GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only
Makes 🢒 Cadillac 🢒 1999 🢒 Catera 🢒 Body and Accessories 🢒 Entertainment 🢒 Radio Poor Reception

Step

Action

Value(s)

Yes

No

1

Did you perform the Radio/Audio System Check?

--

Go to Step 2

Go to Diagnostic System Check - Radio/Audio System

2
  1. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.

  2. Turn ON the radio.

  3. Tune the radio to a known strong AM station then to a known strong FM station.

Is the radio reception clear?

--

Go to Audio System Troubleshooting Hints

Go to Step 3

3
  1. Inspect the antenna cable for proper connections at the antenna amplifier.
  2. Inspect the radio on signal circuit (RED/WHT wire) connection at the antenna amplifier.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 4

4

Is there poor or no reception only on AM?

--

Go to Step 5

Go to Step 6

5
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the smaller 2 way connector from the antenna amplifier.
  3. Turn ON the ignition, with the engine OFF.
  4. Turn ON the radio.
  5. Connect a test lamp between the radio on signal circuit and ground.

Does the test lamp illuminate?

--

Go to Step 6

Go to Step 9

6
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
  3. Remove the radio.
  4. Measure the resistance between the negative battery cable and the antenna amplifier case ground.

Does the resistance measure greater than the specified value?

0.050 ohms

Go to Step 10

Go to Step 7

7
  1. Turn OFF the ignition.
  2. Remove the antenna cable from the antenna amplifier.
  3. Measure the resistance of the antenna cable center conductor between the radio and the antenna amplifier.

Does the resistance measure greater than the specified value?

0.50 ohms

Go to Step 11

Go to Step 8

8
  1. Test for continuity between the antenna cable center conductor and metal case.
  2. Test at opposite ends of the cable also.

Did you measure continuity?

--

Go to Step 14

Go to Step 12

9

Test the radio on signal circuit for an open, short to ground or high resistance.

Did you find and correct the condition.

--

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 13

10

Test the antenna ground circuit for an open, or high resistance. Refer to Testing for Continuity and Measuring Voltage Drop in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 14

11

Test the antenna center conductor for an open or high resistance.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 14

12

Inspect for poor connections at the antenna amplifier. Refer to Intermittents and Poor Connections Diagnosis in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 15

13

Inspect for poor connections at the radio. Refer to Intermittents and Poor Connections Diagnosis in Wiring Systems.

Did you find and correct the condition?

--

Go to Step 17

Go to Step 16

14

Replace the antenna cable.

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 17

--

15

Replace the antenna amplifier.

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 17

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16
  1. Replace the radio and perform the set up procedure for the radio.
  2. Install the scan tool.
  3. Select RADIO THEFT from the SPECIAL FUNCTIONS menu.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

Did you complete the replacement?

--

Go to Step 17

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17

Operate the system in order to verify the repair.

Did you correct the condition?

--

System OK

Go to Step 2