Audio Systems: my fm signal, electric antenna, antenna connections

Question
i have a 95 dodge caravan and the am radio signal works fine but one day the fm signal went out and all i get now is static. I dont have the means to go somewhere and have it looked at so I'm hoping you can give me some troubleshooting advice so i can try to find the problem myself. I am so tired of listening to am talk radio!!!!!!

Answer
What?  You don't enjoy listening to Rush and Laura and Micheal and all the rest all day long?

In most cases, when the AM works well and FM does not it is a sign of a bad tuner circuit in the radio/player.  

But, first, check the antenna connections; it you have the electric antenna lifter, check the voltage to the antenna making sure it is working at the fm preamp which may be mounted at the antenna well.

Here is a way to check the radio's FM.  Doing so will help you determine if it really is inside the radio or a problem with wiring or antenna stuff.

ONE: Either remove the radio from the unit or if you can get behind it so you can remove the antenna cable from the back end.

TWO:  With the radio either out of the car and connected to the battery by some leads, OR with your head down under the dash where you can see the antenna cable connection jack, take a long piece of single strand wire (insulated) - say 10 feet long - and use as a dummy antenna.  Strip off 1/2 inch of insulation from one end and stick that inside the center hole of the antenna plug/jack on the back of the radio.

IF: You get a reasonably good signal with this dummy antenna  the radio is probably okey and the problem is external to the radio; say wiring, broken cable or poor connection to the antenna, etc.

IF:  You don't get good reception with the dummy antenna, you probably have a defective tuner circuit inside the FM portion of the radio. It will have to be serviced or replaced.  Replacement may be cheaper than repair.  

BUT:  You must find out whether the problem is internal or external to the radio unit; if you replace the head unit and the problem is really in the antenna then you are right back where you started from!

Wishing you well.

Cleggsan