Car radio plays MW but not FM?

[2gbmum]

What do you think is wrong when my car radio has decided not to pick up FM channels but is still working because it plays MW and LW.

It's still tuned in and on the right channels but won't 'connect' straight away. After I've been driving for - say - 20 minutes the radio will suddenly 'link' up. Scares the living daylights out of me. It's not on any Traffic Search or mute. It's worked for years just as is and then all of a sudden - nothing but static for FM.

CD player works fine. It's an integral radio set up so don't fancy a big bill replacing it. Does it sound like a simple lose connection or is it on its way out? Car's about 8 years old.

Any experts out there?

[Old_Geezer]

So it doesn't fail totaaly then but suddenly comes on unexpectedly. Sounds like a dodgy connection/dry joint/faling component to me.

No sure whether anything worth the cost of repair in these days of the throwaway society though. Maybe worth shopping around to see if you can find a free estimate anywhere.

[jaymund]

maybe damaged antenna as mw & lw will work fine without but fm needs antenna to work ok

[AlBags]

Check the earth has not gone dodgy on the aerial, or any extension lead on it has not become wet/rusty or disconnected.
I think it's an antenna issue.

[razza]

On my radio I have to press another button to tune different wavelengths in.

[2gbmum]

Thanks for the help. The antenna sounds like a possible as it has a tendency to slide back down and not stay up (it's one of those that automatically retracts/extends when you put radio on) so that could be causing the lack of FM only reception then.

Changing an aerial is far less daunting than getting the whole console replaced. Thanks.