Honda Car Forum

I just purchased a new Accord EX and have noticed I get very poor FM
reception. It doesn't want to hold a station at all. I get a lot of FM
station drift even with strong signals and on flat terrain. Has anyone
else experienced this?

Where is the antenna located? Does it need to be raised?

it is typical of these Hondas. The antenna is built in to the rear window.
There is not modifying you can do. Perhaps an amplifier might work but that
might just amplify the noise.


"I'm_a_dreamer" <im_a_dreemer@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1112720197.994443.256430@o13g2000cwo.googlegr oups.com...
>I just purchased a new Accord EX and have noticed I get very poor FM
> reception. It doesn't want to hold a station at all. I get a lot of FM
> station drift even with strong signals and on flat terrain. Has anyone
> else experienced this?
>
> Where is the antenna located? Does it need to be raised?
>

In article <1112720197.994443.256430@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups .com>,
"I'm_a_dreamer" <im_a_dreemer@yahoo.com> wrote:

> I just purchased a new Accord EX and have noticed I get very poor FM
> reception. It doesn't want to hold a station at all. I get a lot of FM
> station drift even with strong signals and on flat terrain. Has anyone
> else experienced this?
>
> Where is the antenna located? Does it need to be raised?

Same here. I got the 05 Accord Hybrid and am pissed to find that its
cheap stereo is not replaceable. Climate control and low frequency
noise cancellation are integrated. FM stations that I used to get
perfectly clearly in my previous car are unintelligible now. I replaced
the tinfoil speakers (you can literally crush them in your hand) in the
rear deck but it seems that the system only puts out a few watts per
channel.

I do not find the radio acceptable at all. I need to contact the
dealership to see WTF is up with this. It's a $30K car that CAN'T have
a decent radio.

I have the same problem with my 2004. I really believe the radio is OK, its
the antenna. GM tried that "invisible" antenna in the windshield quite a
few years back and I never liked it either. Nice for looks, lousy for
reception.


"Kevin McMurtrie" <mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:mcmurtri-98B115.22254805042005@corp-radius.supernews.com...
> In article <1112720197.994443.256430@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups .com>,
> "I'm_a_dreamer" <im_a_dreemer@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > I just purchased a new Accord EX and have noticed I get very poor FM
> > reception. It doesn't want to hold a station at all. I get a lot of FM
> > station drift even with strong signals and on flat terrain. Has anyone
> > else experienced this?
> >
> > Where is the antenna located? Does it need to be raised?
>
> Same here. I got the 05 Accord Hybrid and am pissed to find that its
> cheap stereo is not replaceable. Climate control and low frequency
> noise cancellation are integrated. FM stations that I used to get
> perfectly clearly in my previous car are unintelligible now. I replaced
> the tinfoil speakers (you can literally crush them in your hand) in the
> rear deck but it seems that the system only puts out a few watts per
> channel.
>
> I do not find the radio acceptable at all. I need to contact the
> dealership to see WTF is up with this. It's a $30K car that CAN'T have
> a decent radio.

I have not seen that problem in our 2003 EX with Nav. In fact, the
radio has more sensitivity on both AM and FM than the one in our Jeep
Grand Cherokee with its telescoping outside antenna. I regularly
listen to AM stations 100 miles away. I can also pick up our local FM
music station more than 100 miles away with a good signal. As an
amateur radio operator, receiver sensitivity is an issue with me. I'm
very happy with this radio.

On Wed, 06 Apr 2005 11:41:52 GMT, "Mike W" <mwolfer@verizon.net>
wrote:

>I have the same problem with my 2004. I really believe the radio is OK, its
>the antenna. GM tried that "invisible" antenna in the windshield quite a
>few years back and I never liked it either. Nice for looks, lousy for
>reception.
>
>
>"Kevin McMurtrie" <mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
>news:mcmurtri-98B115.22254805042005@corp-radius.supernews.com...
>> In article <1112720197.994443.256430@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups .com>,
>> "I'm_a_dreamer" <im_a_dreemer@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>> > I just purchased a new Accord EX and have noticed I get very poor FM
>> > reception. It doesn't want to hold a station at all. I get a lot of FM
>> > station drift even with strong signals and on flat terrain. Has anyone
>> > else experienced this?

my girlfriends 04 Accord is the same way.

You can put in another stereo system but you will have to leave the
original. The stereo can be mounted in the armrest or glove compartment
etc. I would take it to a custom install place and see what they say.


"Kevin McMurtrie" <mcmurtri@dslextreme.com> wrote in message
news:mcmurtri-98B115.22254805042005@corp-radius.supernews.com...
> In article <1112720197.994443.256430@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups .com>,
> "I'm_a_dreamer" <im_a_dreemer@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> I just purchased a new Accord EX and have noticed I get very poor FM
>> reception. It doesn't want to hold a station at all. I get a lot of FM
>> station drift even with strong signals and on flat terrain. Has anyone
>> else experienced this?
>>
>> Where is the antenna located? Does it need to be raised?
>
> Same here. I got the 05 Accord Hybrid and am pissed to find that its
> cheap stereo is not replaceable. Climate control and low frequency
> noise cancellation are integrated. FM stations that I used to get
> perfectly clearly in my previous car are unintelligible now. I replaced
> the tinfoil speakers (you can literally crush them in your hand) in the
> rear deck but it seems that the system only puts out a few watts per
> channel.
>
> I do not find the radio acceptable at all. I need to contact the
> dealership to see WTF is up with this. It's a $30K car that CAN'T have
> a decent radio.

Looks like I'll have to subscribe to XM radio.

On 6 Apr 2005 10:43:09 -0700, "I'm_a_dreamer" <im_a_dreemer@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Looks like I'll have to subscribe to XM radio.

That would sure solve your problem. And you already have the radio.

Yeah, it's pretty nice, no station drift at all and no commercials, and
100+ channels. $12.95/mo isn't bad, but I wonder if they are going to
keep raising it year after year, probably.

I wonder why the antenna picks up XM so good? Maybe because it's a much
stronger signal coming from directly overhead, but then why don't I
lose it in a tunnel?? Anyone know the electronics of it??

Mike W wrote:

> I have the same problem with my 2004. I really believe the radio is OK, its
> the antenna. GM tried that "invisible" antenna in the windshield quite a
> few years back and I never liked it either. Nice for looks, lousy for
> reception.

My grandfather has a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria with the antenna in the rear
window as well. I don't know how well it works though. As for the GM
experiment, my father had an '80 Chevy Malibu with the windshield antenna,
but the radio was only AM. I don't remember if AM/FM radios from that
period used the same antenna or a typical one.