AM/FM Reception Issues?

[NelsonB]

Hello
I am a newbie here. I just purchased a 2013 4Runner with 18k mile on it from a local dealership (it was one of their loaner vehicles). So far I am pleased with it. I traded a 1997 Landcruiser that had over 230K miles on it for this truck.

My first question for this truck is, is it normal for the AM and FM radio reception to be very very weak? The XM stations work fine, but the local radio hardly comes in, if at all. Is this normal for these newer Toyota radios, or is there something wrong? I called the dealership and they have no clue without looking at it. It’s almost like the antenna isn’t working.

Thanks for any insight from your experiences with this generation 4Runner,
Nelson

 

[eddiebx]

Hello
I am a newbie here. I just purchased a 2013 4Runner with 18k mile on it from a local dealership (it was one of their loaner vehicles). So far I am pleased with it. I traded a 1997 Landcruiser that had over 230K miles on it for this truck.

My first question for this truck is, is it normal for the AM and FM radio reception to be very very weak? The XM stations work fine, but the local radio hardly comes in, if at all. Is this normal for these newer Toyota radios, or is there something wrong? I called the dealership and they have no clue without looking at it. It’s almost like the antenna isn’t working.

Thanks for any insight from your experiences with this generation 4Runner,
Nelson

I don't often listen to the radio, but compared to my other cars the reception is at least as good if not slightly better with the FM reception, so I think you might have an actual issue.

The XM and the AM/FM are on a separate antenna, so that's probably not an indication of anything.

I've read on here it is easy to break the antenna wire if you try to remove the antenna mast improperly...perhaps I would bring it back to the dealer and have them check it out.

BTW, congrats on the purchase and welcome aboard :hello:

 

[NelsonB]

Eddie

Yeah, I am leaning toward antenna or antenna connection problem, because I can actually dial in a few local FM stations. I just cannot get them all to receive or be sensed by the radio (as I would on any other vehicle), and the AM stations are not receiving at all.

Thanks,
Nelson

 

[j-hole]

I picked up my '13 trail with 14000kms on it and the radio (entune) would not pick up anything on am/fm, all other sources worked fine. They replaced it on warranty all good now.

 

[NelsonB]

What is entune?

I am able to get some really weak FM signals, so I am thinkin it is either the antenna or the wire....

 

[Jeremy556]

I'm surprised people still listen to AM/FM radio. I removed and threw away the mast antenna the day I bought mine, same with my Tacoma, before.

 

[ant-ny]

I'm surprised people still listen to AM/FM radio. I removed and threw away the mast antenna the day I bought mine, same with my Tacoma, before.

Ha! My wife thinks I am 70 years old (I am 34) because ALL I listen to is AM radio. I can't stand FM, and I have no use for satellite radio. I will stream my Iphone, though. Yes, take it back and have the dealer look at it. My old car had a problem with where the antenna wire connected to the back of the radio. Your 4R should get rather good reception.

 

[NelsonB]

When living and commuting in a large metro area, having local radio is almost a necessity for traffic and weather updates. Plus, I really enjoy listening to the local sports radio (man drama soap opera). :wink2:

 

[NelsonB]

The Toyota service department says it is the radio. A new one is on order. Does anyone know if differnt stock models will work an SR5? If so, maybe I should have have an upgraded model installed instead.

 

[UncleBilly]

How the hell do any of you listen too daytime AM radio with all the friggin commercials? That's what killed it for me. Mortgage loan companies, and in SoCal area we've got Larry Miller of Sit-n-Sleep mattress company. Always saying "It's Freeeeeee" I want too shoot the radio every time that prick comes on! Can't wait for XM radio on my car...

 

[ant-ny]

Ha! yeah, there are a lot of commercials. I just can't stand listening to FM where it seems they play the same playlist every day, on a four hour loop. I refuse to pay for radio, that is why I no longer have satellite. I stream my iphone quite a bit.

 

[eddiebx]

The Toyota service department says it is the radio. A new one is on order. Does anyone know if differnt stock models will work an SR5? If so, maybe I should have have an upgraded model installed instead.

More often then not the Toyota factory harnesses are very model/trim level specific, so I doubt it would be a simple plug and play install. ie. an SR5 with navi cannot be simply swapped for an SR5 head unit w/o navi, and vice versa. Glad to hear they were able to resolve your issues

 

[NelsonB]

So, the dealership replaced my radio/head unit, and it made no difference at all in my radio reception. I took it back, and they vow to fix it this time. When I asked about the possibility of it just being an antenna or a connection to the antenna inside the fender they stated they checked that already. I’m not sure what else it could be....

They gave me a 2013 4Runner as a loaner until mine is fixed, and now I am full of green eyed envy because it has the HD radio equipped head unit with a backup camera screen in it. I know of you do not think this unit could be direct swap (plug & play) option, but I wish it was.


:dammit:

 

[Americas High Five]

Maybe a dumb question and I know you had said the techs had checked the wiring itself but have you checked to make sure the antenna was screwed in tight? Not even sure if this would cause a issue but seems odd they replaced the radio/checked the wires and it still didn't resolve the issue..

 

[NelsonB]

It’s not a dumb question, but yes I removed it and reinstalled it before I took it to the dealer the first time. Since it appears to be a bad antenna connection it was the first thing I thought of doing. I agree it seems weird that this is such a problem for them to troubleshoot this issue.

 

[dboy0308]

I've read on here it is easy to break the antenna wire if you try to remove the antenna mast improperly...perhaps I would bring it back to the dealer and have them check it out.

I did this. The dealer ripper apart the whole car trying to find a wire that wasn't working, but in the end it was that I twisted the mast too much and a wire tore in the antenna. :embarassed:

I feel like it could also easily happen going through a car wash, or having the antenna get caught on something.

 

[NelsonB]

Well, I got my truck back from the dealer, and it’s fixed. They repaired a pinched wire under the dash that was going to the antenna power amp. I suppose if it were not under warranty still I would have done it myself, which probably would have been quicker, but hey they fixed it for free.

 

[Americas High Five]

Funny how it took 18K miles for someone to finally investigate the source of the poor reception. You would think the wire was crimped from day 1 unless someone tore apart the dash and crimped the wire putting it back together...

 

[NelsonB]

High Five
Well, this truck was a Toyota loaner vehicle, so iIguess it is possible that was this way from the factory.

The loaner 4Runner the dealer let me use the last two days was a SR5 with a HD radio head unit in it. I have radio envy now. I cannot see why these two radios wouldn't be a plug and play swap???? They are both the non-navigation style, but have different faces. Nothing electrically should be different, right?

Has anyone ever made a list of optinal equipment that can be swapped in between 5th Gen 4Runners?

 

[grey_ghost]

I've got a 2013 SR5 and listen to mostly AM radio for the talk radio stuff. and yes it's full of ads but what you do is anytime an ad comes on you switch the station. both AM & FM come in very clear, except when AM begins to fade at night when the stations switch down their amplitude.
Also, there's been many times when my antenna mast came loose (they do that easily) but still get reception; it almost has to fall off completely to lose reception.
I don't use the XM/Sirius because I'm old-school; don't want yet one more bastard dipping into my wallet every month for something that used to be free :
One thing I might like in my next radio though would be an HD radio; you get a lot more station options and no monthly fees....