Any way to boost antenna strength on 5th Gen?

[Ebbsnflows]

I don't know if I just have a 'dud' antenna...or this is just how the 5th Gens are....but the radio reception in my (new to me) 2010 4runner is horrible. I've driven the same way to work for the past 5 years in my 2005 4Runner. I have listened to the same 5 radio stations during that same 5 years. All of the stations were crystal clear. In my recently purchased 2010 4runner I've almost completely lost 2 of the stations entirely and the other 3 are significantly weakened during portions of my commute. I would've expected the 2010 with a true external-mast antenna to perform better than the integrated antenna that I have on my 2005.

Anyone else have reception issues? If so, is there a way to boost it back to the levels of my 10 year old antenna-less vehicle?

 

[Swarty]

Haven't heard that before...

Anyone else have reception issues? If so, is there a way to boost it back to the levels of my 10 year old antenna-less vehicle?

Mine works great, I get stations from both the big cities near by and very clear. I would pull off your antenna and see if there is corrosion. Clean it out real well and reinstall your antenna. If you got it used I's also check to see if they used to have CB with a splitter and maybe there is some wiring issue in the dash.

 

[oljedi11950]

I was gonna say maybe the plug antenna wire might be loose or not all the way in !

 

[adam2562]

A Flux Capacitor!! watch out for that lightning doc! :roll:

 

[monkrunner]

Any way to gain better reception with in-glass antenna?

I have a 2014 Prem Trail with the antenna inside the rear window. When listening in AM, the output sound seems to gradually get softer, and then all of a sudden get louder again. Can anything be done to provide a constant level of equal sound?

 

[tristero]

[MENTION=3282]Ebbsnflows[/MENTION] I have a 2010 as well. I was having to tighten the antenna everyday when I got home. Not sure if that helps.

The clearance in the garage I park in downtown is only 6'6" and I was tired of the antenna slapping and scraping the whole way through each day—the garage for the San Francisco office is even worse—so I just took it off.

Looking into some replacements, but since I don't really use the radio I'm thinking of getting this Amazon.com : Bullet Style Stubby Antenna for Toyota FJ Cruiser : Automotive until someone steals it.

 

[dawudih]

the 2005 has 2 integrated antennas, & uses the one with the best reception.

 

[flyinhawaiian01]

Yeah, I think something's wrong with the antenna or cable. Pull the deck out (which one do you have?), reseat the antenna back into the deck.

Sure sounds to me like the previous owner may have had an aftermarket deck in there and possibly didn't plug the antenna back into the deck.

How's AM reception? If it's REALLY bad, meaning you can't get more than one or two stations, then I'd say the antenna or cable is definitely bad. With the stubby antenna I have now, I can get 3 stations on AM, but my FM comes in just fine since I'm relatively close to the stations.

Another test for ya, while still listening to AM, go outside and tap the antenna, it should pop every time you do. If you hear lots of crackling static like something is loose, chances are the connection is bad or the antenna is really loose. If you don't hear any difference at all (especially if you grab the upper portion of the antenna with your bare hand), the antenna is most likely not even hooked up.

 

[Ebbsnflows]

Thanks for all of the suggestions guys. I purchased the 4Runner from a private party seller (a 60 yr old female retiree, that mostly used it to haul her grand-kids around). Although I didn't ask her specifically, I'm doubtful that there was ever a CB radio or after-market deck in car. I've already checked that the antenna was tightly screwed in, but I will try the AM tricks in the morning to see if anything obvious jumps out...and of course it may be possible the connection has come loose in the dash. Now that I know that this isn't normal, I'll keep digging.

 

[Dexter Morgan]

damn people still listen to FM and AM?

 

[Auntie Soshul]

The clearance in the garage I park in downtown is only 6'6" and I was tired of the antenna slapping and scraping the whole way through each day—the garage for the San Francisco office is even worse—so I just took it off.

Looking into some replacements....

There are tons of posts about shorter or "stubby" antennas on this site. Some work OK, some don't. A search will give you some choices.