Xantia Radio Driving Me Mad

[tim leech]

Hi Guys

My newly acquired lovely mileage 97 S1 Xantia Athena has a very annoying problem, the factory fit top spec radio is constantly searching for stations no matter what I do, it keeps switching from LO (local) to DX and then never stops searching for stations no matter what button I press! I have set the stations as I want them but even when I press them it goes to that station for 5 seconds and then goes off searching again

[Mandrake]

Hi Guys

My newly acquired lovely mileage 97 S1 Xantia Athena has a very annoying problem, the factory fit top spec radio is constantly searching for stations no matter what I do, it keeps switching from LO (local) to DX and then never stops searching for stations no matter what button I press! I have set the stations as I want them but even when I press them it goes to that station for 5 seconds and then goes off searching again

Haven't had this happen, but my first guess would be a fault in the wiring loom (such as a pinched/shorted wire) between the radio and the steering wheel buttons causing the radio to think one of the buttons is held down permanently.

I'm not sure if its possible, (ie, a separate plug to the power and speakers) but if you can, try disconnecting the cable that goes to the steering wheel to see if the problem stops - if it does then you may just need to trace the wiring and look for damage or check the buttons in the steering wheel.

[elma]

Have you got signal on any of the stations?
The aerial lead has a connector under the passenger carpet that can come unplugged.

If it does it even when you set it to tape I expect what Mandrake said is more likely though.

[tim leech]

Cheers chaps, actually the stations are very clear, its like the unit is automatically switching from local (LO) to DX (distance) automatically and then goes of searching, maybe for a stronger signal? Is there a way to turn it off I wonder?

It does it even when the ignition is off!

I really hope I don't have to change the radio the display is working fine as is all the bulbs and functions!

[xantia_v6]

Does the station-skip buttun >>| on the steering wheel do anything? It normally provokes exactly the behaviour you describe (scanning around the presets with a 5 second wait on each one), but normally you have to actually press it to start the process!

[tim leech]

Yes it does work

[Gibbo2286]

I'd suspect the antenna, the radio is searching for signals that aren't there or strong enough because the antenna or its cable is damaged.

[tim leech]

Ok Gibbo, I will swop the mast over for a known good one.

Cheers

[xantia_v6]

The radio won't change station because of a weak signal (it will switch to another transmitter of the same station), so you can discount the antenna. I think that it is either a faulty head unit or a fault in the steering wheel controls.

Note that that system has an amplifier build into the base of the antenna (not relevant to your current problem) which can be a puzzling source of poor radio performance.

[DickieG]

Hi Tim, have you tried pressing the AF button? IIRC that button turns on/off the auto tune/RDS on the radio.

[tim leech]

Yes mate I have

[c.morewood]

Have a feel under the passenger compartment carpet and see if the footwell next to the tunnel is wet.. that caused my S2's radio to start hissing and loning for stations.

[addo]

I've seen a few devices that include conductive contact pads on a "rubber" membrane, do this sort of thing. If it stops with the steering wheel controls unplugged you have a culprit...

[Stickyfinger]

Tim, if you need some "parts" for yours like a button controls/pads etc, let me know and you can have my old code less unit (with busted tape player) one to pick apart

[tim leech]

cheers chaps, I will change the radio mast, base and check the connection under the seat.

I could retrofit a modern unit but I like the factory look and tbh its a good piece of kit which my ipod connects straight into.