Car radio falure? (very strange)

[Chupo]

Hi everyone,

since a few days ago I cannot listen to any of the FM stations. Here is
what I could notice:

-MW & LW are OK

- FM sometimes works, but not for a long time (10 sec - few minutes)

- just before loosing an FM station, there is a time period of about 10
sec during which 'input level indicator' slowly arises towards the
maximum and in the same time the station fades out - afterwards, there
is only a silence

- after the station fades out: if I use a preset FM station, there is a
'full signal' indicator on the LCD, but if I try 'search', searching
starts and it searches for the infinite time (going all around through
all FM scale)

- if I am listening to a MW or a LW for a certain time period: then FM
is OK, but only for a certain time period

- longer the time period of listening to a MW or a LW station is,
longer I can use FM mode (no joke ) before it fades out as
described before

I have checked the antenna and other junctions. Does anyone know where
could the problem be? Could it be a capacitor (the fading pattern makes
me think something is slowly charging, something like an RC node). Or
maybe a PLL module? Just guessing.

ps
Sorry about my English

Thank you,

 

[Dave D]

Hi everyone,

since a few days ago I cannot listen to any of the FM stations. Here is
what I could notice:

-MW & LW are OK

- FM sometimes works, but not for a long time (10 sec - few minutes)

- just before loosing an FM station, there is a time period of about 10
sec during which 'input level indicator' slowly arises towards the
maximum and in the same time the station fades out - afterwards, there
is only a silence

- after the station fades out: if I use a preset FM station, there is a
'full signal' indicator on the LCD, but if I try 'search', searching
starts and it searches for the infinite time (going all around through
all FM scale)

- if I am listening to a MW or a LW for a certain time period: then FM
is OK, but only for a certain time period

- longer the time period of listening to a MW or a LW station is,
longer I can use FM mode (no joke ) before it fades out as
described before

I have checked the antenna and other junctions. Does anyone know where
could the problem be? Could it be a capacitor (the fading pattern makes
me think something is slowly charging, something like an RC node). Or
maybe a PLL module? Just guessing.

ps
Sorry about my English

Thank you,

If you have a bench power supply which can put out 12V or 13.8V then it will
make troubleshooting a lot easier than trying to do it in the car.

The fault could be of a thermal nature, so heating parts of the circuitry
with a heat gun or hair dryer until the fault starts, then cooling
individual components with freeze spray should help you find the bad
component.

Your English is perfectly understandable by the way, no need to apologise at
all. Bear in mind that most of us native English speakers cannot be bothered
to learn a second language, so I admire anyone who can master English to the
degree you have.

Dave

 

[Chupo]

If you have a bench power supply which can put out 12V or 13.8V then it will
make troubleshooting a lot easier than trying to do it in the car.

I was already thinking of using an accumulator charger to make some
testings.

The fault could be of a thermal nature, so heating parts of the circuitry
with a heat gun or hair dryer until the fault starts, then cooling
individual components with freeze spray should help you find the bad
component.

Thank you, I shall try that.

Your English is perfectly understandable by the way, no need to apologise at
all. Bear in mind that most of us native English speakers cannot be bothered
to learn a second language, so I admire anyone who can master English to the
degree you have.

Thank you, those (or should I say 'these'?) were very kind words.

Well, I was learning English since 3rd grade (basic school) till end of
the high school (not extra classes, only as one of the compulsory
subjects) and I was always lucky to have an excellent teacher. Later,
we've had some techinical English classes at the university - with
American teachers. Bonus is that we are watching movies with subtitles
(I am from Croatia) so I hear English practically every day. +, I've
had a lot of conversations with Hungarians, Russians, Australians,
Belgians & Germans. That is why I am not sure if some of my sentences
sound funny to the native English speaker, because each of the former
mentioned have their own 'English grammar' ) For an example, in
Hungary you can hear: 'I have to toilet' instead of 'I have to go to
the toilet'. That is because of the nature of their language applied to
the English language.

And, of course, I occasionally use small Webster's English to English
dictionary to find out the spelling when I am not sure )

BTW
I must say, the education in our region (former Yugoslavia) was very
good, it was for free (as was the medical care) but very good, I would
say outstanding, until the war. Nowadays, I am not sure, in fact I can
say the education is not so good as it was. Furthermore, There was a
lot off different languages that one could easily learn because we were
all mixed, from the six former Republics. So, everyone older than 20-25
can understand Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian, Serbian, Bosnian, not
to mention the dialects. Even Russian, Slovakian, Polish are not too
hard to understand if you would have lived here. I have always been
interested in learning languages so I have even learnt some Hungarian
during my 1 year working period accross the border (and believe me,
Hungarian is not so easy to learn ).

OK, this was rather offtopic, but you (or someone else) may find it
interesting.

Thank you again for answering me,

Best regards,

 

[Dave D]

Thank you, those (or should I say 'these'?) were very kind words.

I simply speak the truth as I see it. Some native English speakers, not
necessarily a majority, seem to assume everyone should speak English, and
are stupid if they get it wrong. What is ironic is that many people who
speak English as a second language often do so better than some native
speakers! They're usually a lot more polite as well IMO.

Well, I was learning English since 3rd grade (basic school) till end of
the high school (not extra classes, only as one of the compulsory
subjects) and I was always lucky to have an excellent teacher. Later,
we've had some techinical English classes at the university - with
American teachers. Bonus is that we are watching movies with subtitles
(I am from Croatia) so I hear English practically every day. +, I've
had a lot of conversations with Hungarians, Russians, Australians,
Belgians & Germans. That is why I am not sure if some of my sentences
sound funny to the native English speaker, because each of the former
mentioned have their own 'English grammar' ) For an example, in
Hungary you can hear: 'I have to toilet' instead of 'I have to go to
the toilet'. That is because of the nature of their language applied to
the English language.

And, of course, I occasionally use small Webster's English to English
dictionary to find out the spelling when I am not sure )

BTW
I must say, the education in our region (former Yugoslavia) was very
good, it was for free (as was the medical care) but very good, I would
say outstanding, until the war. Nowadays, I am not sure, in fact I can
say the education is not so good as it was. Furthermore, There was a
lot off different languages that one could easily learn because we were
all mixed, from the six former Republics. So, everyone older than 20-25
can understand Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian, Serbian, Bosnian, not
to mention the dialects. Even Russian, Slovakian, Polish are not too
hard to understand if you would have lived here. I have always been
interested in learning languages so I have even learnt some Hungarian
during my 1 year working period accross the border (and believe me,
Hungarian is not so easy to learn ).

OK, this was rather offtopic, but you (or someone else) may find it
interesting.

I do indeed find it interesting. I am fascinated by Eastern Europe and the
Balkan countries. I intend to take a driving holiday one day and tour all of
eastern Europe and the Balkans, perhaps even Ukraine, Belarus, and the
Baltic countries.

I actually had a holiday in Croatia when it was still part of Yugoslavia and
under communist rule. It was a real experience for a 15 year old and no-one
else I knew had been to an Eastern European country back then.

We stayed at Porec on the Istrian peninsula, and had an interesting day trip
to Trieste, which meant we crossed through Slovenia and crossed the 'Iron
Curtain' by road into Italy. Exciting stuff for a kid! I have to say though
that Porec was disappointing and I believe it to be too heavily geared
towards tourism to give a taste of the real Croatia. If it had been my
choice, I'd have preferred to have gone inland and seen the real Croatia,
I'm not into resorts and much prefer seeing what countries are really about.
The scenery on the journey from Pula airport to Porec was very nice though.

I know what you mean about Hungarian. It's distantly related to Finnish
which is also rated as one of the most difficult languages to master, at
least for English speakers. The pronunciation alone is extremely difficult
for Western Europeans. Having said that, I understand English is difficult
for people used to certain languages.

Thank you again for answering me,

No problem, it's nice to talk to you.

Dave

 

[Chupo]

I do indeed find it interesting. I am fascinated by Eastern Europe and the
Balkan countries. I intend to take a driving holiday one day and tour all of
eastern Europe and the Balkans, perhaps even Ukraine, Belarus, and the
Baltic countries.

I actually had a holiday in Croatia when it was still part of Yugoslavia and
under communist rule. It was a real experience for a 15 year old and no-one
else I knew had been to an Eastern European country back then.

We stayed at Porec on the Istrian peninsula, and had an interesting day trip
to Trieste, which meant we crossed through Slovenia and crossed the 'Iron
Curtain' by road into Italy.

You didn't cross the Iron Curtain', believe me ) The truth is,
former Yugoslavia WAS a communist country, but our system was FAR FAR
away from what people have in mind when they say 'communist country'.
As you may know, we were one of the 'Independent' (I don't know what
term is used for those countries that were out of Eastern/Western
block). We've belonged neither to the eastern nor to the western
associations. In fact, I would say, both of us were all the time on the
same side of the Iron Curtain )

Exciting stuff for a kid! I have to say though
that Porec was disappointing and I believe it to be too heavily geared
towards tourism to give a taste of the real Croatia. If it had been my
choice, I'd have preferred to have gone inland and seen the real Croatia,
I'm not into resorts and much prefer seeing what countries are really about.
The scenery on the journey from Pula airport to Porec was very nice though.

As you have said, Istra is nice (BTW, Pula is my born place, although I
am from NW of the country) but you should see the other parts also,
never is too late.

I know what you mean about Hungarian. It's distantly related to Finnish
which is also rated as one of the most difficult languages to master, at
least for English speakers.

That may be true, I was reading about Finnish beeing related to
Hungarian (and some Siberian languages also), they both are part of the
Ugric-Finnish (I am not sure if I've written correctly) group of the
languages.

The pronunciation alone is extremely difficult
for Western Europeans.

It is extremely difficult for most of the Croatians also. But not for
the ones who live on the NW (yes, that's me ) because dialects used
around here have very complex pronunciation impossible to write using
Croatian alphabet.

And to be ontopic again )
I can now listen to the FM for about an hour before station fades out.
And it seems every day FM works for a slightly longer period, really
weird.

 

[Porky]

Hello Chupo. Perhaps with the colder weather, the faulty component is
taking longer to heat up? A suggestion - if your radio is mounted in a
wall cabinet, take it out and see if it performs better with air
circulating around and through the vent holes in the back. If that is
not the case, remove the chssis from the cabinet and see if that helps.
Another thought - is it possible that the FM stations you listen to
have lower ouput at later times of the day? Perhaps you could borrow
another FM radio to try when yours fades out.
I have heard that many people in your part of the world use tube
(valve) powered audio equipment. If your radio is of this type, a new
tube in the FM detector section could be an easy fix.

John K

 

[Porky]

Sorry, I see that it is a car radio, transistor of course. Unless your
car is a Lada. Sorry, that's a joke...

 

[Chupo]

Hello Chupo. Perhaps with the colder weather, the faulty component is
taking longer to heat up?

It might be so, although I havent't noticed any difference when driving
during the sunny afternoon (20 deg C) and after the midnight (5-6 deg
C). And I haven't done any investigations yet. In fact I am going to
insert an another radio (I thing they both have the same interface)
since I have some more important problems to solve at the moment

A suggestion - if your radio is mounted in a
wall cabinet,

LOL ))) No, I still don't have walls inside my _car_. Maybe I should
install the IRON wall ))) NHF

take it out and see if it performs better with air
circulating around and through the vent holes in the back. If that is
not the case, remove the chssis from the cabinet and see if that helps.
Another thought - is it possible that the FM stations you listen to
have lower ouput at later times of the day?

It isn't.

Perhaps you could borrow
another FM radio to try when yours fades out.

Another LOL ) Are you assuming that was the only FM receiver I've
had? Anyway, I have tried to use an FM transmitter and haven't noticed
any difference.

I have heard that many people in your part of the world use tube
(valve) powered audio equipment.

ROTFL!! ) You are right, but these are mostly some audio freaks or
guitar players who like 3rd & 5th harmonics beeing distorted ) OK, I
have a tube radio from the year of 1956. but it is only an old memory.

Thanks for the help,

Best regards,

 

[Chupo]

Sorry, I see that it is a car radio, transistor of course. Unless your
car is a Lada. Sorry, that's a joke...

Or maybe Kamaz (KAMA3) )))))))))))))))

BTW
Lada Niva - one of a few cars that you can wash from the inside _in the
same way_ as from the outside ) That's NOT a joke )))