2004 Land Rover Discovery II, recent purchase. Radio acts as if no antenna wire is hooked to it, so it gets some stations only, coming in weakly. Power audio amplification stages work just fine, as it plays tapes and CDs with plenty of amplification power. Able to tune radio stations, so front end of circuit is probably fine. Perhaps I.F. stage or more might be at fault. I am thinking that possibly the small antenna R.F. amplifier located in the right rear headliner area, being fed from the rear side window internal antenna might be faulty. Question: If that small antenna amplifier is dead, would it cause problems I am describing here? What else do you think may be the problem?

 

Only guessing here but a few possibilities that come to mind...

1: the window with the antenna may have once been replaced and the wire not hooked up at that end.

2: the RF amplifier has a fuse which has an air gap.

3: previous owner had aftermarket stereo and put stock unit back in before selling, and did not plug the RF coax back into the back of the head unit.

4: head unit or RF amp ground wire fail.

 

Check fuse 16 under dash - for the antenna amp. My PO put in a new radio and plugged into the wrong antenna amp, on a D1 there is one for FM, and one for AM/FM. I think there is just one on a D2.

 

FYI I have personal experience with grounding the chassis of the head unit in your vehicle affecting the reception of the tuner, more on AM band than FM.

The chassis ground on the factory head unit needs to be good for AM reception to be optimum through the small wire (FM) antenna in the rear side window.

If you ever put an aftermarket head unit in your truck proper AM reception depends on you having a solid ground path from the chassis of the head unit.

On FM it is not so apparent.

Most people don't listen to AM so they never really notice.

 

All of your worthy suggestions I am anxious to try, IF AND WHEN I get the darn radio out!! I haven't been able to find any of the metal hanging file cabinet pieces, or anything else more suitable, to unlatch radio and remove it from Rover, so the repair is presently on "hold." Obviously, I was thinking same thing, that some fool didn't plug in the RF coax plug, or chassis isn't grounded properly. The rear window RF amplifier I now have out, and it is getting power, and was plugged into plug on window. However, I have yet to properly test that amplifier, as I haven't yet had the time, but will get to it soon. In trying radio again more thoroughly, it gets some of the FM stations, but only weakly, most with a lot of static, as if no antenna is hooked up, while radio gets no AM stations, only static across both bands, as if no antenna is in use.

 

I couldn't get mine out either on my 06 We ordered the proper tool to take it out. If you mess up the release inside you will have to remove the dash pieces around it to get it out. Be careful trying to get it out The proper tool should be used until you have it out and see how it unlocks. . An 04 radio was much different than the older ones. The removal keys must need to fit just right or it won't unlock. I still don't have mine out yet. Tool not here yet.

 

Finally, I got the special tools to pull radio out; they worked beautifully, just as I thought they would. Once out, it was obvious what the problem was, and that problem was easily solved. The last fool owner of this vehicle, didn't plug in the two antenna terminals---amazing how lazy and/or stupid some people can be. Anyway, radio now works just as it should. Thanks again for all the suggestions and help.