Poor Radio Reception 96 Avalon

[martymick]

I just bought a 96 Avalon and the radio reception is poor. I had Ciruit City install an aftermarket radio thinking that the radio was the problem and the reception is still not great. Any suggestions about replacing the antenna, etc

[swiftjustice]

Radio reception is a simple system - assuming you still have an antenna that is in the "up" position, your only sources of potential trouble are that its not hooked into the socket on the back of the radio, or there is a break somewhere in the cable between the antenna and the radio unit, or you live in an area where lousy reception is endemic. I would start at the antenna end of the cable and look for obvious breaks or a disconnect from the antenna. Someone who knows how to use an ohmeter should be able to tell if there is continuity (or a break) somewhere for you too.

[martymick]

Thanks for the response

Marty

[Eurobob]

if am reception is good, it is either the tuner crystal in the radio, or some toyota's require a +12v antenna power lead to be connected even if the radio is not a power type. if both am and fm are poor, antenna is the culprit. Directed electronics made an underdash fm antenna for their remote start and alarm systems for about $30 if you did not want to go through the trouble of replacing the antenna and the wire. it is fm only though...