Audio Systems: Ford AM reception, cell phone towers, spark plug wires

Question
Have 1990 Tempo & 96' Explorer. FM works great on both - AM sucks on both (static on all but the closest  stations). Is there a filter/condensor or ?, available? My Chev and jeep radios pull the stations in question, in, with little static.

Live in the country (S.E. Ohio).

Could it be a matter of peaking the Ford radios, if so, how? Is this an inherit problem with Fords? Need some help -
THANX,
Joe

Answer
Joe,
Several factors with AM radio reception can cause static. The most likely cause of bad AM reception is due to all the electrical noise floating around coming from electrical lines, cell phone towers and all the computers in homes and office buildings ect. Being that you are in the country the cause may be from electric lines (high voltage lines)and/or a inferior radio or a boarder line antenna/s. Most stock or factory radios are made very cheaply and the AM tuner sections don't have the sensitivity to receive AM stations as well as they should. On some vehicles the antennas are better shielded and grounded at both ends of the coax cable. You should first determine if the noise in the radio reception is coming from your engine or not. Turn the ignition key to ACC position and then tune in AM stations to see how they come in. If the reception is better with the key in the ACC position but now with the engine running, the problem is electrical interference from your engine and from the engine control units. In some cases filters on the electrical lines to these control units will help, and with special spark plug wires and other parts designed to help with radio noise may help. Lastly, you may want to install better antennas on the vehicles in question. Longer/higher antennas with better sheilded coax wires may help, plus you can try one of those signal boosters available from most car parts stores.

TOM,
T&D ELECTRONICS
tdeser@zoominternet.net