(Snip)
I am confusing and getting misunderstood. The radio unit, cable and
antenna were replaced with exact factory installs at the dealer and
even the third time in they claim they moved the ground wire but I see
no place on modular cable on back of radio. Naturally they know where
are the wire feeds and contact points are. Yes, I did compare to other
same makes and models of cars and past years which I owned and also
my other cars and children's cars. All better. Not comparing to a home
receiver. I do realize that you can't pull stations out of air
iterally, they must be there to begin with. Those stations are still
there transmitting same power and same locations. I do not have a dx
function. All is auto built within to switch auto and that may be a
fault since it may be switiching over on a weak signal. Some stations
I hear but fuzzy. And to be objective it did not just happen. Happened
since I bought the vehicle brand new dealer showroom. Why I have them
fixing it. It did improve slightly after the second time of all
replaced but it is not back to orginal no pickup on some. Naturally
the stations they pick and try are different since I live 35 miles
from dealer and with mountain ranges abundant here in Eastern Pa. they
tune whatever comes into their valley. Maybe that is why radio Shack
got out of the auto line with antennas and boosters. Too fickle and
too many complaints. And there is tuning screw. Period. Unless you
broke the case apart on the tuning capacitors maybe. No outside and I
could care less about am anyway but that is terrible also. The effect
on operating the power windows is not constant and happened 3 times
with no regular pattern. A fluke once but not 3 times. I shook, pulled
and ran it numerous times to no avail on duplication of correctness.
Basically the st display came on and station that was there cleared.
Next day back again. I do get electric discharge shocks frequently
summer and winter with this vehicle more than others if that is a
trait as well. Hope all this clears up the misconceptions. Nick
Sorry Nick if it sounded like I was impugning your judgement. Between
the first two posts there was no clear picture. I was under the
impression this was an isolated incidence, not common to hoards of
similar make/model cars.
Mea Culpa
There is a common cause that ties up all the symptoms (except the
window) in one neat package. I'll be the first to admit that this is
stretching things a little, but here goes anyway:
You mention the static shock you experience. This is not common in
the humid climate that I live it, but I did get to experience it in a
new Toyota. The problem seems to be there is so much plastic and the
paint coatings are so improved that, there is no discharge points for
getting rid of the static buildup.
There is a problem intrinsic to CMOS / FET circuitry that may cover
the symptoms you see. CMOS is used universally because it is
efficient, and reliable. The problem is, that it is very static
sensitive. To apply it correctly the designer has to take that into
consideration. You may have a radio that was designed poorly or a
component that is defective in a batch of radios.
At the antenna circuit FET's are used. They are very sensitive to
signals, and sensitive to static. To apply them well, they require
some protection from static discharge. Usually it comes in the form
of diodes in the "front end" of the radio. Without protection the
FET's don't last long. With protection they must be handled correctly
during installation.
Destroy the FET and you have a radio with very poor sensitivity. Very
poor - only the strongest stations come in. Where a good radio may
get 20-30 stations, one with a blown front end may only get 2-3 with
stereo and be missing 2/3 of the others.
If that is the case in what you see, that problem has to be fixed by
the manufacturer or a competent electronics technician. It isn't
something with an easy solution (even for a good technician -
sometimes)
The Field Effect Transistor, or Complimentary Metal Oxide
Semiconductor, rely on very thin coatings of glass or aluminum oxide
internal to the components. These insulators, in order to function,
must be so thin that it takes very little voltage or power to destroy
them. (Punch a hole through - a hole that is only visible under an
electron microscope). The hole renders the component bad - forever,
or weakens it making it susceptible to failure, it has to be replaced.
If a manufacturer has a radio that is incorrectly designed, or has had
lots of defective protection devices, the radios may only work for a
short period of time before the front end is destroyed. Just handling
the radio (or any electronic device that uses these components -
almost all) can render it useless before it is even installed.
To install a sensitive device like a computer hard drive, computer
board or a radio, you must first discharge yourself to the ground and
make sure that you and the device are at the same potential voltage
(touch the case and keep holding it, touch the center connector of the
antenna to the chassis of the radio, before plugging it into the
radio. Plug in the power cables last. Don't let someone touch the
antenna or you while the installation is in progress. And/or ground
all the objects, antenna, radio, car, yourself, with a hard wire
ground while doing the installation) Ground straps and conductive
grounding systems are designed for this application - but wire will
work as well if there is no 120 VAC around - then grounding yourself
becomes a personal safety issue and must be done through a high value
resistor to ground.
The whole problem could also be a faulty batch of antennas or antenna
cables - that's why I'd still recommend using a piece of ordinary wire
in the antenna jack (watch out for static).
I know this doesn't solve your problem. How to solve your problem?
Well by now the car manufacturer has probably heard they have a
problem. Most non-US corporations are quicker and better at fixes
then domestic companies. If your particular dealer is still at an
impasse, ask him if there have been any service bulletins issued
regarding the problem. If they are any good they will search and may
find. If the problem is not so universal, you should ask to speak to
a regional service rep. The regional reps are paid by the car
manufacturer and serve as a go between. The regional reps keep the
car manufacturer apprized of what is happening to the cars in the
field. If that still doesn't solve your problem, your recourse is to
keep getting radios replaced until they get it right, write to the
manufacturer (in case the car dealer and regional rep are both dogs).
If that doesn't get it, you can bite the bullet and change radios to
some aftermarket one, or take the car company to small claims court.
You can take a large corporation to small claims court - but the
procedure varies. Here I have to call the capital and find out who
represents them in the state, then go down to the courthouse and file
papers and pay to have them served to appear in court. Large
corporations don't usually spend big bucks defending small claims . .
.. so your chance of a favorable outcome is good. Keep all the
documentation you can find - including people that have the same
problem from the Internet news groups.
What do yo think you will do next?
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