Audio Systems: LR Discovery - no AM Reception, oem system, pioneer deh

Question
My '97 LR Discovery has no AM reception to speak of. I have a Pioneer DEH-P720 aftermarket tuner. The original system employs two inputs from the roof mounted antennae boosters from the glass mounted antennas on each factory tinted rear window. The Pioneer tuner has only one antennae input unlike the OEM tuner. I connected one antennae lead that yielded no reception. The second lead yielded minimal reception. I have been told by "sales/installation techs" the tinted windows are the problem; even though they weren't with the OEM system, the installation by the competitor is the problem to "who listens to AM anyway" as the solution. The LR dealership does not have a clue. What steps should I take without being taken to correct this problem?  

Answer
Kai,
A simple test that you can try is to purchase an inexpensive antenna from Walmart or from any car parts outlet. All you need to do now is to pull the stereo out of the dash , pull out the existing antenna and plug in the test antenna and hold it up outside the vehicle and see if you can receive AM stations now. With any of the antennas plugged in how is the FM reception? If you can receive FM OK, then the antenna/s are probably OK.When you plug in the test antenna and you can receive the AM station OK, then it tells me that you may need something other than the glass mounted antennas. You may want to consider having a motorized antenna that will go up when the stereo is turned on. Glass mounted antennas do not have the sensitivity that the metal telescoping antennas will have.

TOM,
T&D ELECTRONICS
tdeser@zoominternet.net