Because of increasing static in my AM radio, I suspect my antenna lead cable has gotten water in it and become corroded and I want to replace it. It's a '97.

Anyone know the drill on tis project?

1. Can you buy thye lead without having to buy the antenna, etc.?

2. Best access to dash? Under? Pop off the oval cover on top?

3. Part # (factory or aftermarket)?

Thanks

 

i think you could find a replacement at any major car audio retailer/installer.

The radio is easy enough to pull, insert the new antena wire and run it over to the fixed antenae.

 

You can get an ant. at dealer or stereo shop shouldnt be anymore than 25.00 pretty easy install ....this may or may not cure the am static am uses ground for its reception and if your cable was knicked or pulled it could corode and cause this ...good luck ...also if you have acoil going bad or plugs/wire it can cause radiated static through am ( try radio with truck off and see if noise gets better) this will maybe point you in right direction ,also check frame and engine grounds at battery and ground strap if truck has it on firewall

 

Finally got to the point where I couldn't tolerate the AM statci any more, so I went out and bought a new Ford antenna lead (around $20, but got 20% disc).

Cut off old cable and pulled from dash (it clips to ledge right under the dash lip). Fishing the new lead up thru the fender wasn't too bad, and then ran it up to the radio.

Results were well worth the trouble and expense: no more static on AM and much better reception on bot hAM and FM.

Looking at the cross section where I cut the old cable out, it was very obvious that the rainwater had severely corroded the copper, and was the root of my problem.

Anyone having staic probs, reception issues, or the AM radio picking up fan motor noise, etc., should try replacing the antenna cable.