Poor Sirius reception?

[tagorgia]

Any updates on this situation?
I recently purchased a '16 GT prem, and Siruis sent a new signal, didnt help that much. Going to see the dealer tomorrow to try to get some resolution.

Took my wife's 2016 Ecoboost premium in today for the radio cutting in and out all the time. This is the second time I brought it in since we bought it in March. The dealer did nothing again only told me Ford engineering is working on it (BS). This was first documented in March of this year and still no fix? We have 4 vehicles, 2 GM (XM) 2 Fords (Sirius). No problems with the XM radios, only the Ford Sirius radios.

I'm a retired Ford transmission engineer and I can tell you any time there was a trans issue, we worked around the clock to resolve it. Ford doesn't care about their radios and it shows. They get zinged in all the quality surveys and still don't care. Maybe they should call the Geek Squad at Best Buy!

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[OEMRadio]

Took my wife's 2016 Ecoboost premium in today for the radio cutting in and out all the time. This is the second time I brought it in since we bought it in March. The dealer did nothing again only told me Ford engineering is working on it (BS). This was first documented in March of this year and still no fix? We have 4 vehicles, 2 GM (XM) 2 Fords (Sirius). No problems with the XM radios, only the Ford Sirius radios.

I'm a retired Ford transmission engineer and I can tell you any time there was a trans issue, we worked around the clock to resolve it. Ford doesn't care about their radios and it shows. They get zinged in all the quality surveys and still don't care. Maybe they should call the Geek Squad at Best Buy!

I have mentioned this before.. your best bet is to just install a dedicated antenna for the SAT radio.. the antenna they used is junk.. they are splitting it between the GPS signal on the Sync 3 and the SAT radio.. if you just install a dedicated SAT radio antenna you'll be fine..

 

[tagorgia]

I have mentioned this before.. your best bet is to just install a dedicated antenna for the SAT radio.. the antenna they used is junk.. they are splitting it between the GPS signal on the Sync 3 and the SAT radio.. if you just install a dedicated SAT radio antenna you'll be fine..

Thanks for the info, but this is a brand new car with Sync 3. I don't want to do any modifications to the radio that would void my warranty.

 

[OEMRadio]

Thanks for the info, but this is a brand new car with Sync 3. I don't want to do any modifications to the radio that would void my warranty.

How does it void the warranty.. The antenna just plugs in.. It's not a change to the radio.. Unplug the factory antenna and plug in a $20 antenna on eBay..

 

[HappySquirrel]

How does it void the warranty.. The antenna just plugs in.. It's not a change to the radio.. Unplug the factory antenna and plug in a $20 antenna on eBay..

I'm rather ignorant on how modern antennas including the Mustang's work. I presume the radio antenna is part of that little ball thingy on the roof. Is that correct? Are you saying just unscrew that and screw a new (aftermarket) one in?

 

[OEMRadio]

I'm rather ignorant on how modern antennas including the Mustang's work. I presume the radio antenna is part of that little ball thingy on the roof. Is that correct? Are you saying just unscrew that and screw a new (aftermarket) one in?

No.. you can just get a small magnetic one.. like I supply when people get SAT radios from me when they upgrade.. you can install it under the center grill of the dash.. and just plug it in and you'll get fantastic SAT radio reception.. just unplug it from behind the factory radio..

This is a lot of work for a new car.. and I think it sucks that ford has not fixed this or really addressed it.. I don't think it is ok by any means to have to do this. but this thread is a year old and no fix.. and if you want to use SAT radio reliably you may have to do this..

Ive sold several SAT radio upgrades with Sync 3 upgrade kits and never a complaint about reception.. Like I say.. it SUCKs.. but.. if Ford isn't going to handle it.. and you don't like what you have.. maybe you could have the dealer do it for you.. if you don't want to disassemble the dash..

 

[TxOilMoney]

Took my wife's 2016 Ecoboost premium in today for the radio cutting in and out all the time. This is the second time I brought it in since we bought it in March. The dealer did nothing again only told me Ford engineering is working on it (BS). This was first documented in March of this year and still no fix? We have 4 vehicles, 2 GM (XM) 2 Fords (Sirius). No problems with the XM radios, only the Ford Sirius radios.

I'm a retired Ford transmission engineer and I can tell you any time there was a trans issue, we worked around the clock to resolve it. Ford doesn't care about their radios and it shows. They get zinged in all the quality surveys and still don't care. Maybe they should call the Geek Squad at Best Buy!

When Sirius took over XM, they didn't learn anything. I had XM in my Peterbilt for 10 years and never had a signal issue, driving coast to coast. No signal loss in tunnels, downtown mega cities, or out in the sticks. I had Sirius in my wife's 2010 Fusion- same problems as you are enjoying. My 2016 GT350- same thing. F**k it.

As an ex-transmission guy, have you still got any connections at Ford. Some of us GT350 owners are experiencing hot tranny's, in case you haven't heard. LOL :frusty:

 

[HappySquirrel]

OK, so just so I understand correctly, if I wanted to do this I would have to pull out the head unit (after removing the center console?), unplug the SAT radio antenna lead (I presume it's got a separate plug from the regular antenna radio?), then plug in this new magnetic antenna and place it somewhere under the dash?

Would anything further than the center console need to be taken apart?

EDIT: Also, is this the type of antenna you're referring to?

 

[OEMRadio]

OK, so just so I understand correctly, if I wanted to do this I would have to pull out the head unit (after removing the center console?), unplug the SAT radio antenna lead (I presume it's got a separate plug from the regular antenna radio?), then plug in this new magnetic antenna and place it somewhere under the dash?

Would anything further than the center console need to be taken apart?

EDIT: Also, is this the type of antenna you're referring to?

Yes.. unplug factory and plug in the new antenna.. and you can mount it under the center of the dash.. there is where the center speaker is located.. that grill pops off.. you can just mount it there..

Im not seeing any picture or link

 

[HappySquirrel]

Whoops. Forgot to paste in the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sirius-XM-S...693402?hash=item567dea485a:g:YgoAAOSw5VFWON-g

Thanks for all the info.

 

[OEMRadio]

Whoops. Forgot to paste in the link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sirius-XM-S...693402?hash=item567dea485a:g:YgoAAOSw5VFWON-g

Thanks for all the info.

That one would NOT work.. I'll link one a bit later.. But it t needs to have a farkra end on it

 

[tagorgia]

As an ex-transmission guy, have you still got any connections at Ford. Some of us GT350 owners are experiencing hot tranny's, in case you haven't heard. LOL :frusty:[/QUOTE]

I was an Engineer on the 6R auto trans. The GT350 gets a manual from Tremec. Ford buys these, they don't manufacture in house. I would think Ford would pass on any issues to Tremec.

 

[tagorgia]

OK, so just so I understand correctly, if I wanted to do this I would have to pull out the head unit (after removing the center console?), unplug the SAT radio antenna lead (I presume it's got a separate plug from the regular antenna radio?), then plug in this new magnetic antenna and place it somewhere under the dash?

Would anything further than the center console need to be taken apart?

The issue is getting to the Sirius tuner to find where the factory antenna plugs in. I took apart the dash as in this video: [ame] but when I pulled back the radio faceplate, I could not see the tuner, only the CD unit. Maybe the tuner is integrated into the CD box, but I didn't want to go any further to remove the CD box to see what was behind it. Plugging a new antenna in and routing it is the easy part. Hopefully someone will tell me where the tuner is located.

 

[HappySquirrel]

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on the new antenna DIY fix. Can anyone confirm if this would be the correct antenna with the correct fakra adapter?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/XM-SIRIUS-S...466856?hash=item3ac7ef8728:g:ZicAAOSwLN5WjrCF

Or alternatively, one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sirius-XM-S...733573?hash=item5407c6fa45:g:mxIAAMXQ74JTWB04

...coupled with one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMB-To-Univ...150106?hash=item56750fb11a:g:1J8AAOSwpDdVW5Zi

 

[OEMRadio]

I'm thinking about pulling the trigger on the new antenna DIY fix. Can anyone confirm if this would be the correct antenna with the correct fakra adapter?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/XM-SIRIUS-S...466856?hash=item3ac7ef8728:g:ZicAAOSwLN5WjrCF

Or alternatively, one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sirius-XM-S...733573?hash=item5407c6fa45:g:mxIAAMXQ74JTWB04

...coupled with one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/SMB-To-Univ...150106?hash=item56750fb11a:g:1J8AAOSwpDdVW5Zi

That first one is the exact one I provide with my kits and he ships FAST!

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