Pioneer radio “hiccups” on fm channels?!?!

I purchased a Pioneer

Pioneer AVH-X2800BS In-Dash DVD Receiver with 6.2" Display, Bluetooth, SiriusXM-Ready

AVH-X2800BS for my grandfather, and installed it today in his 2003 v6 tacoma, access cab.
All fit well and went in easy.

I used this harness adapter:

$10 Compatible with Scion Toyota Lexus Subaru Factory Stereo Radio to Aftermarket Radio Harness Adapter

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019HHRJDW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_LIZSAbXVE8CAQ

I left the steering wheel controls and mute wire unattached on the pioneer double din adapter. (No steering wheel controls)

Only the dark blue power antenna wire was left unattached on the Toyota harness adaper. (No power antenna)

And attached the light green wire (says to ground to e-brake wires to make Bluetooth and other functions available) , I just grounded it in the dash so settings are available all the time.

Connected the single antenna wire in the dash to the pioneer radio.

BUT...

When listening to any FM channel, after about 5 minutes after the radio has been turned on, it starts to “skip” like a record player on a consistand rhythm every 12 seconds or so. The “skip” lasts for 1-2 seconds each.
Almost like it is chaging inputs or shorting, not like a normal bad reception fuzz.
Music literally hiccups and goes silent for a second, every 12 seconds.

There is no AM reception, but he doesn’t use it anyhow.
Bluetooth audio is clear and has no “skipping” problem.
Aux / usb input is fine too.

I’m stumped on what is causing this.
No connections were loose and all wire ends are taped off.


Would really like to get to the bottom of this in a day or so, as he leaves his stay at my house on Saturday.

 

Also to note: the oem Toyota radio did not do this.

 

Sounds like what happens with the Toyota Entune radios, when the HD-Radio loses reception and skips.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/radio-skipping-issue.435855/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-hd-radio-broadcast-delay.484657/

 

Thanks, I’ll look into it and see if it’s the same

 

I don’t believe this radio has HD radio, so I don’t think that is the specific problem.

But it is something that is only involving the FM band radio.

 

The cutting out and hiccuping does sound similar to the entune HD radio problem though.

 

Can you exchange the Head Unit for a different one? Sounds like an issue in the receiver.

 

Your unit does have HD-Radio, per the owner's manual:

https://www.pioneerelectronics.com/StaticFiles/Manuals/Car/AVH-X1800S_OwnersManual100915.pdf

There might be a way to turn off HD and rely on analog, or have the HD switch to analog when reception is lost (page 20).

 

Thanks, I’ll double check on the radio, my manual, and possibly with pioneer if need be.

 

Also we sat in the truck for 15 minutes this morning, engine off, and it did not do any of the skipping.

 

Try turning the engine on, and reevaluate for 15 min.
Then turn the engine off, and reevaluate again for 15 min.

 

The skipping starts at about 15 minutes after the radio turns on, engine on or off, driving or stationary.
The skips start at about 20 seconds apart and slowly increase in intervals until they are two seconds apart.

The more I investigate this, and the more I double check my installation, the more I am thinking it is a manufacturer problem

 

I have an AVH-1330NEX. My neighbor and I installed it like two weeks ago and it replaced a Boss BV960N that I was rather dissatisfied with because it lacked built-in iPod control.

The stereo that replaced my stock system was a Pioneer single-DIN head unit and Pioneer component speaker system, back in 2013.

In October 2015, I was hit by a drunk driver. When the case finally went to court in May 2016, I got some restitution money and decided to put it towards a new head unit and backup camera. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the first Pioneer. It just wasn't compatible with a backup camera due to being single-DIN.

So the first replacement unit was a $280 Sony that ended up being defective. The Sony head unit and backup camera were installed in September 2016. Problems manifested themselves almost immediately, most notably that my favorite radio station did not get very good reception. It had come in fine on the 2013 Pioneer, and it subsequently came in good on the factory radios in my parents' vehicles (dad has a 2013 Honda Pilot Touring 4WD and mom has a 2013 Nissan Murano SV AWD) and the factory radio in my boss's car (2005 Honda Element EX).

I finally got fed up in about May 2016 and decided I should try to exchange the Sony at Crutchfield. What I should have done was the exchanged it for an identical Sony or a similar Pioneer. My friend had just installed a Boss BV960N in his 2005 Lincoln Town Car and loved it. I figured it would be good to have built-in navigation, and Crutchfield agreed to exchange the Sony for a new head unit.

The same neighbor helped me install the Boss, and as soon as I turned it on, the difference in quality on my favorite radio station was night and day!

I'm thinking one of two things with regards to your dad's radio...

Either the antenna inconveniently decided to bite the dust or the radio is a lemon!

 

Here is my current head unit...

It is a Pioneer AVH-1330NEX. It has Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, HD Radio, satellite radio, and all that fancy stuff. Unlike the Boss it replaced, it does not have navigation, but I still feel like it is a huge upgrade!

 

He’s super happy with the radio otherwise, just the FM problem is a deal breaker. Just need to get that worked out

 

Where did you buy the head unit?

 

Amazon.

I’m going to make sure the antenna is secure, and make sure the light green grounding wire isn’t affecting it.
Then:
Connect it to my truck to see if it’s the radio or the other truck.

If it still has the problem I shall see about returning it through amazon.

 

The Sony I had didn't tune in certain stations very well (unfortunately one of those was my favorite station), and the iPod interface glitched out a lot...

In addition to the factory radio, I have had 4 head units in my truck. Of those 4, only the Sony was actually defective. As I said above, I just I ditched the Boss because it was like going back in time about ten years in terms of technology...

 

Yeah I’ve had Pioneer and Kenwood headunits in the past, and installed 4 in various family/friends cars. They have all went in no problem before this.

 

My Pioneer doesnt work when its cold out. Truck has to warm up before I can use it. I leave it on blue tooth all the time.