97 F250 Radio Interference problem
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97 F250 Radio Interference problem
Hey guys im new here just got my first ford truck a month ago now.
Ive been busy doing work and finally have made it to the most annoying but least pressing problem...
I get radio interference intermittantly. Its like a weak signal basically because itll be super bad in the same areas on my way to and from somewhere. Some places its great then sum places its okay and sum places its awful.
First I tried a different ford antenna... no difference. Then i tried a different deck (I have a ford one in there now, i tried an aftermarket and no difference and i tried another ford one no difference). Then i tried a complete cable and antenna assembly from canadian tire (no difference).. Then i bought the ford cable and the piece that it mounts to the body with and (to save time) just plugged it into the back of the radio and observed the signal in a bad area and found it to be the same!!!
I also (although not sure if i did it right) Ran a ground from my battery and touched it to the back of the deck housing (was told this would eliminate a bad ground as a possiblilty) and this didnt help.
Im pulling my hair out here guys any advice would be great.. Oh and wether the vehicles running or not it makes no difference.
Ive been busy doing work and finally have made it to the most annoying but least pressing problem...
I get radio interference intermittantly. Its like a weak signal basically because itll be super bad in the same areas on my way to and from somewhere. Some places its great then sum places its okay and sum places its awful.
First I tried a different ford antenna... no difference. Then i tried a different deck (I have a ford one in there now, i tried an aftermarket and no difference and i tried another ford one no difference). Then i tried a complete cable and antenna assembly from canadian tire (no difference).. Then i bought the ford cable and the piece that it mounts to the body with and (to save time) just plugged it into the back of the radio and observed the signal in a bad area and found it to be the same!!!
I also (although not sure if i did it right) Ran a ground from my battery and touched it to the back of the deck housing (was told this would eliminate a bad ground as a possiblilty) and this didnt help.
Im pulling my hair out here guys any advice would be great.. Oh and wether the vehicles running or not it makes no difference.
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am and fm. Its in the same places every time usually.
I do the same drive every other day and in that hour drive it dose it 45 minutes out of the hour. My last truck on the same drive didnt have any interference problems.
I do the same drive every other day and in that hour drive it dose it 45 minutes out of the hour. My last truck on the same drive didnt have any interference problems.
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From: Killeen
Make sure you dont have any ground problems.. and were you ran your new wire you didnt get close to any heater blower motor or any thing that pulls power.. Mine did the same thing kinda but i could here the fuel pump. I just added a few new chassis grounds to different spots and it was fixed
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i figured it might be a ground issue but i dont think so on account of running a ground directly to the deck casing. I guess i could try runnning a few new grounds to the body but i doubt thats it.
And no its not close to the blower motor and it doesnt make a difference to reception wether its on or off
And no its not close to the blower motor and it doesnt make a difference to reception wether its on or off
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From: Hernando Ms
You have pretty much ruled out any suggestions I would have except 1...
This is gonna sound weird,but from what I can see youre approaching the"ill try anything" stage.....Get a new antenna,with coax,and plug it into the back of the radio,clamp it on the exterior of the truck somewhere convienent,and go find your original dead spots.If theyre still there,the radio has an internal issue.I believe you have stated that the radio has been replaced,but sometimes(especially on OEM units) factory defects are widespread.If the problem goes away,I suspect that you have an open shield in some part of the co-ax that hasnt been replaced.
If youre sure that ALL the co-ax has been replaced,Im stumped for sure.
As I eluded to in the beginning.....its a longshot
This is gonna sound weird,but from what I can see youre approaching the"ill try anything" stage.....Get a new antenna,with coax,and plug it into the back of the radio,clamp it on the exterior of the truck somewhere convienent,and go find your original dead spots.If theyre still there,the radio has an internal issue.I believe you have stated that the radio has been replaced,but sometimes(especially on OEM units) factory defects are widespread.If the problem goes away,I suspect that you have an open shield in some part of the co-ax that hasnt been replaced.
If youre sure that ALL the co-ax has been replaced,Im stumped for sure.
As I eluded to in the beginning.....its a longshot
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thanks for your suggestions. Unfortuneatly thats basically what i did before, i plugged the coax and antenna (ford new) into the back of the radio and found it to be the same as the aftermarket one i installed hoping to fix the problem.. It was a simple plug the one i have on the vehicle (aftermarket) and find a dead spot... then plug the new one from ford in and same dead spot! Bloody weird.
Also your different radio idea wont really work because i tried a ford one and an aftermarket one that was working perfectly in my buddies truck so i pulled it out of his put it in mine and same dead spot issues...
Im thinking theres gotta be sum weird signal my truck is giving off thats killing reception?? Perhaps my alarm (its ford). I dont know im going insane. Im definetly at the try anything faze.
Also your different radio idea wont really work because i tried a ford one and an aftermarket one that was working perfectly in my buddies truck so i pulled it out of his put it in mine and same dead spot issues...
Im thinking theres gotta be sum weird signal my truck is giving off thats killing reception?? Perhaps my alarm (its ford). I dont know im going insane. Im definetly at the try anything faze.
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From: St Louis
Several ideas....
1) https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...hp?tsb=02-16-4
2) If you have a gas engine, you might have open RFI caps on the ignition system
3) Poor ground of the antenna to the fender and the fender to the rest of the chassis. Might also check to see that the hood is also properly grounded to the chassis at the firewall. Either might become an RFI radiator if the ground isn't adequate. Has the truck ever been repainted or had right front or hood body work?
Steve
1) https://www.ford-trucks.com/tsb/full...hp?tsb=02-16-4
2) If you have a gas engine, you might have open RFI caps on the ignition system
3) Poor ground of the antenna to the fender and the fender to the rest of the chassis. Might also check to see that the hood is also properly grounded to the chassis at the firewall. Either might become an RFI radiator if the ground isn't adequate. Has the truck ever been repainted or had right front or hood body work?
Steve
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Interesting, the hood needs to be grounded? I havent noticed if it is or isnt ill take a look. No body work that i know of but who knows its possible. Why would the hood needing to be grounded make a difference to the antenna signal? The fender does appear to be grounded
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From: Hernando Ms
I guess anythings possible at this point,I would think that the hood hinges would provide an excellent ground....If its any consulation,my 97 has the same issue,and this is the second OEM radio ive installed.Gave up quite awhile back....
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that does make me feel better lol.. everyone ive talked to tells me how great their radio sounds. I didnt get a chance to run a ground wire to the hood today as I had to take my tranny out ... again.. Took it out last week and changed the flexplate, then it started pissing fluid out the front seal. Guess i jostled the old crusty seal to death doing the tranny... Took it down again today and changed the tranny front seal and transfer case input seal. Now im exhausted.
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