1999 XK8 convertible, 135k miles and running as strong as ever.

My radio is being difficult and I'm hoping to find the answer.
I'll be listening to the radio and after about 10 minutes the station will go silent...until I press the station button again, then the sound will come back. A few minutes later is will happen again and this continues for about 20 minutes, then it wont happen until the next time I turn the radio on. Happens on all stations.
* New battery, all connections tight
* CD works fine
* No power drop from the alternator
*Antenna is fine

What the heck!?! Any ideas?

 

there is a "feature" built into the earlier car's radio ( I have a 98). It scan's for better higher signal versions of any channel you are listening to. Unfortunately it results in dead air while doing so. They issued a TSB about this. The fix was to go into the radio's settings and turn this feature off.

I don't recall the name of this feature, the TSB number, or how to turn on t he settings menu on the radio. I hope this will either spark another's memory or give you enough to search on.

John

 

Marvin,
Check out TSB 415-06 on the excellent "Jag repair" website. The feature is called alternate frequency. The TSB describes how to get into the settings for 1998 radios, hope it fixes yours too.

Thanks,

John

 

I followed your advice, and yes, the feature is there on the 1999 XK8. I toggled off the alternative frequency and it works great!!!! NO DEAD AIR!!!

 

Yea!!! I love it when we nail one so easily.

John