New Camry Owner - Antenna Blues

[trollez]

Hi All,
I have quickly looked over this site and figured this was the best place to be for a Toyota owner. I just got my first Toyota, a 99 Camry and love it. Neither my mechanic nor myself could find a single thing wrong with the car and am pleased to find this car.
I do have one issue, probably addressed a million times in previous discussions but I could find any answers under the Search function. I have an hour commute to Boston every morning and need the radio. This is the first car I have had with the integrated antenna in the rear window. When I use the rear defroster, the radio stations kick out? I have never heard of such a thing and was wondering if this is common, and if there is a way to fix it. I would like to solve the problem without having to quit using the rear defroster.
Any knowledge would be appreciated.
Thanks
Scott

[Erbe]

never heard of this before....but if u dont mind moving the antenna....that would be the way to go...unless someone else has had this problem

[csaxon]

Is it the original toyota radio or someones aftermarket add on?

[trollez]

It is the factory, premium package with the CD player.
It is blowing my mind. I spoke with some Audi/Honda people who have the integrated antenna and they don't have the problem.

[brink]

Maybe it's some kind of wack short/break in the antenna/defrost wiring... that's pretty strange. Is it every station, or just ones that are distant or low power?

[trollez]

It weakens almost all stations. Only rap come in through it. I am thinking maybe the 2 are grounded together? This is the first car I have had though that doesn't have any clips on the back windshields where typical rear defrosters hook up.
Does anyone know where I can look for the ground of the radio/reardefroster under the dash. I don't want to rip the entire front dash apart if it is in reach.
Thanks so the responses/suggestions.

[JerryR]

I don't know the '99, but both the '97 and '03 show a noise filter associated with the rear window defroster, I don't know what kind of noise it supposed to filter(just clicks from the switch- or RF ) it's possible that if it's defective or missing(disconnected/bad connection) the noise that it supposed to filter is now
"swamping" the radio.
It's hard to tell where it is located, but I would look in the trunk in the area of the rear of the back seat, I think it is bolted to the car metal body.
JerryR

[DrewsCam]

Ive never had that problem, and i got a 99 also.
Id say say its the wiring, go and get that checked out

[Hamsterman]

yes- i have a 99 also and i have never had the problem... strange and sad... the only things i can think of would be again a loose connection/short- wire rubbing- or somebody started to take out he unit and stopper- thus messing something up- but then again 5 peopel have suggested these problems already, so maybe there is a hamster in your dash messing with you

[gaak]

maybe it has something to do with the sheilding between the antenna and the wiring for the defroster? the electrical current from the defroster uses elecrical pulses that can create the interference....but I don't know exactly what would cause that...just a thought

[trollez]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I just want to see if I can find any info before Toyota rips me off to look at it.
Does anyone know where the grounding is for the stereo or defroster?
Is is under the dash or under the hood?
The stereo doesn't appear to be tampered with, so I don't think it was ever replaced. It only started to do it after a couple days with the car. The first 2 days I never noticed it and had the defroster on during then. Then one cold morning it happened and its never gone away.

[qapmaz]

There is a problem with the rear glass. I had a 2003 Camry in the shop the other day with exactly the same problem. We had to replace the rear glass to solve the problem. Hope it helps!

[trollez]

Thanks! Appreciate the feedback. Hopefully the rear glass is covered under warranty