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Poor radio reception fix

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by kiteman78, Jun 20, 2010.

  1. Jun 20, 2010 at 6:41 AM
    #1
    kiteman78

    kiteman78 [OP] Member

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    Hey guys,
    Just wanted to pass on my experience with radio reception in case it helps someone else out. I have an 05 that wouldn't get anything except the two strongest local stations.
    The problem was the antenna base. It had corroded internally to the point that there was no antenna connection. Replaced the base and have stellar reception.
    I had to cut the old one off as it was corroded way beyond being able to get it apart with the little castle nut that is made of cheese.
    To troubleshoot this, if you pull the passenger side pillar trim by the windshield which is super easy, you'll find a connection in the antenna line. Pull that apart and put a piece of wire in the deck side of the connection. If you all of the sudden have great reception, your problem is the antenna base.
    Hope this helps someone else as I couldn't find any other posts solving this problem.
    Cheers,
    Jesse
     
  2. Jun 20, 2010 at 7:13 AM
    #2
    vermintrex

    vermintrex Well-Known Member

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    BFG A/T KO 265/70/17, '11 FJ wheels, 5100's all four corners, Eibach springs, 1/4" Taco lean spacer, Leer 100XR, WeatherTech liners, trimmed mud flaps and I farted in it.
    Don't have a problem, but thanks for sharing your fix. It's always nice to have these unique problems and solutions documented.
     
  3. Aug 22, 2010 at 8:12 AM
    #3
    OzzyRules

    OzzyRules New Member

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    Ozzman
    Massachusetts
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    I would like to thank Kiteman78 for getting me out of this bind as my girlfriend's '06 Tacoma developed the same problem. This was so crazy I had to post to this website. It is EXACTLY as Kiteman78 says (do his test first, very easy). Her antenna mast was fine but the base was corroded like you wouldn't believe! You won't see it until you start grinding it off. That's right...I said GRINDING! Don't even think this is a 15 min job because it's not. It took ALL F'N DAY!!!! I'll try and keep it short. Take the mast off with a wrench. That should come off easy. Then the castle nut. The castle nut will be corroded to the base. You will NOT get it off without chiseling it out. I tried snap ring pliers, vise grips...no way. Then you think the rubber base will come off? Nope. It is corroded to the antenna base itself. I had to grind down with my Dremel biter bit until the rubber base separated from the antenna base itself. You will see how poor the metal is and how badly it corroded (welded itself, in my opinion) to all the other parts. Then to get at the antenna base, good luck trying to get off the fasteners on the plastic fender well splash shields. They don't just "pop" out. So some extra advice is to get all the antenna parts from Toyota so you can see how they connect to each other and you can direct the grinding better. Main antenna base was around $50, the rubber base was around $20 and the castle nut was $5 for a total of around $75.00. Trust me, you will need all these parts and my dealership stocked them (Hmm...did they know this was a weak part?) Plus all those parts are made in the Phillipines where I'm sure they don't have weather like we do in Massachusetts. Maybe this created the corrosion condition because of the snow/salt up here. I'm not sure. If you're going to attempt this, plan a whole day my friend...you'll need it!
    Good Luck!
    Ozzman
     
    jeminyned likes this.
  4. Sep 9, 2010 at 2:45 PM
    #4
    mihiinme

    mihiinme New Member

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    Wow, Thanks for the heads up on this one. This one has been driving me crazy and that would have been the last place I tried
     
  5. Sep 9, 2010 at 2:54 PM
    #5
    S.B.

    S.B. Well-Known Member

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    the Philippines have crazy weather. just I don't think it snows and if it does then they prob don't salt the roads.
     
  6. Sep 9, 2010 at 2:58 PM
    #6
    MyToyTaco

    MyToyTaco ╒╪╕

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    my reception isn't that great...i'll have to investigate...thanks :thumbsup:
     
  7. Sep 9, 2010 at 4:39 PM
    #7
    pataco

    pataco Well-Known Member

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    mine just started acting up here in the last 2 weeks.have to check it out for sure.
     
  8. Sep 10, 2010 at 5:37 AM
    #8
    kiteman78

    kiteman78 [OP] Member

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    Glad this tip has been useful to some of you.
    Gotta love the power of the internet.
    Jesse
     
  9. Sep 10, 2010 at 5:55 AM
    #9
    wiscdave

    wiscdave Lets Do It!

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    hmmmmmm not good.. anyway to prevent the salt from getting in there after checking it out? I haven't had the problem, but from the sounds of it will someday. I'm all for preventive maintenance on things like this.

    Silicon? Rubber washers? ideas?
     
  10. Sep 10, 2010 at 5:29 PM
    #10
    maju

    maju Well-Known Member

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    When I replaced my antenna with a rubber shorty. I cleaned both of the treaded parts with a electronic contarc cleaner and preservative (DeoxIT) and then put a smaill rubber washer to help keep it sealed and to keep it from getting loose.
     
  11. Apr 26, 2012 at 8:49 AM
    #11
    Gregman

    Gregman Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the info. My reception has started to suck this year and I thought it must be corrosion at the connection to the back of the reciever. I didn't realize there was another connection in the passenger side pillar, I'm going to check it all out to see if I can clean things up and maybe use some dielectric grease on the connection. Hopefully that improves things. :cheers:
     
  12. Apr 26, 2012 at 8:56 AM
    #12
    T@co_Pr3runn3r

    T@co_Pr3runn3r XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    Questions...........

    Answer.............


    Love this place.....................:D
     
  13. Apr 26, 2012 at 8:58 AM
    #13
    Major91

    Major91 Well-Known Member

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    I loose channel when i put the taco in reverse........no biggie but still...
     
  14. Aug 12, 2013 at 9:32 PM
    #14
    kjmc

    kjmc Well-Known Member

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    Truxedo Lo-pro-Qt Sirius Radio
    I complained about radio reception from new,asked the dealership to take a look at the problem more than once while under warranty nothing wrong I'm told. After a year of complaining they replace the radio, Gurrrrr still sucks, then I replace with after market single Din JVC unit radio reception still f--ked, only listen to 2 and a half stations plus AUX Music and CD'S. Six years later I find this post and know what I'm doing tomorrow.


    P.S. The antenna almost fell out one day while washing the Taco so lots of chances for shit to get in there !!! told my Bro to check his Taco same thing with his 2011 .
     
  15. Aug 13, 2013 at 6:04 AM
    #15
    wylee

    wylee Member

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    Just realized I never thanked the OP. I put a new antenna base in my 08 in the spring.

    Thank you kiteman78.
     
  16. Aug 13, 2013 at 7:04 AM
    #16
    danteisme

    danteisme Well-Known Member

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    I have this exact same issue. i will troubleshoot this when i get off work today. Thanks OP!
     
  17. Aug 13, 2013 at 6:15 PM
    #17
    kiteman78

    kiteman78 [OP] Member

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    So glad this helped so many of you out.
    Long live the Tacos and this board.
    It's an invaluable resourse for Taco owners!
     
  18. Nov 7, 2014 at 6:11 AM
    #18
    sylbo

    sylbo New Member

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    I'm so glad I found this thread. I own a Tacoma 2008 TRD (4 doors) for 3 years now and always found my radio reception really bad. I did a test "scan" and only reach 5 stations. I then did what this post suggested and went from 5 stations scan to 17 stations with a temp wire. See attached picture for the test, it only takes 5 minutes. Now I need to plan on fixing the antenna base. for a permanent fix. THANKS A BUNCH AGAIN !

    IMG_3536.jpg
    IMG_3537.jpg
     
  19. Nov 17, 2014 at 11:58 AM
    #19
    sylbo

    sylbo New Member

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    Last edited: Dec 11, 2014
  20. Apr 28, 2015 at 3:50 PM
    #20
    coveylane

    coveylane Well-Known Member

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    Coveylane
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    Thanks to everyone for this especially the original poster. I tried a new antenna mast but that didn't help it. So I have been listening to CDs for quite awhile. I have put this off because I knew it was going to a big job. After reading all this, I have renewed faith I can fix it.
     

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