Re: IML: Static on AM radio??

[tom higgins <thomash85715@xxxxxxxxx>]

Occam's Razor should always apply and I totally second this note from Ken as excellent first line of attack.  One must always remember though that AM's bugaboo from day one was "static."  Fortunes were made and lost (let alone the life of a great scientist who took his own life) over the development of static free FM two generations ago.  The AM sections of most modern radios are throw away chips that are poorly designed and made to fit a cost point.  I have seen these fail in multiple modes while the FM and tape sections soldier on.  Band-Aid fixes may be a waste of time.  

Ken Miller <kdmiller44@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Some of the posts responding to this message are advocating adding all
sorts of components to eliminate the noise. The car wasn't equipped
with them when new and probably doesn't need them now.

The most common cause of the static Anthony described comes from a
poorly grounded antenna. The antenna's cable is coaxial and needs a
good ground on the shield at both ends to keep engine and electrical
noise out of the AM section of the radio (FM is simply not affected).
One end of the cable is grounded at the radio, the other by mechanical
contact with the car body. If the antenna shell where the cable
connects isn't mechanically (and thence electrically) connected to the
body, you will have noise.

The fix is to remove the antenna (I have no idea how on a '93) and
ensure that the metal around the antenna is rust free and that the
attaching bolts provide good metal-to-metal contact and are tight.
While you're there make sure the cable connection to the antenna is
secure as well.

Ken Miller
1961 and 1967 Converts
Portland, Oregon

anthony romano wrote:

> Thank you Tom, I own the car for 2 yrs now and it has been there since
> I own the vehicle. Thank again I'll try your suggestions-Anthony
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: tom higgins
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> Sent: Friday, October 20, 2006 4:43 PM
> Subject: Re: IML: Static on AM radio??
>
> Radio Shack used to sell a kit of capacitors and inductors to
> splice into the power supply wire behind the dashboard. It worked
> pretty well. If they stopped carrying it, try a auto sound
> specialty joint that does its own installs. They are bound to
> offer something similar. Whatever you buy, put it as close to the
> radio as possible. You may end up dismantling the dashboard. A
> suppression capacitor on the alternator might have come loose or
> deteriorated as well. The fact you hear noise from other sources
> besides ignition itself would tend to eliminate need to change
> spark plug wires. Did this just start or has it always been
> there? --TH
>
> anthony romano wrote:
>
> Does anyone know how to fix the static on the AM stations.
> When the engines is off there is no static on the radio. I
> also here the wipe blades and the turning signal through the
> radio? -Thanks
>
> (93 Imperial Stock radio)
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Stay in the know. Pulse on the new Yahoo.com. Check it out.
>
>


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