lousy radio reception

I have a 2008 V6 4dr I have a stock radio/CD player and the reception sucks, what is the best way to improve it, I hear people have installed short antennas does it work and if so what brand will it survive a trip thru the car wash, I have the stock antenna on it now or has anyone put a power antenna on a 2008? It sucks having to take it off every time I take it thru the car wash.

 

People install short antennas because it looks cool, not because they perform better. Most (almost all) of us don’t even listen to broadcast radio. We have moved on to streaming via a mobile device or a USB stick with audio files or satellite radio.



With regard to improving reception, I think the remedy is going to be either finding and repairing corrosion along the antenna somewhere, installing a much larger antenna, or replacing it with something powered.

 

Reception quality and distance will depend on the antenna length, clean connections and the HU's FM Sensitivity.

The FM Sensitivity is expressed in decibels of femtowatts. The lower the number (dBf) the better the reception.

Best you can do without changing the HU is to clean connections and proper 1/4 wavelength antenna.