Audio Systems: Am static on a Ford radio, ford f 150, power line filter

Question
I have XM modulated radio on a 1998 Ford cassette/cd premium sound radio. It is installed in a 2002 Ford F-150 Supercrew and is also connected to a 2002 factory Ford 6 disc changer. Every thing works fine except the AM band. When I turn it to AM there is so much static I can't hear the station and the static gets louder upon accelaration of the engine. The AM worked pretty good in the 98 Explorer that it came out of. ( There was a little static on it then.)

Can you help?

Thanks for the opportunity to send you this problem.

Bill Rhymer

P.S. The static doesn't stop even if I turn the XM radio tuner off.

Answer
Bill,
The noise problem is due to spark plug and engine computer interference. On the 1998 the engine and the control computer were probably shielded better. You may want to clean and tighten the antenna ground on the fender if this vehicle has a fender mounted antenna. Also running a heavier ground wire from the radio directly to the fire wall. In addition a DC power line filter may help with the noise if you install the filter very close to the radio. As a test, try unplugging the antenna from the RF modulator and plug the antenna directly into the radio to see how the AM radio sounds now. A process of elimanation will sometimes help find a problem.

TOM,
T&D ELECTRONICS
tdeser@zoominternet.net