poor AM signal

[[email protected]]

First, please excuse my english.

Here is my problem. I have problem getting proper AM signal when
installing a stereo to the wires of the aftermath of a car break in.

I can get clear FM signals only when I touch one of the specific wire
to the antenna connector of the stereo unit. (I assume that wire should
connect to the antenna then.) Keeping the same 'antenna wire' connected
to the until, as for the AM, I get signals only when my key is not at
the ignition position or when the car engine is not running.

I tried a brand new stereo of a different brand. I get FM signal only
when I touch that wire to the antena connector of the stereo, but no
signal at all for AM, regardless of the car key position or whether the
engine is running.

I don't know if the following is related. Since I cannot find the
battery wire from the car to connect to the stereo, I connect both the
ignition wire and the battery wire of the stereo to the ignition wire
from the car.

Or, with the 'antena wire' of the car, do I need to install a proper
antenna connector so that it connects to the antenna connector of the
stereo properly.

Or would it be other possible problem?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Matt Ion]

wrote:
> First, please excuse my english.
>
> Here is my problem. I have problem getting proper AM signal when
> installing a stereo to the wires of the aftermath of a car break in.
>
> I can get clear FM signals only when I touch one of the specific wire
> to the antenna connector of the stereo unit. (I assume that wire should
> connect to the antenna then.) Keeping the same 'antenna wire' connected
> to the until, as for the AM, I get signals only when my key is not at
> the ignition position or when the car engine is not running.
>
> I tried a brand new stereo of a different brand. I get FM signal only
> when I touch that wire to the antena connector of the stereo, but no
> signal at all for AM, regardless of the car key position or whether the
> engine is running.
>
> I don't know if the following is related. Since I cannot find the
> battery wire from the car to connect to the stereo, I connect both the
> ignition wire and the battery wire of the stereo to the ignition wire
> from the car.
>
> Or, with the 'antena wire' of the car, do I need to install a proper
> antenna connector so that it connects to the antenna connector of the
> stereo properly.
>
> Or would it be other possible problem?
>
> Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Make sure the radio is grounded properly - the black wire should connect to
either the appropriate ground wire in the dash, or to a good metal body ground.

If you're testing for the battery (constant power) connection, keep in mind that
when the theives cut the old wires, they may have shorted that wire and blown a
fuse - check all your fuses (the stereo often uses the "clock" circuit, so look
for a fuse labelled CLOCK). Hooking the deck's "battery" connection up to the
ignition feed means it will lose backup power every time you turn the key off,
and you'll lose any radio stations in memory, or other stored settings.

The antenna also requires a good ground connection, so the end of the wire was
chopped off, it'll need to be replaced as well. You may be able to find a new
connector to put on, or you may find it easier to simply replace the whole antenna.

[ck]

What make of car?
> wrote in message
ps.com...
> First, please excuse my english.
>
> Here is my problem. I have problem getting proper AM signal when
> installing a stereo to the wires of the aftermath of a car break in.
>
> I can get clear FM signals only when I touch one of the specific wire
> to the antenna connector of the stereo unit. (I assume that wire should
> connect to the antenna then.) Keeping the same 'antenna wire' connected
> to the until, as for the AM, I get signals only when my key is not at
> the ignition position or when the car engine is not running.
>
> I tried a brand new stereo of a different brand. I get FM signal only
> when I touch that wire to the antena connector of the stereo, but no
> signal at all for AM, regardless of the car key position or whether the
> engine is running.
>
> I don't know if the following is related. Since I cannot find the
> battery wire from the car to connect to the stereo, I connect both the
> ignition wire and the battery wire of the stereo to the ignition wire
> from the car.
>
> Or, with the 'antena wire' of the car, do I need to install a proper
> antenna connector so that it connects to the antenna connector of the
> stereo properly.
>
> Or would it be other possible problem?
>
> Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>

[[email protected]]

It's a 92 honda civic.

ck wrote:
> What make of car?
> > wrote in message
> ps.com...
> > First, please excuse my english.
> >
> > Here is my problem. I have problem getting proper AM signal when
> > installing a stereo to the wires of the aftermath of a car break in.
> >
> > I can get clear FM signals only when I touch one of the specific wire
> > to the antenna connector of the stereo unit. (I assume that wire should
> > connect to the antenna then.) Keeping the same 'antenna wire' connected
> > to the until, as for the AM, I get signals only when my key is not at
> > the ignition position or when the car engine is not running.
> >
> > I tried a brand new stereo of a different brand. I get FM signal only
> > when I touch that wire to the antena connector of the stereo, but no
> > signal at all for AM, regardless of the car key position or whether the
> > engine is running.
> >
> > I don't know if the following is related. Since I cannot find the
> > battery wire from the car to connect to the stereo, I connect both the
> > ignition wire and the battery wire of the stereo to the ignition wire
> > from the car.
> >
> > Or, with the 'antena wire' of the car, do I need to install a proper
> > antenna connector so that it connects to the antenna connector of the
> > stereo properly.
> >
> > Or would it be other possible problem?
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
> >

[[email protected]]

Very much appreciated!!!

Matt Ion wrote:
> wrote:
> > First, please excuse my english.
> >
> > Here is my problem. I have problem getting proper AM signal when
> > installing a stereo to the wires of the aftermath of a car break in.
> >
> > I can get clear FM signals only when I touch one of the specific wire
> > to the antenna connector of the stereo unit. (I assume that wire should
> > connect to the antenna then.) Keeping the same 'antenna wire' connected
> > to the until, as for the AM, I get signals only when my key is not at
> > the ignition position or when the car engine is not running.
> >
> > I tried a brand new stereo of a different brand. I get FM signal only
> > when I touch that wire to the antena connector of the stereo, but no
> > signal at all for AM, regardless of the car key position or whether the
> > engine is running.
> >
> > I don't know if the following is related. Since I cannot find the
> > battery wire from the car to connect to the stereo, I connect both the
> > ignition wire and the battery wire of the stereo to the ignition wire
> > from the car.
> >
> > Or, with the 'antena wire' of the car, do I need to install a proper
> > antenna connector so that it connects to the antenna connector of the
> > stereo properly.
> >
> > Or would it be other possible problem?
> >
> > Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Make sure the radio is grounded properly - the black wire should connect to
> either the appropriate ground wire in the dash, or to a good metal body ground.
>
> If you're testing for the battery (constant power) connection, keep in mind that
> when the theives cut the old wires, they may have shorted that wire and blown a
> fuse - check all your fuses (the stereo often uses the "clock" circuit, so look
> for a fuse labelled CLOCK). Hooking the deck's "battery" connection up to the
> ignition feed means it will lose backup power every time you turn the key off,
> and you'll lose any radio stations in memory, or other stored settings.
>
> The antenna also requires a good ground connection, so the end of the wire was
> chopped off, it'll need to be replaced as well. You may be able to find a new
> connector to put on, or you may find it easier to simply replace the whole antenna.

[Matt Ion]

wrote:
> It's a 92 honda civic.

You're in luck: those are really easy to re&re the antenna in, while putting a
new end on most antenna wires is a real PITA. A new complete unit should only
cost about $20-$30 and can be swapped in in about 15-20 minutes (less if you
have a pro do it).

> ck wrote:
>
>>What make of car?
> wrote in message
ps.com...
>>
>>>First, please excuse my english.
>>>
>>>Here is my problem. I have problem getting proper AM signal when
>>>installing a stereo to the wires of the aftermath of a car break in.
>>>
>>>I can get clear FM signals only when I touch one of the specific wire
>>>to the antenna connector of the stereo unit. (I assume that wire should
>>>connect to the antenna then.) Keeping the same 'antenna wire' connected
>>>to the until, as for the AM, I get signals only when my key is not at
>>>the ignition position or when the car engine is not running.
>>>
>>>I tried a brand new stereo of a different brand. I get FM signal only
>>>when I touch that wire to the antena connector of the stereo, but no
>>>signal at all for AM, regardless of the car key position or whether the
>>>engine is running.
>>>
>>>I don't know if the following is related. Since I cannot find the
>>>battery wire from the car to connect to the stereo, I connect both the
>>>ignition wire and the battery wire of the stereo to the ignition wire
>>>from the car.
>>>
>>>Or, with the 'antena wire' of the car, do I need to install a proper
>>>antenna connector so that it connects to the antenna connector of the
>>>stereo properly.
>>>
>>>Or would it be other possible problem?
>>>
>>>Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
>>>
>
>