Radio Reception Issues

TJay74 · March 24, 2014

Just heard back from GM again this morning, they are going to work with my dealer on the 2 causes they think are causing the radio reception to be poor. Going to take the truck in after 4/7/14 to have them look at it and do the first oil change while it is in there. I will report back more info as I get it.

TJay74 · March 24, 2014

Looks like we have some good response from my contact with GM. Just got off of the phone with GM again, they are pooling several engineers on this issue.

dmd277 · March 24, 2014

TJay74 did GM tell you what they thought the two causes are?

RVJ · March 24, 2014

My FM reception is pretty good but my AM reception is very poor. Local strong station gets lost around town.

TJay74 · March 25, 2014

I spoke with the engineers from the infotainment today for a bit. Asked a lot of questions as they are trying to duplicate the conditions from their location. They did say they have been using some GM900 trucks as a comparison to the K2 (2014) trucks. The antenna system is the exact same setup from the GM800 trucks to current, so it seems they don't think it is the antenna that is causing the issue.

I was told they will pull inventory trucks and run them down the road with the GM900 trucks and are not seeing any reception differences. After speaking with them they are going to pull a truck like mine and try it as well, but they said if they cant narrow it down that they eventually may have to make a road trip to my location and do some environmental testing here.

With that, don't think GM doesn't know about the issue. The engineers know about the issue, but it seems they are having issues locating what the cause is right now and from talking with the engineer it is not a easy gremlin to chase down.

So far I have spoken with the chief engineer over the entire Sierra/Silverado/SUV division, an executive liaison and now a engineer from the infotainment area. I have also been told that several corporate executive GM people are following my case as well right now.

So we do have GM's full involvement and assistance right now, just got to figure out what is causing the issue.

tanner709 · March 25, 2014

I know in my 07 classic, HIDs had a huge impact on radio reception. The ballasts were mounted on the chassis and not insulated at all... Maybe there is something(obviously not HIDs) creating an interference like this that we are not considering?

Could it be the EPS? It's new..

Could it be anything else? Is there anything else new or different or electrical that could somehow relate to this problem?

GM themselves said the system is the same so it makes me believe it's outside the radio/antenna itself.

Are any base models having this issue, is it SLE or SLT specific ?

They should be asking these questions but we can always troubleshoot ourselves..

Edited March 25, 2014 by tanner709

tanner709 · March 25, 2014

Someone should try the radio with the EPS unplugged. Id be happy to know it's more than that..

TJay74 · March 25, 2014

EPS???

my truck is bone stock, I don't have HID lights.

Actually build date info would be helpful as well. What is everyones build date?

11/2013 is mine.

Edited March 25, 2014 by TJay74

tanner709 · March 25, 2014

Electric power steering = EPS

My truck doesn't have HIDs either, and I have the HD signal switching off and it's still crap.

Where is build date info located ?

TJay74 · March 25, 2014

Open drivers side door, crouch down really low and look on the underside of the door sill. Will be on a silver sticker.

dmd277 · March 25, 2014

build date 08/13. TJay74 thanks for your efforts.

Edited March 25, 2014 by dmd277

TJay74 · March 26, 2014

One of the questions asked to me today was AM reception, well I don't use AM so I conducted a test for the engineers at their request. If any of you want to conduct one as well and PM me the results or in this thread give it a shot in your free time. I would like to see your build date, trim level, which audio system you have (basic, non-nav or nav).

We need to use two vehicles with a stock audio system in both for a equal comparison. I did an in garage test on both vehicle and noted how many stations each tuned in the garage and overall sound quality. Then I pulled them out into the street and once again noted how many stations each picked up (with station numbers) and overall sound quality.

While most of my issues with audio quality are on a non-HD station, I did have an some audio quality issues with a HD station briefly today as well. I also had an issue after I was home when I went out into the garage where the infotainment got stuck on the GM splash screen. Had to key cycle it get it to boot up. Has anyone else ever had that happen?

steig · March 26, 2014

After several weeks of dealing with GM and multiple visits to the dealer, even a GM factory tech attempting a fix, GM states there is no fix, no buyback, no different vehicle, no radio swap out. GM said the FM radio reception is normal for a 2014 Silverado. My truck was an early build, my radio reception is worse than others. Had other 2014 Silverado,s for loaner vehicle.

Huge disappointment. GM customer service is the worst I ever dealt with.