Car Stereo cuts in and out - Automotive

jakeshaw009 · 11-11-2010, 03:51 PM

Hello,
I have a 1997 jeep grand cherokee zj. It has a panasonic face plate to the stereo but the speakers are stock. My problem is the sound cuts in and out and wont even work on some stations. It only works in certain area's of town. Its not the stations because it works fine on everybody elses car in my household except mine. Any body have any suggestions as to what it could be?

**M22KLARS** · 11-12-2010, 01:12 PM

I would try pulling the radio out and looking at the antenna connection. Or... is your antenna broke?

jakeshaw009 · 11-13-2010, 07:15 AM

Alright i'll try doing that. The antenna is perfectly fine on the outside, its not broke. I'll take a look at the wiring today and see what i find though.

CoconutPete · 11-17-2010, 08:39 AM

Is it only a problem w/ radio or also when you are playing a cd or an mp3?

If it's only the radio I woul pull the unit out and make sure the antenna plug in the back is intact.

If it's everything I would check the amp under your backseat, I think they were on the drivers side.

jakeshaw009 · 11-18-2010, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoconutPete

Is it only a problem w/ radio or also when you are playing a cd or an mp3?

If it's only the radio I woul pull the unit out and make sure the antenna plug in the back is intact.

If it's everything I would check the amp under your backseat, I think they were on the drivers side.

Only when playing the radio, cd's and mp3's work fine. I'll try pulling the stereo and see about the antenna plug.

adivito · 11-22-2010, 04:53 PM

If its only radio and the plug appears properly connected make sure to check the wire as far as you can the sheathing could have been worn off, and is now grounding out or causing interference.

jakeshaw009 · 11-23-2010, 07:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adivito

If its only radio and the plug appears properly connected make sure to check the wire as far as you can the sheathing could have been worn off, and is now grounding out or causing interference.

I'll have to try that, the connection was perfectly intact as far as i could see, but i'll look again before i go replacing anything

ratcsco · 12-20-2010, 08:21 PM

I know it's pretty common for people to use wire nuts in their car wiring. I've personally pulled that crap out of more than a dozen cars and it's solved their radio issues. I doubt it's grounding out because if it were you would be blowing a fuse every time...an unintentional ground is another term for short circuit.

jeepcache · 12-21-2010, 04:04 AM

sounds to me like you are getting a short in your antennae circuit. i would check the wire and connection to the head unit, if you don't see a problem i would be looking at a different non panasonic head unit.

jeeporvis97 · 12-21-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeepcache

sounds to me like you are getting a short in your antennae circuit. i would check the wire and connection to the head unit, if you don't see a problem i would be looking at a different non panasonic head unit.

I second that, my ZJ has not been able to pick up radio stations in the 4 years I've owned it, I tried a different radio thinking mine was broke and that wasn't it so I'm pretty sure I have a bad wire going to the antenna but I gave up and never looked into fixing it since I just use my ipod all the time.