Factory Radio Defective?

timmerk · June 8, 2008

I just got a 2008 GMC Sierra and the radio seems to be defective. On certain FM stations, the sound sounds perfect and "full" for half of the time, and the other half it fades in and out and gets real quiet. The antenna wire is connected fully in the back and other stations don't fade out.

In addition, when it fades out, I stop in one location and it stays faded out. If I turn off the radio power and turn it back on, the sound is "full" again for a about 5 seconds, until it fades out again. Repeating the power off process, I get the same results each time, making me think it's a radio problem and not a signal interference/low signal problem. I also think since it only happens on certain stations, it's not the antenna cable. By the way, the same stations sound great in the same location using another radio.

Anyone else have this problem? Will I have the dealer running around trying to say my connection is loose? Or could it still be the antenna connection/wiring?

Thanks!

Lincoln30 · June 10, 2008

If AM works fine then you can absolutely rule out an antenna problem and focus on the head unit.

asilverblazer · June 10, 2008

Mine does it too. Its been to the dealer three times for it, and its "normal". I want them to pony up a PAL connector since the radio is so crappy. Wish me luck.

95Sierra2500 · June 10, 2008

I'm willing to bet it's either the head unit, or you're trying to listen to stations that are too far out of the radio's range. They never should have gotten rid of the old-school antennas. I can get stations at least 50% further out on my truck than on my car. The major difference? The truck has an external stick antenna, the car has an internal one.

GARB55 · December 8, 2008

Mine does it too. Its been to the dealer three times for it, and its "normal". I want them to pony up a PAL connector since the radio is so crappy. Wish me luck.

Any Luck on? I have the same issue and sounds like it is a common problem!

asilverblazer · December 22, 2008

No luck from me. Anything from anybody on radio problem?

timmerk · December 23, 2008

The dealer claimed there was a loose connection in the antenna wire, but they said it was "near the fender". I'm not sure I believe the antenna wire goes near the fender, but it seems to have gotten better since then.