FM radio problem?

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Over the last week I am getting poor reception on the stock radio, the stations I listen to were all static. When I started my car today after work the radio was on but noticed when I turn on my headlights on the FM radio went to all static. When I turn headlights off the radio works fine. Have not did any work on headlights or changed bulbs recently, any ideas ? Thanks!
 

eldredg

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Over the last week I am getting poor reception on the stock radio, the stations I listen to were all static. When I started my car today after work the radio was on but noticed when I turn on my headlights on the FM radio went to all static. When I turn headlights off the radio works fine. Have not did any work on headlights or changed bulbs recently, any ideas ? Thanks!
1) Static headlights on, but not with only parking lights? Maybe bad relay for headlights causing static from burnt contacts sparking? I think there is a relay for high beam and a relay for low beam. Guessing. 2) KJs do have problems with ground wires coming loose / corroding, which causes screwy things. One KJ owner had problems with dash lights when he disconnected the radio antenna wire. The dash was using the outside ground shield on the antenna cable for its ground. He had to fix the ground wire for the dash. Maybe your antenna cable ground is loose? Might try hooking a temporary ground wire to your radio metal case and to a good ground point? There's one good ground point behind the plastic kick panel on the left driver's side (US). The panel pulls out at the bottom fairly easily. One KJ owner found that ground plate wasn't bolted to the body behind the panel, which caused electrical problems for him. 3) Any issues with horn honking? Do you have radio control buttons on steering wheel? There's a clock spring under the steering wheel that provides the ground connection for the horn button, the airbag, cruise control and radio control buttons. Not exactly solid answers, but some ideas.
 
Joined
Feb 12, 2021
Messages
47
Reaction score
17
1) Static headlights on, but not with only parking lights? Maybe bad relay for headlights causing static from burnt contacts sparking? I think there is a relay for high beam and a relay for low beam. Guessing. 2) KJs do have problems with ground wires coming loose / corroding, which causes screwy things. One KJ owner had problems with dash lights when he disconnected the radio antenna wire. The dash was using the outside ground shield on the antenna cable for its ground. He had to fix the ground wire for the dash. Maybe your antenna cable ground is loose? Might try hooking a temporary ground wire to your radio metal case and to a good ground point? There's one good ground point behind the plastic kick panel on the left driver's side (US). The panel pulls out at the bottom fairly easily. One KJ owner found that ground plate wasn't bolted to the body behind the panel, which caused electrical problems for him. 3) Any issues with horn honking? Do you have radio control buttons on steering wheel? There's a clock spring under the steering wheel that provides the ground connection for the horn button, the airbag, cruise control and radio control buttons. Not exactly solid answers, but some ideas.
eldredg,
Thanks for your response... After reading your post I tried the headlights again and I was wrong it is not the headlights but the fog lights causing the poor reception on the FM radio. Thanks again for all of your suggestions I am going to have to play with it to figure this out. Thanks again !
 

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