04HSE No radio reception: How to test radio tuner

[moocowman]

Just posting for my notes and info for anyone who has had trouble with loss of radio reception. My wife's 04 HSE suddenly lost all radio reception (no AM, no FM except 1 very, very faint FM station). From what I've read, the antenna amplifier was most suspect, I replaced it. Still no reception. Before I spent $500 on a used tuner, I wanted to see if there was a way to test the tuner, but received no answers to my post (on another forum). Luckily, my sister has the same yr and model I was able to mess around with. I discovered if the tuner is workign properly, you can plug a length of wire into the tuner's antenna connector and get at least some reception. Testing the tuner: Tune the radio to a station you know has strong signal. Disconnect the antenna connector from the tuner. Connect a length of wire to the center pin of the connector on the tuner (not on the antenna wire). If you get reception, the tuner is okay. If reception doesn't imprve, the antenna circuit in tuner is bad. You will only get reception by touching the center pin alone (without touching the outer part of the connector). Touching the outer part does nothing to harm the tuner, but you just won't get reception. I used a 4ft length of wire, but less will probably do. Now I'm out to find a tuner module. I hate this truck.

[Savannah Buzz]

Sounds like a trip to the salvage yard or contact a dismantler. Radios go for $15 to $25 at yards near me. For $500, you can make a long trip to a yard.

[moocowman]

$15?? That would be nice. I'll pay you $150 if you could find one. Just found one for $215 on eBay. Think I'd better get it.

[Savannah Buzz]

Might want to contact one of the dismantlers who are forum members as well. Of course, if she-who-must-be-obeyed does not get to listen to music during her commute, it will give her more time to think of things to add to "The List".....