Audio System - Poor Reception With Rear Defroster ON
TSB 09-19-210/05/09
POOR AM / FM RADIO RECEPTION WITH REAR
DEFROST ON
FORD:
2008-2010 Crown Victoria, Taurus
LINCOLN:
2008-2010 MKZ, Town Car
2009-2010 MKS
MERCURY:
2008-2009 Sable
2008-2010 Grand Marquis
ISSUE
Some 2008-2010 Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Town Car, Taurus and MKZ, 2008-2009 Sable and 2009-2010 MKS vehicles equipped with the rear window on-glass AM/FM antenna may exhibit significant FM static and potentially static on AM stations when the back glass defrost grid is turned on.
ACTION
Follow the Service Procedure outlined below to resolve the customer concern.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
Before performing this repair procedure, review the Warranty Policy Manual for Warrantable / Non Warrantable defroster grid line repairs.
The grid line material is not embedded into the glass but is baked to the glass sur[ace and consequently can be scraped off. Inoperative line may appear to the eye to be undamaged due to residue remaining on the glass and will require diagnosis with a voltmeter or a 12v test as explained in this article.
An undamaged grid line will have small ridges that project above the sur[ace of the glass and can easily be felt when running a fingernail across them. Grid lines that have been razor bladed will feel smooth when a fingernail is dragged across the affected area. There may be some residue left on the glass that appears to be grid material but a check with a voltmeter or test lamp, as explained in this article will confirm an open circuit.
Some reception concerns can be caused by aftermarket tinting of the back glass. Many aftermarket tinting products are a metallic composite material causing the antenna to short out to the defroster grid. To service this tint must be removed with great care taken not to damage the defroster grid lines.
Some vehicles have been found to have glass defrost patterns with gaps in the rear defrost grid. Electrical current still flows through these gaps to allow the defrost function to work on each wire, but very small sparks jump the gap and cause electromagnetic noise. This noise sounds like static which couples to the on-glass AM/FM antenna. Heavy moisture or metallic composite material tint on the glass may make the static more severe, but only when the defrost grid is turned on. Generally, the antenna module, coax, radio or climate control head replacement is not an effective repair for these symptoms.
1. Turn the radio on and tune to a clear FM station using the Seek function.
2. Activate the defrost function and verify that there is a degradation of radio reception quality (static) with the back glass defrost grid On.
3. Deactivate the defrost function and verify that the radio reception quality is improved (less or no static) with the back glass defrost grid Off.
a. If the radio reception is not affected by the status of the defrost continue following normal diagnostic in the Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 415-00.
b. If the radio reception is clearly affected by the status of the defrost function, go to Step 4.
4. Inspect the defroster grid tabs and connector for a secure connection.
a. If the grid tabs are not secure, follow WSM, Section 501-11 to repair the concern.
b. If the grid tabs are secure, go to Step 5.
5. Use WSM, Section 501-11 to inspect and test the grid lines.
a. If damage is found to the grid lines, follow WSM, Section 501-11 to repair.
b. If no damage is found to the grid lines, replace the back glass as per the WSM, Section 501-11. In some case microscopic gaps in the rear defrost grid can cause electromagnetic noise. The grid line test will not detect this concern and the rear glass will have to be replaced.
WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage
IMPORTANT: Warranty coverage limits/policies are not altered by a TSB. Warranty coverage limits are determined by the identified causal part.
OPERATION DESCRIPTION TIME
091902A 2008-2010 MKZ: Repair 0.7 Hr.
Wire Terminal Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902A 2009-2010 MKS: Repair 0.8 Hr.
Wire Terminal Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902A 2008-2010 Crown Victoria, 0.8 Hr.
Grand Marquis, Town Car:
Repair Wire Terminal
Includes Time To
Diagnose (Do Not Use
With Any Other Labor
Operations)Hr.
091902A 2008-2010 Taurus, 1.2 Hrs.
2008-2009 Sable: Repair
Wire Terminal Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902B 2008-2010 Taurus, 1.3 Hrs.
2008-2009 Sable: Repair
Grid Lines Includes Time
To Diagnose (Do Not Use
With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902B 2008-2010 Crown Victoria, 0.9 Hr.
Grand Marquis, Town Car:
Repair Grid Lines Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902B 2009-2010 MKS: Repair 0.9 Hr.
Grid Lines Includes Time
To Diagnose (Do Not Use
With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902B 2008-2010 MKZ: Repair 0.8 Hr.
Grid Lines Includes Time
To Diagnose (Do Not Use
With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902C 2008-2010 MKZ: Repair 1.0 Hr.
Grid Lines, And Wire
Terminal Includes Time To
Diagnose (Do Not Use
With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902C 2008-2010 Crown Victoria, 1.2 Hrs.
Grand Marquis, Town Car:
Repair Grid Lines, And
Wire Terminal Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902C 2008-2010 Taurus, 1.6 Hrs.
2008-2009 Sable: Repair
Grid Lines, And Wire
Terminal Includes Time To
Diagnose (Do Not Use
With Any Other Labor
Operations)Hr.
091902C 2009-2010 MKS: Repair 1.2 Hrs.
Grid Lines, And Wire
Terminal Includes Time To
Diagnose (Do Not Use
With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902D 2009-2010 MKS: Replace 1.7 Hrs.
The Back Glass Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902D 2008-2010 Taurus, 2.3 Hrs.
2008-2009 Sable: Replace
The Back Glass Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902D 2008-2010 Crown Victoria, 1.8 Hrs.
Grand Marquis, Town Car:
Replace The Back Glass Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
091902D 2008-2010 MKZ: Replace 1.9 Hrs.
The Back Glass Includes
Time To Diagnose (Do Not
Use With Any Other Labor
Operations)
DEALER CODING
CONDITION
BASIC PART NO. CODE
7042006 01
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