break in aerial cable, it seems... help please!

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 06 Apr 2007, 07:51

Just recently the radio in my '94 850 GLT has started playing mostly static noises and the odd trace of a radio station. I have connected a continuity tester to the start of the aerial lead behind the radio and where it ends up, at one of the rear side windows. (where the aerial is printed on the glass.) There doesn't seem to be a connection. I notice that the cable starts as a normal coaxial at the radio end, but ends up in a two-thread cable at the window end.

Can somebody suggest where there might be a break?

CarVolvo · Post by **CarVolvo** » 06 Apr 2007, 09:28

Is this a wagon?

I didn think they made 94 with arials printed on the windows like they did with later 70 series.

I always thought the arial was in the trunk behind the drivers rear fender.

The arial runs though a conduit which is just under the door when you enter and runs up the back seat to enter the trunk if that helps.

Post by **billofdurham** » 06 Apr 2007, 12:23

The outer wires on the co-ax cable are joined to one of the leads at the rear and the inner to the other. If you don't get a continuity reading try switching to the other wire at one end. It is rare for the co-ax to go both outside and inside unless it has been cut.

Bill.

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 07 Apr 2007, 01:50

billofdurham wrote:The outer wires on the co-ax cable are joined to one of the leads at the rear and the inner to the other. If you don't get a continuity reading try switching to the other wire at one end. It is rare for the co-ax to go both outside and inside unless it has been cut.

Bill.

Thank you; yes, I did think later that I should have tested the continuity for the sheath of the coax; I only tested the core.
Nevertheless, I'm pretty sure there's a break in the core somewhere. Do you know where exactly the coax becomes the two leads? I'm thinking that perhaps that's where the break might be (though I'm clutching at straws..!).

And yes, mine's a wagon; the aerial is printed on the side window.

greasefingerss · Post by **greasefingerss** » 07 Apr 2007, 06:37

Yea my 1994 wagon has the antenna in the rear cargo space driver

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 07 Apr 2007, 10:28

[quote="greasefingerss"]Yea my 1994 wagon has the antenna in the rear cargo space driver

Post by **billofdurham** » 07 Apr 2007, 12:01

There should be a signal booster behind the trim panel. I think that would be where the co-ax runs to.

Also check the filament in the glass. There may be a small break in it, as happens with the filament for the heated rear window. This can be repaired.

http://www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/Perm ... lants.html

This is a UK company but there will be similar stuff in the US shops.

Bill.

wildatheart · Post by **wildatheart** » 09 Apr 2007, 07:35

billofdurham wrote:There should be a signal booster behind the trim panel. I think that would be where the co-ax runs to.

Also check the filament in the glass. There may be a small break in it, as happens with the filament for the heated rear window. This can be repaired.

http://www.speeding.co.uk/acatalog/Perm ... lants.html

This is a UK company but there will be similar stuff in the US shops.

Bill.

Thanks for the tip & link; I did indeed check for breaks in the fillament, but 'unfortunately' this seems fine. You mention a signal booster behind trim. Is this the trim below the window?

Post by **billofdurham** » 09 Apr 2007, 12:47

It should be behind that trim just below the window. It is a rectangular box with four wires coming out of the top, 2 to the window aerial and two to the lead to the front of the car. They are sleeved so may look like only two wires coming out.

Bill.