GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I posted this earlier on an old thread and thought I better create a new thread as this is actually a separate topic, I hope that is OK.

I have stock am/fm/satelite/cd but can get no am reception, when I scan for fm channels I only get a one or two when in certain locations otherwise I have to manually enter them. The reception is worse than that my old Honda Civic 97 or Saturn L200 2001

I also noticed that fuse # 30 which is listed as "AMP" is missing. I replaced it but this did not do anything. I figured this was for the Antenna amp.

Does anyone have an idea what could be wrong?

Any help much appreciated


Petrus4

happen to have HID's?

thebarber wrote:happen to have HID's?

Nope , no HID's, why?

Tell us more, is this car new to you?

Has any work been done on it recently? What?

Petrus4 wrote:

thebarber wrote:happen to have HID's?

Nope , no HID's, why?

sometimes slim ballasts have been known to interfere with reception

beemerphile1 wrote:Tell us more, is this car new to you?

Has any work been done on it recently? What?

Car is a new used vehicle, recently purchased. Dealer told me that reception is not as good in the vibes, but I don't believe this, so wanted to check with some other vibe owners.

No work done by me.

From what I have read all 2009's have an antenna amplifier, is this correct? could an issue with the amplifier be the cause?

Is poor fm and am reception a common issue with 2009 VIBE stock satelite/fm/am radios?

Thanks

My 2010 has great reception, so IMO the dealer was just giving you BS. Sounds like to me either the antenna is not attached properly, or that it could be a problem with the signal from the antenna to the radio. I'm not sure about an antenna amp, as I've never looked at it, but hopefully someone else on here has. I saw nothing on an antenna amp at the GMpartsdirect.com online, just radio amp and alarm amp. The AMP fuse is probably for the external amplifier available on some Vibe models like my GT. I did look at the parts diagram on the antenna, and there are a couple of places it could be loose

Petrus4 wrote: ...Is poor fm and am reception a common issue with 2009 VIBE stock satelite/fm/am radios?

Thanks

No, mine gets great reception and I haven't read on here of others having problems.

Since you just purchased the car maybe the PO had an aftermarket radio and swapped the stock back in before trading. Could be the antenna isn't connected.

Can't answer about the booster, I don't know.

First I would check all fuses under the dash and in the engine compartment. Then I would take things apart and check the connections on the radio.

Sounds like your amplifer went out. if this happens you will lose AM and get very poor if at all FM. GM has it for $76 from the roof to the first connection, mine is an 03 its on the A collum passenger side (windshild cover), it will just pop off with a little prying starting at top. Once off you will see two connectors. One is the power for the amp other is your antenna. smaller in power. Disconnect turn car so radio is on then use multimeter to see if 12v should be able to us body of car as gound. If 12v then most likely amplier went out. You can check for voltage at the amplifer but you have to pull base off roof the open it up and you will see 3 wires (2 together antenna and one seperate wire power) You can use the base of the antenna for ground, check for 12v again if there then probable amlfier) You can buy after market antenna just to test but you will have to get adapter to go from standard plug to GM ( is a smaller plug) have to go to radio shot for that, but PEP boys has antenna for about $19 of olny testing with amplifier. make sure you gound the antenna and plug in power for amp. just us the connector at the A collum and us some jumper cable clipped to bottom of antenna then to engine as of jump starting to ground the antenna of you get good reception them its your amplifier.

sorry so long but hope it helps. had to do the same for my 03 Vibe GT just to find out the radio its self was bad but everything else worked fine. have the the Nav/radio/6cd shuttle in mine. Also check antenna from A collum to plug that goes in radio. Unplug larger plug use omhs test from middle (don't touch outter edge) to tip of plug should get 00 or very small number of OL then wire at plug may have broken that was part of my problem also.

again sorry so long

michael
03 Vibe GT