360 Radio Problem - FM only

My radio has developed an intermittant problem. When using FM it may work fine for a hour or maybe a few minutes then it starts dropping off with a slight clicking sound. It may come and go for a few minutes then it typically dies and will not work at all.

If I change to AM / LW or tape it comes back fine. If I leave it on AM or LW for a few minutes it typically works fine in FM again for up to an hour and then it all kicks off again. Leaving a tape playing does not resurrect the FM, only switching to AM or LW.

I’ve tried disconnecting the main plugs on both doors when the unit is acting up and it doesn’t make any difference. I’ve taken off the face plate and cleaned all the contacts and that makes no difference.

Yes, I know many of you will say you don’t listen to the radio. I do when I’m stuck in traffic or just cruising so I’d like to resolve this.

Any thoughts or suggestions gratefully received.

 

Thanks for all the comments guys and many thanks also for the very generous offer I have received by PM of a replacement radio-chassis, requiring only my faceplate to complete.

Yes, the radio is the standard Becker Radio/Cassette with CD changer in the bonnet.

Obviously this is not such a common problem given that nobody has dispensed the magic pill of a solution.

Thinking about the symptoms, I would actually liken it to the unit rebooting over and over and over when it goes into failure mode.

Curt may well have put his finger on it when suggesting something like a failed capacitor. My guess is that it's a component which is required for FM reception but not for any of AM, LW or Tape. (My car is missing the shuttle for the CDs so I use that for storing a few spare spark plugs and tools so I can't say whether or not that side is working).

Starting this thread was as much about kicking my own lazy ass into gear to actually do something about this! So far I've managed to construct some tools with which I've managed to loosen the unit but there wasn't enough play in the cables to allow me to get the unit out fully, so next step is to go a little deeper and release it from it's cables and have a little root around in there.

In the meantime if the "rebooting" symptoms rings any bells with anyone I'm all ears.

 

Just to close this thread out with a conclusion. When I managed to get the radio out (which just required releasing the various connection blocks at the back side) I just had a little poke around and decided to re-connect it and put it back in with a view to coming back and having a proper go later.

The problem hasn't recurred since so all I can assume is that one or more of the contacts had gotten corroded and just needed to be released and re-attached to make the difference.

Thanks all for your comments and suggestions.