On my Rover 220 ('98) the stereo was not wired up so I've connected that up and although the radio powers on etc correctly I couldn't get any radio reception. Bizarrely I could when I switched the headlights on, it is repeatable, if you tune to a station is can be listened to with the lights on and then get static if you switch the lights off.

I'd have thought there was a dodgy earth or cross connection somewhere but any ideas of the likely places to look ?

Dave, October 2007

Hi

I'm not sure this is quite the same problem/solution but...

I noticed that my radio reception was getting gradually more hissing, but was better with the ignition off than on. It turned out to be a deteriorating Earth connection - the small bolt through the smaller wire, going from the battery negative to the car body just in front of the left-hand headlight.

Reception was restored by wire-brushing away the rust from the bolt THREAD, head and the connection tab. It wouldn't hurt to grease the thread before re-tightening it.

Regards

SS, November 2007