[william]

Recently I've been getting alot of static on all FM channels. Seems as if something went wrong with my antenna. Where is the FM antenna located in our car? Is the antenna on our top roof that looks like a shark fin the FM antenna?

The only did I installed recently was a drop in H11 HID kit for my low beam yesterday. I had someone install it for me successfully but I'm not sure if that will affect the FM reception or not. All other channels are working fine, I am able to receive AM, SAT without any static. Only FM on all channels has a lot of static.

 

[maxa]

Its quite common with HID-kits disturbing the FM/AM bands (this is mostly the cheap kits, but have also seen some better kits with this problem). The core to the problem is that the ballasts are transforming your 12V to a higher voltage which in all cases will disturb the normal frequency on the 12V. Its basically up to the manufacturer of the ballast to make them as low as possible, while some cheaper makes simply dont care/do it the right way.

The transformer will however also disturb closeby antennas with its magnetic field. Try to disconnect one ballast at the time and see which one is causing the statics. When located you can try to move it, cause antennas are often placed in front fenders, A-pillars and such.
If that doesn't work, then you need to do something with the ballast. Hard to say generally but if the transformer isnt shielded, you can try to shield it with a piece of metal. This is basically the same as the previous method but stronger.
Further more, are the earth cable on a good ground and the rest of the cables of good quality?
Next to try is if the problems go away if the ballast dosnt touch metal (this shouldnt be the problem, but worth a try)

You could try putting some ferrit (those things you get with TV:s and stuff to snap around the cable) on the lines.. I have no idea if it helps, but perhaps its worth a try.

 

[william]

Thanks Maxa for your quick reply!

I will give that a try and bring it back to the shot where I had the aftermarket HID installed. Where is the antenna located? I think you're right it might be somewhere near the front of our car but do you know if it's located on the driver or passenger side?

This is the HID kit I purchased, it states that is has "canbus"

H11 Philips patent HID kit 4300k new xenon 35w ballast - eBay (item 130486952093 end time Mar-25-11 01:31:41 PDT)

 

[rj999]

I wonder what 'Philips patent' means, as opposed to 'genuine Philips brand'...
Are they actually marked as Philips manufacture?

 

[alanplum]

Same problem here. Stock car, no mods. FM crap and dealer notified.

 

[william]

I wonder what 'Philips patent' means, as opposed to 'genuine Philips brand'...
Are they actually marked as Philips manufacture?

Phillips patent are cheap knock off of the real Phillips brand. I'm going to return these for a refund and get some better brand HID

 

[alanplum]

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life but......

After a year they replaced the radio. Still crap FM reception.

All fixed now. They replaced the coax from the radio to antenna.

Maybe you have same issue. All fixed for free under warranty.

 

[Lexuslady]

Sorry to bring an old thread back to life but......

After a year they replaced the radio. Still crap FM reception.

All fixed now. They replaced the coax from the radio to antenna.

Maybe you have same issue. All fixed for free under warranty.

I'm glad you resurrected your post. I, too, have HORRIBLE FM reception (can only get 2 channels, when MANY exists in my other vehicles), and environmental conditions are not a factor. I have a standard sound system. One day unexpectedly, the radio turned itself off while I was listening to it, then when I turned it back on, it could get stations on about every other "point" on the dial (i.e 98.7, 98.9, 99.1)...I was in heaven. Well, for only 2 days that is. Then one morning I went out to the car to go to work and was back to 2 stations. I was due for my routine maintenance so I informed the dealership. As expected, "we thoroughly checked it and see no problems with the radio"... Maybe I'll go to them and see if they will replace the cable. Do you think this is something my husband can DIY?

 

[alanplum]

I'm glad you resurrected your post. I, too, have HORRIBLE FM reception (can only get 2 channels, when MANY exists in my other vehicles), and environmental conditions are not a factor. I have a standard sound system. One day unexpectedly, the radio turned itself off while I was listening to it, then when I turned it back on, it could get stations on about every other "point" on the dial (i.e 98.7, 98.9, 99.1)...I was in heaven. Well, for only 2 days that is. Then one morning I went out to the car to go to work and was back to 2 stations. I was due for my routine maintenance so I informed the dealership. As expected, "we thoroughly checked it and see no problems with the radio"... Maybe I'll go to them and see if they will replace the cable. Do you think this is something my husband can DIY?

I very much doubt it LexusLady. It involves removing the interior of the roof lining.

 

[eferrer]

I had this issues, but brought to the dealership a couple months ago. They replaced the antenna and radio. From what I can remember when they tested the vehicle, if the vehicle runs hot or during a hot day, the FM radio starts to have static frequency. They said that it was the radio running bad wiring or something. Got

 

[AHCrest]

OMG! I'm not crazy, quite of you experience the same issue. I've had the base model for 3 months now. Love the car but hate, hate , hate the radio. The radio static is sooo bad, that I have to turn the radio off because I can not find one station that runs clear. A full functioning radio seems like it should be a fundamental feature and expectation. The dealer checked it out for me, and no surprise, everything is functioning properly. I registered a complaint this week with Lexus and will see what happens. Thanks to the writer who mentioned the "coax" replacement from radio to antenna. We'll see if the can figure this one out, as I am ready to get rid of the car.
.

 

[Eyer]

Equally important is the proper termination of the coaxial cable shield. Coaxial cables do have braided shields, and others even have double shields.