Pontiac Grand-am 2002 factory stereo is ****. No AM reception at all and FM is hashy at best. Antenna appears to be connected. Dont know what the problem could be. Does this model have a history of radio problems?? Any help or suggestions welcome. Thanks

The Entertainment System on this vehicle is configured with either a base or an uplevel system. Both the base and uplevel systems contain a radio, antenna, and speakers. An audio amplifier and digital radio reception (U2K) is available with the uplevel systems. Radio data system (RDS) is standard on all radios.
The following list shows the radios available for this vehicle:
• Base Radio (U1P)--AM/FM Stereo, CD with Programmable Equalizer, and RDS
• Uplevel Radio (US8)--AM/FM Stereo, CD MP3 with Programmable Equalizer, and RDS
• Uplevel Radio (UC6)--AM/FM Stereo, Integral CD changer (ICDX) with Progammable Equalizer, and RDS


So which of these systems does your vehicle have ? If it were a bad fuse it would not work ,just like Paula said . But to just say the radio is bad , can't agree with that . Does your system have an Audio Amplifier ? That could be the problem , your best bet take it to a qualified repair shop .

I would check the connections on the grid, if they are ok you have to live with yagi effect.

Check to be sure the antenna is firmly plugged into the back of the stereo head unit. You need to pull pull out the head unit, then look for the largest black cable running into the back of the unit- that's the antenna. Be sure it's securely attached.

Remove the radio unplug the antenna use any electric wire pill the end of the wire turn on the radio try to. Stick the wore in the hole of the antenna. If it's tune you need a antenna if not you need a radio.

the cable that plugs in for the aerial could be a extension piece and puilling the old radio out could have unplugged this extension?

make sure the antenna is plugged all the way into the back of the stereo

I just bought the haynes book and here is what it says,, when the owner is restored to the stereo the stereo wont turn on and LOC will appear.. here is what it says.. ... turn on ignition switch but leave stereo off
Press MN button.. 000 should display ... it says that in 2002 two an dlater models
that it will learn a portion of the VIN number fo your vehicle.. so you will just have to try those numbers until it works.. syas that you press the HR button until the first one or two Numbers match your code.. Press AM/FM button SEC should appear indicating the stereo is unlocked.d. if LOC appears the numbers arent correct.. try again..

get a new one as they are cheap these days!
& not worth the labour costs to try & fix them anymore!
Cheers Rob

It should- that splitter is generally used for factory telephone reception and also there is an antenna located in the rear window glass. It will work for radio reception but it will interfer with your phone if you have a phone installed. just make sure you have a good antenna ground. Try removing the grond and sanding the metal so that there is no paint or oxidation that causes higher resistance. This generally affects a.m. reception.

FM radio reception relies on a very good working antenna and cable, AM reception much less so. Unfortunately, the problem could be in the radio itself as there are separate signal processors in it for FM and AM. However, the most common problem is a bad cable connection at the antenna or the radio, or a bad cable itself (corroded, pinched, broken wire inside).
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A couple of simple things to check: if the antenna is in the window, it may have become disconnected from the cable at the window. If the antenna is body mounted, could be a bad cable connection at the base of the antenna, and in this case, the base of the antenna could be very corroded.

You could also check the antenna cable from end to end using a continuity checker. If you can't figure that out, you could just try replacing the cable (or body mounted antenna in that case).