Here's a fun new challenge:

After garaging my 2004 with the stock stereo (no GPS) for about a month the stereo is not picking up FM. All I get is static, and if I max out the volume I can just barely hear stations under the static. CD player works just fine. I'm guessing maybe an antenna issue maybe? Anyone seen this before?

 

Yep. Rats or squirrels ate your antenna cable

 

Maybe that is a too simple answer.
If I recall correctly the cable is 99% inside the car, it is outside the car only in the rubber conduit between the body and the rear hatch.

 

Simple answers come from simple people like me.
Maybe the critter(s) got in the car ?
Antenna termites ?

 

I am sure that the cable is mostly wrapped up in a major wiring harness, so in that area it would be difficult to separate it and chew it alone.
Surely not termites, most likely ants.

 

Termites? Ants? Are you guys being serious or just messing with me?

I've never taken apart the stereo system on this car and I'm mostly curious on thoughts on where to start tearing this thing apart to find the problem. I can't imagine I'm the only person to run across this.

 

No, we are not serious.
The coupe has the antenna in the rear glass, the roadster has a stick-up antenna.

 

Well in lieu of calling pest control I bought a new stereo deck, wired up the antenna adapter and, boom, FM is back. I've now noticed that I've got nothing but faint static and almost non existent bass thumping from the back speakers. I plugged the old deck back in to realize the same issue.

What fresh hell is this?

 

All depends on how you wired in the aftermarket head unit.
MOST of them have 2 volt preamp outputs, this WILL NOTdrive the OEM Infinity amplifier enough to get good sub woofer, or door speaker volume, you must use the head unit's speaker out wires to drive the amplifier.
If you got lucky and your new unit has 4 volt preamp outputs, then you should be able to use them.

 

I did some reading ahead of time and bought a unit with 4amp outs. I guess I'll just have to put new subs in the back.

 

FM back, nothing but faint static? What does that mean?
FM with static or just static?

 

They're giving a tiny bit of bass thump and super faint audio from any source (FM is back in the front!)

I'm fairly certain the 10 year old factory subs are shot, I'm just going to replace them.