Different antenna for ETR radio?

[Green79Scottsdale]

Do I need to install a different antenna for my 2700 ETR to pick up stations? Everything powers up and seems to work like it should except for no tuning. I can hear feedback through my speaker, the LED face lights up, I can switch between FM and AM, but nothing shows up as far as the frequencies for stations.

The guy I bought it from had it hooked up and working and cycled through stations when I went to buy it.

 

[bucket]

My '88 Burb has a factory fender mounted antenna, but I think that was the first year for it, maybe '87? I don't remember seeing pickups with those antennas just windshield mounted units, or some fender mounted aftermarket add-on.

 

[1987 GMC Jimmy]

‘87 still had the windshield integrated antenna. Those ETRs were available in squares with the old style antenna for several years and only one year with the fender mounted antenna. I don’t think that’s the problem; my 2000 ETR will tune with no antenna input. The issue is that hardly anything will come out that way. I hate to be a naysayer and not have any advice, but maybe someone can follow up with a way forward. @hatzie maybe

 

[Green79Scottsdale]

My '79 has the windshield antenna. I couldn't see the antenna being a problem, but I thought I would ask to be sure. I am more disappointed that it appears to have quit working in the time I bought it to the time I installed it. Which, I have heard reports of that happening unfortunately. I don't want to remove it and try my old working radio to test the antenna, as getting that ETR in there was a PITA.

 

[hatzie]

The ETR radios were not noted for reliablity.
I've repaired several 90's GM radios with my hot air pencil that had multiple cold solder joints let go... A blast of hot air and some 60:40 solder and I was good to go. Electrolytic caps are suspect as well. The cans are usually a dead giveaway. They swell up and leak like old batteries. Get replacements with the same or larger voltage and the exact same farad ratings. New electrolytics tend to have smaller cans so fitment of a 50v in place of say a 25v cap will not usually be an issue.

The PC board traces were not decently plated so you can easily lift the traces if you get ham handed... sometimes even if you use a great deal of care. If you don't have the equipment and experience to repair it take it to someone who does.