I know this problem has been mentioned before, however the excuse from the Fiat dealer today to explain the problem defies belief!

Apparently its not the radio's fault, its down to the BBC's network of 75 year old antenna's!!! Therefore the radio has no chance of picking up the signal!

This depsite the fact that all my other radios,my gf's car radio and the Blaupunkt radio in the Fiat Panda i had today picked up MW fine!

Is this worth a letter to the dealer explaining how my intelligence was insulted by this tech guy!?

If anyone else has had a problem with their radios and got a fix, can i have some advice so i can pass it on! Thanks


Additional................ i also asked them to look at the knocking coming from the steering rack, despite it already being replaced several months ago. This time its due to some connecting rod not fitting properly with a rubber bush type thing, therefore its moving about slightly. This is an inherrent design fault and cannot be fixed!?

Comments appreciated...............

It was a new tech guy i saw today who fed me all this, and to say i am not impressed is an understatement!

The car is back with them in 3 weeks for its annual service so i would like to go in armed with some better tech advice for them to have a rethink about the problems!

Thanks in advance!

My radio just kept loosing it's memory for no reason and in no particular pattern. My dealer basically just replaced it and have had no problems since. Although i must admit I tend to listen to FM most of the time so can't comment on your MW probs

There is actually a certain amount of truth in it,transmitter power has been lowed quite alot over recent years and some areas are experiencing a certain amount of difficulty mine,being one which is annoying as I listen to 1089 alot:bang:

Ask a more experienced tech to take alook or another dealer there has been a few issues with AM on some GP radios.

Knocking noise?...have you had the recall done?

T14086 said:

There is actually a certain amount of truth in it,transmitter power has been lowed quite alot over recent years and some areas are experiencing a certain amount of difficulty mine,being one which is annoying as I listen to 1089 alot:bang:

Ask a more experienced tech to take alook or another dealer there has been a few issues with AM on some GP radios.

Knocking noise?...have you had the recall done?

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I had the rack replaced about 6 months ago, though have not recevied any recall letter from Fiat, but just assumed the work was done then.

I see what you're saying about the transmittors etc, but would this not affect every car radio? Seems strange that it only affects theone in my GP?

I will ask for a second opinion when it goes back in a few weeks so hopefully will get the other guy to look at my car!

Wouldn't a simple test be: have another car parked right next to the GP, both tune into the same station, and if the GP's reception sucks then its not the station's fault?

luvduvs said:

Wouldn't a simple test be: have another car parked right next to the GP, both tune into the same station, and if the GP's reception sucks then its not the station's fault?

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Can be easily proved with the Fiat Panda they gave me for the day. Was listening to Five Live on MW (sports channel for those down under!) and the world was a much better place for it!

Mine will pick the MW stations up for a few minutes, but then lose total reception and will not come back. Switch it off then back on and reception is fine...... for another couple of minutes. Most irritating to say the least. The most the dealer has managed to do on the twice the car has been in about it is wiggle the wires on the back

T14086 said:

there has been a few issues with AM on some GP radios.

Click to expand...

AllSaintChris said:

I had the rack replaced about 6 months ago, though have not recevied any recall letter from Fiat, but just assumed the work was done then.

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Recalls are issued in batches,if yours requires recall Fiat will let you know

https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-technical/89516-grands-punto-recalls.html

I can't comment on my radio's performance on MW (yeah, I know, so what am I doing posting here) but I just wanted to say that my radio drags in FM stations far better than my previous car (Astra).

I also notice on FM that it switches to different transmitters far more transparently than my previous car (which gave a momentary mute when doing so). The GP just does it without me noticing (except for the frequency changing on the dash).

So I'm surprised that MW performance is so poor for some people. I'm not really helping am I? (Note: rhetorical question, does not need a response).

My last car was also an Astra (02 convertible) and the radio was rubbish! I get far more FM stations on the GP than I could on the Astra- Isle of Wight Radio in Brighton for example!!!

Also, 3 of us bought Astra convertibles at the same time at work and all had zero reception on AM. As I never used AM it didn't bother me... one of my colleagues had them sort it eventually, and I'm sure they fitted a supressor he said and the problem went away.

Good news!

Car went back in today for a service, was clearly seen by a differnt technician.........................

a) new steering column/parts/whatever! ordered to sort out the knocking noises.jolts etc

b) they have found that if you connect a new ariel to the radio and mount it towards the front of the car it has a dramatic improvement on the AM/LW reception!!!

Only problem is how to make the new mounting permanent without looking like a complete spiv/taxi driver by having two ariels on the car! They're gonna talk to Fiat to see if they will authorise the costs to move the ariel mountings.

Will update when car goes back in a bit for the new steering bits

Sounds like lower shaft has been ordered......looking good then

T14086 said:

Sounds like lower shaft has been ordered......looking good then

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Yeah, would make sense after the techy who looked at it first tried to fill a gap down there with a load of spacers to stop it all moving. Suffice to say it didn't work!

btw. 1st service was £204! Was slightly frightened by that, hate to think what a higher mileage service will cost! Will go and moan in the appropriate thread now! :devil:

AllSaintChris said:

1st service was £204! Was slightly frightened by that, hate to think what a higher mileage service will cost! Will go and moan in the appropriate thread now! :devil:

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Knew it was too good to be true,however that does include plugs...if thats any consulation.

I have five live tuned in all the time and have no problem up here in the back of beyond. However, I do have to change from 693mw to 909mw at night as 693 tends to distort after 8-9pm ish? Then have to change it back in the morning. Otherwise mw is fine.

To answer this as a local . . .

I read somewhere that BBC have admitted that Deovn transmitters are ancient, and they are not up to the standard they should be. I've never noticed it on my Stilo, but then I couldn't tell you if the radio even worked as I'm always listening to the CD player?


As for the rack, I had similar on my Stilo back in the early days; the dealers had to put spacers on either side to test for play, this was a solution that was out for a month before FIATs further investigation allowed for a new rear subframe. Also as per recall notice, I still haven't been sent anything about the Stilo suspension springs!

[/QUOTE=Rich;1125003]To answer this as a local . . .

I read somewhere that BBC have admitted that Deovn transmitters are ancient, and they are not up to the standard they should be. I've never noticed it on my Stilo, but then I couldn't tell you if the radio even worked as I'm always listening to the CD player?
QUOTE]

Yes, but i have had new Panda's and Punto's as courtesy cars and they all pick up MW fine.

I do listen to sport and find not having MW an annoyance as nothing on FM have live sports reports/commentary etc. I am considering hooking up an old Kenwood stereo to the car, and if that picks up MW, i will take the car back to the dealer and tell them the Fiat radio is defective and ask for a new one. Will let you know how i get on!