Intresting Radio Problem

[AirBase]

Recently purchased a used 97 Escort. Radio works, if you call it that - FM only, although there is static on all but the closest stations. Then there is the AM band - just static.

Any ideas?

[Bowtiebreaker]

Bad antenna or radio.

[Flyingjackal456]

probably an antenna problem. Check to see if the antenna is firmly tightened in place. Then I'd suggest checking or maybe even replacing the antenna cable. I'm pretty sure the cable is sadly a dealer-only part. If you confirm the antenna and cable are good, I'd suggest trying a different radio.

Walmart carries some cheap AM/FM Radios with a CD player (I've heard good things about a $90 sony deck)

[thebonster]

Hi there......if I can put my 2 cents worth in. I just bought a 2000 Taurus SE and it has the radio/cassette job and also has the cd buttons on it. I wanna replace this system with a factory radio. Thanks to Bowtiebreaker......I can just plug the sucker in. The most important thing for me right now is shocks, and struts. Which is gonna be expensive as hell but it has to be done. Anyways about the radio? If you get an after market one My boyfriend Ron says to try to buy an aftermarket antenna that will fit your escort and don't install it unplug the old one and plug in the new one and if the radio works replace the antenna. If it's still the same you'll have to change the radio.

thebonster and ron ............He's my hero

[92sedan]

I can't really be much help here, except to add in that my 1992 taurus has a similar issue. My stereo hasn't worked for about 4 months, and being a music lover, it annoyed the hell out of me. I finally chose to try and fix it, though I don't know anything about cars.... I pulled it out, cleaned all the immediate connections and checked to make sure all the wires were still connected fine. Everything checked out, but the stereo still won't work. The antenna only has one prong, so it won't connect, but can that affect the performance of the tape player too?
When I turn the stereo on, you don't hear anything. There is an audible click coming from the speakers as you adjust the volume up and down, and sometimes you hear a whistle and crack, but no static, and no sound, and the radio will just seek over and over again without finding a station. Any help??