I'm confused. Has anyone had any problems in their Lancers with FM reception using an Alpine head unit? I've been on the phone with tech support three times with Crutchfield, and they seem to think the unit is defective. What happens is I get static on various stations, and or it seems as if sound cuts in and out, but only with the tuner, not while playing cd's. Never had this problem with my cheap factory unit. All wires on the harness are soldered correctly, and yes it is getting 12 volts. I grounded it to one of those gold colored bolts you can see with the head unit removed, even sanded behind the bolt to ensure a good connection. Any ideas before I have to rma this one and try again?

 

Did you hook up the power to the antenna correctly? There is another wire that goes with the antenna wire that powers the antenna assembly, thus enhancing reception. Without the power the reception is shiat.

 

Sure did, blue wire to blue wire, even tested it from car side, reads 11.85 volts.
Crutchfield is sending me another, and I send this one back when I get it. If this next one has the same problem, I think I'll end up getting a Pioneer instead. Those are the wires you're talking about, right?

 

that is the same hu i'm running...there is definitely a problem with the one they sent you b/c my reception is great. good luck with it. don't give up on the alpine yet though...it is a GREAT hu!!!

 

Does it matter where you ground the ground wire, meaning which bolt behind the head unit?

 

Any time you ground something, make sure it is grounded to a metal piece on the frame, or a wire you are sure that is going to a very good ground. What I did with my neons, was behind the gas/brake/clutch pedals, there are places where you can unbolt some small bolts, scrape the paint off the chassis interior, and crimp a little open end bracket to the wire. Then put that behind the nut and thread it back on. You might want to use a digital multimeter to make sure you are getting a good ground.

 

Hmm, the ground wire coming out of the head unit is only like 8-10 inches long, so my choices are limited.

 

You could always extend that.. so you can have some better options of where to put it. I just got myself a soldering iron for $8.30 at radio shack. It is great for soldering wires to extend them.

 

Na that's OK, my wife is a senior electronics test tech, and checked for resistance from where I grounded it to another factory vehicle ground, and believe me, it's grounded. We also checked for resistance between the Alpine wire harness, and where she soldered it to the provided harness adapter for my Lancer, and all is well there too. Put the factory head unit back in and FM reception is great, put Alpine back in and it sucks. Definately a defective head unit. Hopefully the new one will arrive today, if not then I have to wait until Monday.

 

ok cool. hopefully you get that new headunit and everything works out.

 

It better work, or I'll be going pioneer instead

 

sounds like a defective hu, I have mine grounded directly behind the hu and I get really good reception. o yea forgot to mention i have the exact same hu.

 

Well I got the new HU, and believe it or not, it does the same exact thing. not as bad as the first one now. Now what do I do? I honestly refuse to believe I have received two defective HU's in a row.

 

hmmm sounds like u just live in a crappy area for radio reception, Im in cincy and I get just as good reception w/ mine, u can buy an antenna booster (i think thats what theyre called), but that will make the stations come in much better, I think its like 50 bucks not real sure though. Or just get satelite radio.

 

Spending any more money than I already spent on this HU is a waste, I honestly didn't expect this from a high end HU. My stock radio pulled in stations better.