Radio keeps switching frequencies on it's own
Radio keeps switching frequencies on it's own
Dear friends and fellow Jaguar-enthusiasts,
My beloved XJ40 has developed a quite annoying new feature regarding the radio. The car is still equipped with it's original factory radio and has always worked pretty fine. Most of the time I'm driving I use a bluetooth FM transmitter which is set to 107,9 FM. The number 6 memory spot of my radio is also set to 107,9 FM, which allows me to switch over to country whenever Dire Straits becomes boring. (which it doesn't).
Since a few weeks I have had this peculiar thing happen to me where the radio starts switching frequencies on it's own. Sometimes I can aid the radio back to my 107,9 by pressing the number 6 memory, but after a few seconds it will start looking for other frequencies again. This only works sometimes though. Most of the times I can press every button, but none will actually function. When it starts continuously switching between frequencies it will stay on 1 frequency for a few seconds and then start changing again. Considering no button works, not even the FM/AM or the casette button, I have no clue what to do other than switch the radio off. As I hammered every button already numerous times and started to feel like ripping the entire radio out of the vehicle and chucking the thing out of the window going 60mph, I searched in the owners manual. It appeared I had the setting (of which I forgot the name) switched on where the radio keeps looking for other stations. I switched that off, but it's still doing the thing.
The display only reads the frequency and 'st', nothing else. The antenna is in working order and was replaced 6 years ago with a brand spanking new Hirschmann.
What's interesting is that the switching, times between switching and whether or not the buttons work changes every time I drive and sometimes even during the drive. To me it doesn't make any sense and I reckon this is an electrical problem Sir Lucas would be proud of.
Not being able to listen to music really takes away from the driving experience to be honest and I hope to resolve this problem as soon as I can. If you have any ideas on what to try I would love to hear from you. Could it be a wiring problems? Is the thing internally possibly dirty or gunked up? I am not planning on buying an aftermarket radio as I think it looks awful.
Thank you and have a lovely day,
Douwe
My beloved XJ40 has developed a quite annoying new feature regarding the radio. The car is still equipped with it's original factory radio and has always worked pretty fine. Most of the time I'm driving I use a bluetooth FM transmitter which is set to 107,9 FM. The number 6 memory spot of my radio is also set to 107,9 FM, which allows me to switch over to country whenever Dire Straits becomes boring. (which it doesn't).
Since a few weeks I have had this peculiar thing happen to me where the radio starts switching frequencies on it's own. Sometimes I can aid the radio back to my 107,9 by pressing the number 6 memory, but after a few seconds it will start looking for other frequencies again. This only works sometimes though. Most of the times I can press every button, but none will actually function. When it starts continuously switching between frequencies it will stay on 1 frequency for a few seconds and then start changing again. Considering no button works, not even the FM/AM or the casette button, I have no clue what to do other than switch the radio off. As I hammered every button already numerous times and started to feel like ripping the entire radio out of the vehicle and chucking the thing out of the window going 60mph, I searched in the owners manual. It appeared I had the setting (of which I forgot the name) switched on where the radio keeps looking for other stations. I switched that off, but it's still doing the thing.
The display only reads the frequency and 'st', nothing else. The antenna is in working order and was replaced 6 years ago with a brand spanking new Hirschmann.
What's interesting is that the switching, times between switching and whether or not the buttons work changes every time I drive and sometimes even during the drive. To me it doesn't make any sense and I reckon this is an electrical problem Sir Lucas would be proud of.
Not being able to listen to music really takes away from the driving experience to be honest and I hope to resolve this problem as soon as I can. If you have any ideas on what to try I would love to hear from you. Could it be a wiring problems? Is the thing internally possibly dirty or gunked up? I am not planning on buying an aftermarket radio as I think it looks awful.
Thank you and have a lovely day,
Douwe
Last edited by Douwe; Apr 13, 2025 at 01:33 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2012
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From: Victoria BC Canada
The volume switch sounds like it's stuck in scanning mode - internittently pushed "in" - what I would do is go buy some de-oxit type spray and give the underside of the knob a liberal bathing while pulling and pushing the the volume knob rapidly in and out.
Hi Lawrence,
Took a little while to get back on here, but I have tried your suggestion, but to no avail. Took the entire radio unit out, bathed the inside of the knob while aggressively pulling the knob in and out. The frequency changes still occur, persistantly and rather annoyingly. ANy other ideas perhaps?
Douwe
Took a little while to get back on here, but I have tried your suggestion, but to no avail. Took the entire radio unit out, bathed the inside of the knob while aggressively pulling the knob in and out. The frequency changes still occur, persistantly and rather annoyingly. ANy other ideas perhaps?
Douwe
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