Bumpy Ride with Fuzzy Radio

[paintchip]

Hey guys just need a few suggestions from you regarding wheel balance and Stereo reception.

I have a 2001 Toyota Corolla S.
I have taken the car to big-0 tire to get the wheels balanced and rotated, due to a really bumpy ride from 60mph-75mph. I have since been back 3 times to get the work done. However its still NOT fixed. Every time they say "Or tire was really out of balance" and send me back on my way. The last time I dropped it off. I told them I didn't want the card back until it was truely fixed. They still haven't fixed it. So I am requesting my money back.

What else could be causing this? Lame work being done or some sort of tire issue? They said they also checked the wheel barrings and everything looks great. They have lost a lot of credability with me though. So I think I have stopped listening to them.


Another issue.
My stereo gets really bad reception all the time. I have checked the Antenna cable and asured that it is correctly seated. I have a feeling this is farily common among the Corolla's out there. Is there anything you guys have done or are doing to get the best reception? It seems like an electrical interfearance of some sort.

Thanks guys for your help.
-Paint

[Piloter]

Do you know for sure it's the tires? General rule of thumb, if you feel the vibration in the wheel, it's unbalanced tires, if you feel the vibration in the entire front/back end, it's an alignment issue.

[ghost_ryder35]

just a thought, but the wire's in the tires could have flat spots causing them to be a bumpy ride, only way to fix that is replace the tire. Get your tie rod ends and ball joints checked out. try upgrading your radio to a newer sony. I have had lots of luck with them.

[paintchip]

Thanks for everyones help. I am still looking for more suggestions as well.
I will ask them to check the alignment. I DO NOT know for sure that it is the tires. It was just a guess. It seems like the shaking comes from all over. I am trying to pay more attention to it instead of trying to ignore it. It seems to piss me off the more I think about the going on 4 trips to Big-O tire and what an annoying ride has become .

My friend has a 2005 Toyota Corolla, I am going to ask him to let me borrow his tires so I can prove that it is the tire. Do you guys think the 05 wheels will fit on an 01? My 01 is 4 lug.

[REN69]

Wheels won't fit, they're 5-bolt on the 05s AND the tires are bigger. My guess is you need new tires, no matter how many times the tire shop balances them they'll never get them balanced properly, time to invest in new tires.

[paintchip]

So, good news. I figured out what was causing the radio interference. I have 12 CD Changer in the trunk that is Radio Frequency driven on (88.1FM). I'm not sure why I didn't think about this before, I have always left the CD Exchanger on, so last night I decided to hit the power button on the player and wallah. I get way better reception at further distances and in tunnels etc etc .. YaY.

So still 2 things I need to figure out:
1. Still need to figure out the bumpy ride.
2. I have a new issue I forgot to mention above,
When I hit the brakes the lights dim, also the fan for the AC slows down. When I step on the gas it speeds up again. Is this caused because of the Alternator or Battery or Both?
I think its about time to replace the battery anyway but I am just curious. Batteries typically last 2-3 years here in Phoenix Valley.

[ghost_ryder35]

check the voltage when the car is on at the alternator or battery, anything between 13.8 and 14.7 are exceptable. anything below is not. then check the voltage with car off should be 12.6 at the battery. also check after it sits over night, should be same as the night before when you left it. if the voltage is low after an overnight replace battery, if voltage is low with car on replace alternator

[paintchip]

Great! thanks! I will give that a shot and report back.

[ghost_ryder35]

check the voltage when the car is on at the alternator or battery, anything between 13.8 and 14.7 are exceptable. anything below is not. then check the voltage with car off should be 12.6 at the battery. also check after it sits over night, should be same as the night before when you left it. if the voltage is low after an overnight replace battery, if voltage is low with car on replace alternator

[cheesep]

About the bumpy ride, check your drive axles. Turn the steering wheel hard right or left so you can reach in and grab hold of the axle. Movement in and out is okay, and a small amount of rotational movement is okay, but if you can move the axle laterally, then it will be out of balance particularly at higher speed. In the past year I have replaced one drive axle each in my '98 rolla and in my wife's Le Sabre to get rid of the 65-70mph shake. Both cars are now smoooooth!

[broke]

take it to another shop