I just picked up my new-to-me 2014 XKR. I can’t seem to define any presets on the radio. There were none programmed. And when I press of a search button, it find’s nothing. I know there are dozens of AM/FM stations available in my location. And ideas?

 

Use Direct Tune. Pick a station you know is there.
If no good, you may have a bad antenna. They get gooey since they are inside the rear spoiler. You may need to replace it, or check the connections.

 

Thank you Hilly. I don’t see a why to pick Direct Tune. The antenna appears to be in the windshield. There is no mechanical antenna on the rear fender.

 

Antenna was on the rear fender only in 2007, all subsequent years hid it inside the rear spoiler on the trunk lid (not in the windshield).

 

Thanks, I knew rhe mechanical antenna was gone by 2014, but I thought I saw the markings of an antenna on the top of the windshield. Do you think the antenna connection in the spoiler may be the cause of no AM/FM?

 

As Cee Jay said above, could be the antenna itself or a connection. IIRC, there is also a small antenna amp behind the right hand access panel in the trunk, or at least another connector there (but then, maybe that’s only on the 2007 to connect to the antenna mast).
If there is a connector behind that access panel for the antenna, you could try connecting a different antenna there, to see if it’s an antenna problem (I know some 2007 owners connected a marine antenna there, and laying it around the inside the trunk, to bypass the use of the mast antenna).

edit: Post #49 in this thread may or may not be of use to you:
Marine antenna

 

My 2008 car has the base stereo system and radio reception is generally poor with the AM band not working at all (not a big loss or worth trying to fix for me personally, but a common problem with the audio module in the center console). I did connect an alternate antenna connected directly to the audio module (bypassing the antenna and pre-amp in the boot lid) but FM reception was still pretty poor. At least in the base system, the receiver circuit is just not very sensitive.
I do have the AUX input activated on the audio module with a bluetooth dongle so I can stream audio from my mobile phone. As an alternative to over-the-air radio reception, I use a "radio" app on my phone to listen to live streamed radio stations (thousands of them are available) from all over the world. Works like a champ as long as you have a cellular data connection on the phone which is pretty much everywhere these days.

 

Thank you V7 Sport(is that a Moto Guzzi refernence?). You re right, not worth repairing rhe radio since most stations stream. But it’s annoying. Is this the part I would need?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/235545017287

Also, which BT dongle are you using?

 

My MG was a 1974 V7 Sport. The only one of my many bikes over the years that I regret selling ( to a man in SF actually).

Have you determined that you do have an antenna problem or the audio module itself? I made a basic antenna that plugged into the audio module to rule out the cable connection to the boot lid antenna and pre-amp. The kluge antenna at least helped me determine the FM radio was ok as was the car antenna. AM still had no reception. Just a poor receiver problem. See the picture.

Temporary antenna that plugged directly into audio module.


You need to find the part number of the audio module you have in your car… do you have the base system or a premium system as the audio modules are different I believe. I would recommend getting a matching part number replacement if you can. The ebay one you showed looks similar to mine but mine has 3 multi-pin connectors on the back, not two, as well as the fakra coax antenna input.
Picture of my audio module is below.

2008 XKR base system audio module with 6 cd changer part number label

Audio module rear connectors with 3 multi-pin connectors and Fakra coax connector. Module is upside down to get a picture of the connectors.

Front view

My dongle is a Tunai Firefly as it had good Bluetooth specs, but many others available. I rolled my own Aux connection as have the tools and time to fiddle with it plus SDD to turn on the Aux input. Power is from a USB-A socket plug in the aux power connection in the glove box. Works well with my old Iphone 11 as well as new Iphone 15.
Should I do it again, I would get the pre-wired plug and play connectors and dongle from JagWrangler which is made by Cambo at Old Jaguar in Australia. High quality product although you still need the Aux input activated if not already.

 

Excellent, thanks.

 

Interesting, Guzzi, (or Gootsie) go together with Jags.
My last Moto Guzzi was a 1983 850 Le Mans III. One of the ones that I miss.

 

Yep, Gootsie. I had a 750 Ambassador, an 850 Lemans and a 650 I bought new in Europe in 1985. I miss them all.

 

back in the day I rode a 2000 california special also regret selling it to get a Harley . The Harley wasn't 1/2 the bike that the Guzzi was.