CR-Vs and aftermarket Radio

[ronnroz]

I recently purchased a 1999 CR-V and wanted to change my CD player. I went to bestbuy here in Toronto, and put in a Sony CDXGT210. My radio reception is not so good, actually it's quite bad. I brought it back in, they switched the unit, and still the same. I brought it back in, the installer says, this is a problem wtih Honda, he says he drives a civic, and he has similar issue - I don't buy that. Now they are suggesting I put in a Pioneer unit.

Did anybody else have similar experience? Thanks.

[outpost4]

Sounds more like an antenna than radio issue to me.

I have to admit I don't know the 1999 CR-V that well (I'm the Mobile Electronics moderator over on your sister board, the EOC) so please forgive my ignorance. Does your car have a regular metal mast type antenna or one of these short, stubby antennas? If it is a short, stubby one, my bet is BestBuy forgot to hook up the power antenna lead. Take it back and have them check this. If it isn't powered, your reception will be for horse pitute. If your antenna is a regular metal mast type, then it probably needs replacing. With all the winter crap on the roads (I live in Wisconsin) metal antennas can rust and the connection of the antenna to the car body is all important. It can definitely go south in 7 years. Get the antenna replaced - they're cheap - making sure the shop sands away any rust on the car body under the antenna bracket so that it makes good contact.

One of those two would be where I would look.

[2RedV's]

If it is still stock, you do not have an antenna booster on the 99 V. Did the shop push the roof mounted antenna all the way in when they worked on the V? Try pulling the antenna further out. There is also the possibility that they either pulled too hard on the antenna cable and pulled it loose from the antenna base, located up under the driver's foot area or they don't have the unit properly grounded or the new unit isn't properly plugged in - push hard to make a good contact - at the back of the unit.

[Chris_98_LX]

I agree with outpost on this one. Although the metal mast antenna should be checked, start at the base - pull the 2 screws and check under the base, look at the cable and check the surface of the car. Then move to the area where the cable comes to under the drivers side of the dash and make sure it hasn't come apart or been frayed or chewed up in any way. If the cable and everything look good check the ground on the radio with a test light and while in there jiggle the wire a little bit and see how tight the connection is. then check the 2 plugs where the OEM harnes meets the new harness. If all else fails get an antenna booster.

Chris