I am not very sharp when it comes to car stereo systems, so please bear with me.

I have a 98 TA that came from the factory with an in-dash AM/FM radio and cassette deck combo unit (no disk player)

5 years ago I installed a 12 disk Pioneer CDX-FM128 disk player (visually looks like the stock GM unit). It comes with the player, a velcro mounted display unit, antenna switching unit, and a remote. This player works though the radio. It has a freq modulator in it so you can hear the disc music through the radio on certain selectable radio frequencies. I was told that this was about the only type of player that would work in my car since I have steering wheel radio controls, and the car was not equipped with the factory CD player.

This unit used to sound pretty good...... BUT;
Now I am getting a lot of static when using it. Other radio stations seem to bleed in and ruin the sound of my CD music. Even if I change the freq that the CD player operates on, I still will get bleed-over from other radio stations after traveling for a while down the highway. It never used to be this touchy to radio station bleed-over and static.

Could some kind of filter in it be bad, or maybe the freq. modulator in the CD player be going bad? Maybe the "antenna switching unit"? The music it plays is really getting worse with static and bleed-over from other radio stations.

Any help would be appreciated...
What are my options?

Thanks in advance,
Ron

 

Is the regular radio acting funny too? Could either be a bad ground, bad antenna adapters, or possibly where the antenna connects in the hatch, or even in the pass kick, where GM likes to have a connection. Ive seen this come lose in many GM's but not an F bod, Im not sure even if there is a break down in the PKP. If the regular radio stations come in the same, it might be safe to say its the modulator over the adapters. Oh....check where the modulator cable plugs into the actual changer. This could possibly come lose, and will cause the symptoms youre describing down to a T. I did a primo/stealth job in a new 4 runner, had the changer all hidden in a side panel....got it done had poor rection changer wise..tried everything but checking that damn plug, many hours and 2 visits back I found the problem. Just a few ideas to get you started.

 

NineSevenWS6 ....

Thanks for the fast reply. The regular radio sounds great. I checked the connections, and they are plugged in tight, as well as the ground.

Maybe I should just get rid of this system, and install a "hard-wired" CD player that does not use the radio waves to operate.

I just don't know, and I am iliterate when it comes to car stereo systems

 

Maybe the modulator just bit it.

You can get a new Pioneer changer, Im pretty sure most of the connections are the same. Might be worth a shot, even to maybe just try the modulator. Most places have a 30 day return policy (retail). Im almost sure they havent changed the modulator set up, so it might be worth a shot.


In anyevent, you could always find a factory changer on here or ebay.

There is a way to keep the controlls with the addition of an aftermarket deck. Theres a module that runs about $50-60 and can be programmed to work. This way, you can add a direct changer, and have optimal quality. Just depends on how deep in the pockets you want to dig.

 

ttt