenna uses an antenna isolator module mounted under the rear package tray trim panel to separate the AM signals, FM signals, and rear defroster power.


CHECK AM ANTENNA FOR DAMAGE

Measure the resistance between the left side rear window defroster terminal and the right side rear window defroster terminal

Is the resistance less than 1 ohm?


CHECK FM ANTENNA FOR DAMAGE

Measure the resistance between the FM antenna cable lead terminal and the end of the FM antenna grid wire.

Is the resistance less than 8 ohms?


The antenna is integral to the back window glass and can be repaired, but not replaced separately.

Any breaks longer than 25.4 mm (1 in) in one grid cannot be repaired. The back window glass must be replaced. Breaks equal to or shorter than 25.4 mm (1 in) in the heated back window grid wire can be successfully repaired by using the following procedure:

1. Obtain a grid wire repair repair kit meeting Ford specification ESB-M4J58-A.
2. The vehicle should be brought inside and allowed to reach 16°C (60°F) or above.
3. Clean the repair area with denatured alcohol.
4. Place the grid line mask over the break aligning the cut out slots on either side of the repair area.
5. Place the grid line mask over the break aligning the cut out slots on either side of the repair area.
   
   
6. Remove the mask without disturbing the epoxy.
7. Use Heat Gun to heat the repair area for one to two minutes at a distance of about 25-50 mm (1-2 in). This procedure should heat the repair area to approximately 149°C (300°F).
8. The heated back window may be energized immediately after the repair. Optimum hardness and adhesion will occur after 24 hours. Do not disturb the repaired area until that time.

http://deneau.info/ls/

GROUP 15: Audio Systems - Symptom Chart

 

[LSV8FAN]

BigRigLS was on the right track. I finally took the car to the dealer to look into the cause for the poor radio reception (I have an extended warranty that runs through 2016 and previously the dealer replaced the antenna module and then the whole radio/nav system). They found that only half the antenna is active. On the passenger side, the headliner was rubbing against the blackened out area around the 3rd brake light and damaged the antenna trace. The tech found that by probing with an ohmmeter like BigRigLS recommended. So, because it is covered by the warranty, instead of just trying to fix the trace (the fix would not be visible in the blackened out area), they will replace the whole rear glass. Hopefully that will do it, and I’ll ask them to see if they can put an additional tape to prevent the headliner from damaging the trace in the future.

 

[joegr]

... Hopefully that will do it, and I’ll ask them to see if they can put an additional tape to prevent the headliner from damaging the trace in the future.

You're asking them to fix the wrong part of the problem that caused your problem. Since you are in warranty, you should instead get them to fix the attachment of the headliner to the 3rd brake light. If it hadn't become detached there (very common gen II problem), it wouldn't be rubbing on the antenna trace.

 

[LSV8FAN]

Thanks for the feedback, joegr. I'll make sure to bring that up when I take the car back for the glass replacement.

 

[LSV8FAN]

Well, the adventure continues. The radio poor reception in AM and whining noise when the windshield wipers are running are still there, even after the rear window was replaced because the antenna was broken on the passenger side.

As joegr recommended, I did ask for the headliner to be properly aligned so that it does not rub against and damage the new antenna in the future; and they didn’t do it. Not only they didn’t fix the problem but they left a sloppy job after the window installation; the 3rd light compartment has dust particles and other types of debris left over after the install. Time to take the car to a different shop; this one really degraded over the past year.

 

[joegr]

Sorry to hear that.
There are RFI suppression caps located here and there in the car to cut down on the noise you are hearing. Perhaps some of those have failed or are missing?

 

[LSV8FAN]

I accidentally stumbled on where the cause is for the radio poor reception. I was adding a pad between the headliner and roof on the passenger’s side by pulling down slightly the headliner, and when pressing it back up and putting pressure on the driver’s side (where the antenna isolator module resides), all of the sudden the radio had great reception. I can make reception go from excellent to very poor and back just by applying pressure on that area.. So, it is back to the dealer to look into it and fix it, and clean the 3rd stop light area from the dirt and debris they left there. I paid good money for that Lincoln premium care extended warranty (no deductible) and I’m going to “milk it” until it runs out in 2016; but I think I’ll try a different dealer for new work.

 

[Michaelait]

I fixed my poor AM reception with a tissue.

I accidentally stumbled on where the cause is for the radio poor reception. I was adding a pad between the headliner and roof on the passenger’s side by pulling down slightly the headliner, and when pressing it back up and putting pressure on the driver’s side (where the antenna isolator module resides), all of the sudden the radio had great reception. I can make reception go from excellent to very poor and back just by applying pressure on that area.. So, it is back to the dealer to look into it and fix it, and clean the 3rd stop light area from the dirt and debris they left there. I paid good money for that Lincoln premium care extended warranty (no deductible) and I’m going to “milk it” until it runs out in 2016; but I think I’ll try a different dealer for new work.

I had the exact same issue. I love AM, and this poor reception has been my biggest disappointment with my 2005 LS. So today I did what you did. I sat in the back seat and pressed on the roof liner and could alter the quality of the reception very easily. So I took a tissue, folded it a few times and with a slot screw driver I pushed the tissue between the roof of the car and that isolator module and my reception is 200% better. I am so happy. I only hope the tissue stays in place. So it appears that the problem is the isolator comes in contact with the roof and causes a short or something.
I don't even know what that isolator looks like. I just felt around up there with my finger. All you have to do is follow the wire connector that comes off the window embedded antenna lead. It's just an inch or two under the roof liner.

I am so happy now. I might keep this car for another 10 years. LOL