Car Radio Issue: How to distinguish if malfunction in radio itself or antennae?

Question

I have a 4-5 year old car radio/cd player. It has a built in cd player and also a radio (with flashing dials etc).

For some time, the radio has malfunctioned. It will cut out for longer periods time (short to up to days), then play with no issues for days to weeks at a time. The less common radio malfunction is there will be crackling in and out of radio reception/play and then it work.

There has been no issues with the cd player. It has worked consistently during this time.

I could easily replace the radio/cd unit, but since only the radio has malfunctioned, is there an easy way to distinguish if the failure is due to car radio unit malfunction, as opposed to attennae malfunction (thus making replacing the radio unnecessary and a waste of money)?

Answer 1

Get a volt meter out and then pull the radio out of the car. First, check to see if you have ANY continuity through the antenna. If you do, then you've got an okay antenna. If not, then replace the antenna and the wiring for it. If it's not the wiring, then you'll have to check the radio out either yourself, or take it to a shop and have them check it out for you.