Radio reception bad in 348ts!

having the same problem in my 328. Bought a new radio cd player and had it installed after I could not get any reception in my old radio and the radio shop told me it had a fried tune only to find out that reception on my new alpine is not perfect either, but better than the first radio. It must be a grounding problem. Will investigate further.

 

Well if the antenna isn't on your roof, it will be in the windshield. I would have a look at the connections on the back of the radio before you go messing with the antenna.

 

Talk to resnow here on Fchat too. I believe all radios in 348's were dealer installed, as there was no factory option. resnow and I have consecutive VIN cars and mine has a roof mounted whip, while his has no antenna whatsoever. Obviously, he radio reception stinks.

I think if you open up the padding/upholstry on the targa bar, you'll find an antenna connection wire just laying there, ready for a drill bil and whip antenna. On later cars (once the battery was moved in to the forward luggage compartment), the antenna connections are on the drivers-side rear quarter panel -- just near the tail lights. As ernie notes, some cars have an embedded windscreen antenna. My replacement SIGLA/Ferrari winscreen ($$$) on my car has the embedded wire, but I actually use the whip antenna on the targa bar. If your car is a 90, I'd guess the connection is stuffed into the upholstery under the targa bar.


Just my 2 cents.

..... but if you want my 22-cents, I'd say "don't drill". It's not worth it.

 

If you can see a hair-thin wire embedded in the windshield then you've got the in-glass antenna. This is actually an amplified antenna which simply will not work if the amp is not connected.

If somebody fitted an aftermarket head-unit but didn't connect power to the amp (or it's not working) then the reception will be a disaster.

Similarly, if the screen's been changed for a (cheaper) non antenna screen, then you've no antenna at all.

I've attached a sketch to show where the amplifier sits, item 21 in the call-out box.

I would do as Ernie suggests & check the wiring first, & I totally agree with Jack Russel Racing -- DON'T DRILL THE CAR !!!! You WILL regret it.

If you do need to fit your own aerial, then one option could be to go for an aftermarket adhesive "patch" antenna which you could discretely stick to the rear 1/4 or back window. Shop around in specialist electronics places, there are lots of options.

Anyway, why not go for a Tubi ICE system ? All the music you'll ever need & no electrical wiring needed .

Let us know how you get on.

RF.
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If you don't have a visable antenna on the car, or the wire on the windshield........you don't have an antenna installed.

The cars are prewired for an antenna. The antenna connection can be found under the passenger side carpeting.

When I installed my radio.....way back when........a friend of mine found a stick on wire antenna (windshield mount), made by Bosche. He found it in Hong Kong. I didn't want to drill my car, so this worked out well.

 

On my '90ts the antenna coax runs under the carpet on the passenger's side, up behind the passenger seat and into the targa where it simply ends. When I removed the interior overhead light, I found the end with a "connector" for the nonexistent antenna. As jackrusselracing says, my reception stinks but there's a much better sound from elsewhere anyway.

 

My UK 91TS has a Bosch stick on antenna, looks like a wire stuck to the inside of the windshield in a verical top to bottom line of what looks like silicon sealant, plugged into a small cylindrical Bosch widget at the top (amplifier?). I don't have any evidence to suggest but a hunch its probably an after-factory windshield that was modded because it didn't have the embedded wire?

 

I have a 2000 260 modena, factory stereo and equally crap reception, I recon a 60's stereo would have better reception which is confusing as its a becker head unit which all Mercs run with no problem. Perhaps its their way ofr making you listen to the engine - which is the way it should be 95% of the time.

 

My 91 348ts has a power activited antenna mounted in the rear passenger fender. Works well, course I never can get it loud enough to be heard over the tubi.