Radio Problems

[jimmy guy]

Not sure if this is a common problem, but can't find any references to it anywhere.

53 Plate 1.9dCi Dynamique with 'standard fit' radio/cd player + 6 cd multi changer undeneath it.

Problem is with the radio. When i sit in the car and just turn on the radio I can get an ok signal most of the time(can hear Radio 1 without too much interference).
When i start the car the signal is totally lost and all I get is static.

When i'm driving the signal sometimes get's slightly better (less static) but not listen-able.

I've tried checkin the ariel all the way from the roof down to the back of the radio unit and it all seem's ok. I've tried cleaning all the contacts. Tried replacing the ariel plug that goes into the back of the unit.

No luck.

Not sure if it's also relevant, but when i play a cd, sometime it will lose volume - as if I'd turned it down slightly, when i brake.

Any ideas guys as i really begrudge letting Renault have it and charge me an arm and a leg.

[Ray]

Not sure if it's also relevant, but when i play a cd, sometime it will lose volume - as if I'd turned it down slightly, when i brake.

That's normal. It also goes slightly louder when you go faster!

[jimmy guy]

Phew, relief on that part.

Any ideas on the radio?

[sidney]

is this a joke or does the volume really go up and down mine does and i thought it was a fault ,its anoying as hell

[dougieCC]

Yeah it does, look at manual you can alter the sensitivity, in expert mode.

Alan

[davelowe]

Any ideas on the radio?

I had a similar problem on my house TV aerial. All the 75 ohm cabling looked ok, but when I replaced it, water had got into it at some point and the copper sheath had oxidized and turned to green mush which had dissolved the plastic insulation.

You could troubleshoot the problem by pulling out the head unit and connecting another substitute aerial (whatever you can lay your hands on) just to see if it makes any difference (assuming you live in an area with decent reception).

The static sounds like some kind of insufficient earthing in the cabling. Disconnect anything to do with the multichanger too - basically make it as simple a circuit as possible and try and isolate the problem.

[sidney]

Yeah it does, look at manual you can alter the sensitivity, in expert mode.

Alan

have no manual could you let us know how to do it please

[davelowe]

My manual (the original) is in pigeon English.

To get to expert mode hold down the SRC button. Use the < > buttons to scroll through the options. Use the + - buttons to alter the parameters. There are no references to sensitivity in my manual, only speed, but then I don't have a 6 disc changer. Yours will probably be different. Interesting as we seem to have the same model car.

[AlexB]

This feature can be adjusted or turned off in the settings.

Not sure if it's also relevant, but when i play a cd, sometime it will lose volume - as if I'd turned it down slightly, when i brake.

That's normal. It also goes slightly louder when you go faster!

[sidney]

cheers just done it so much better now i thought my ears were playing up