AM STATION SWITCHING ON STRONG LOCAL STATIONS, 'CROSS TALK'. Buick Park Avenue 1999

SUBJECT: AM STATION SWITCHING ON STRONG LOCAL STATIONS, "CROSS TALK" OR "OVERLOAD" (INSTALL IN-LINE ANTENNA JUMPER)

MODELS: 1998-99 BUICK CENTURY, LESABRE, PARK AVENUE, REGAL 1998-99 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE 1999 OLDSMOBILE ALERO 1998-99 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX WITH REAR WINDOW ANTENNA SYSTEM

CONDITION:

SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON SWITCHING BETWEEN LOCAL STATIONS OR CROSS TALK IN METROPOLITAN AREAS WITH SEVERAL STRONG AM STATIONS. THEY MAY ALSO REPORT A HIGH PITCHED WHINE WHEN CLOSE TO HIGH TENSION POWER LINES. RECEPTION IS NORMAL WHEN OUTSIDE METROPOLITAN AREAS OR IN RURAL AREAS. THIS CONDITION OCCURS ONLY WITH THE REAR WINDOW ANTENNA SYSTEM.

THIS IS NOT A POOR RECEPTION, STATIC OR FRINGE AREA/WEAK STATION ISSUE. IT SHOULD ONLY OCCUR WITH THE REAR WINDOW ANTENNA SYSTEM, NOT WITH A FIXED MAST OR POWER ANTENNA.

CAUSE:

VEHICLES WITH THE REAR WINDOW ANTENNA SYSTEM MAY EXPERIENCE CROSS MODULATION FROM MULTIPLE STRONG LOCAL STATIONS. THIS IS ALSO REFERRED TO AS AM CROSS TALK OR OVERLOAD.

THIS CONDITION WILL BE CORRRECTED EARLY IN THE 1999 MODEL YEAR WITH INTERNAL CHANGES TO THE RADIO.

CORRECTION:

1. TEST DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THE CONDITION CAN BE DUPLICATED. IF IT CAN, UNPLUG THE ANTENNA FROM THE REAR OF THE RADIO AND TEMPORARILY PLUG IN A FIXED MAST TEST ANTENNA. TEST THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND DETERMINE IF THE CONDITION IS CORRECTED. IF IT IS, PROCEED TO STEP 2. IF IT IS NOT, USE NORMAL RADIO DIAGNOSTICS TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE.

2. REMOVE THE RADIO AND ADD AN IN-LINE ANTENNA JUMPER WITH INTERNAL SUPPRESSION (P/N 09369442). THIS JUMPER PLUGS INTO THE RADIO AND THE ANTENNA PLUGS INTO THE JUMPER.

IMPORTANT:

PLUG THE JUMPER ONLY INTO THE BACK OF THE RADIO. ADDING THE JUMPER AT ANY OTHER POINT IN THE ANTENNA SYSTEM WILL LOWER THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE FIX.

ADDING THIS JUMPER WILL NOT CORRECT ANY RADIO NOISE CONDITIONS, NOR IMPROVE ANY OTHER AM OR FM RECEPTION CONDITION EXCEPT THE SPECIFIC CONDITION LISTED ABOVE. THIS JUMPER CHANGES THE IMPEDANCE OF THE ANTENNA AND MAY ACTUALLY RESULT IN A SLIGHT DEGRADATION IN FRINGE AREA PERFORMANCE.

PARTS INFORMATION:

P/N DESCRIPTION ================ ====================================

09369442 CABLE ASSEMBLY, RADIO ANTENNA JUMPER

PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM GMSPO.

WARRANTY INFORMATION:

FOR VEHICLES REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY, USE:

LABOR OPERATION LABOR OPERATION NUMBER DESCRIPTION TIME =============== ================================== ===============

R0750 RECEIVER, RADIO RETURN TO AC-DELCO USE PUBLISHED REMOVE + REPLACE LABOR OPERATION TIME

ADD: TO INSTALL JUMPER 0.1 HR

USE TROUBLE CODE 93

FIGURES: 00 ATTACHMENTS: 00

GENERAL MOTORS BULLETINS ARE INTENDED FOR USE BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS, NOT A "DO-IT-YOURSELFER". THEY ARE WRITTEN TO INFORM THOSE TECHNICIANS OF CONDITIONS THAT MAY OCCUR ON SOME VEHICLES, OR TO PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT COULD ASSIST IN THE PROPER SERVICE OF A VEHICLE. PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIANS HAVE THE EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS AND KNOW-HOW TO DO A JOB PROPERLY AND SAFELY. IF A CONDITION IS DESCRIBED, DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE BULLETIN APPLIES TO YOUR VEHICLE, OR THAT YOUR VEHICLE WILL HAVE THAT CONDITION. SEE A GENERAL MOTORS DEALER SERVICING YOUR BRAND OF GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION ON WHETHER YOUR VEHICLE MAY BENEFIT FROM THE INFORMATION.