This weekend I fitted a new head unit (a Pioneer DEH-3300UB) and, as part of this, I faffed around with my ariel, to try to get a decent radio signal.

So I wired in aother signal booster and checked the connections to the in-built booster behind the C-pillar. All fine, but ...

There are two pickups to the rear screen element, and the higher one of these was floating free. I've glued it back into place, but I'm still not sure that it's connected correctly.

Certainly when I was messing around fitting the radio the reception was no worse with the ariel unplugged than it was connected, which I assume is a bad sign.

Obviously this is a bad thing, because without a decent signal I can't listen to Radio 4 (I am led to believe that there are other radio stations, but who in their right mind would be interested in that sort of thing?).

I'm guessing that the pickup connection isn't very good, so I was thinking of affixing a small square of tin foil to the rear screen to improve the contact with the element, re-re-attaching the pickup and seeing if that helped.

Has anybody tried this? I'm not a skilled auto-electrician, so are there any problems that I'm overlooking?

You'll just have to listen to Radio 1.

I'm sure you'll learn to love Chris Moyles...one day.

Has the strip on the rear window broken or just come away from the glass?

The strip looks intact, but the part of it that the pickup wire was glued over looks very patchy and the pickup wire isn't long enough to attach it to a healthier area of the element.

Actually Kiss FM seems to be my only option right now.

Have you checked the integrity of the element with a voltmeter?

Perhaps a clean up with a borrowers sized wire brush (or the wifes nail files when she's not looking). Glue it back on and then apply a bit of this

Oooo, good call. Looks easier than messing about with tin foil.

Better off without radio 4.

You're right, it has *nothing* going for it.

Where are the moronic and annoying DJs? How can it eschew the time-tested formula of having the same 30 songs on an endless loop? How dare they read out the news without a drum-beat overlaid? And what's with the lack of commercials? How the hell am I supposed to find out what the local double-glazing firms have on sale?

In fact all it has is in-depth news, programmes designed to inform without pandering to the lowest common denominator, insightful documentaries and brilliantly scripted comedy.

What is the point, eh?

See? Brainwashed

I'm a bit of a closet R4 fan, but to be honest, I hardly ever listen to the radio in either of my Coupes.

CD's occasionally, Matt Monroe springs to mind...

R4 doesnt really go with the Coupe image though MrR.

Get your self some booomin bass boxes for your tunes, I can just imagine you on a saturday night cruising up and down the high street, window down...

The paint on element stuff is good if not a bit blobby & thick I leave my radio4 listening to the Transit (my every day transport) so it makes me look like an inteligent worker Tunes only for the Coop

Quite right ban all radio, too much chat

Oh, c'mon...

Driving a gorgeous car, but covered in mud;
Beautiful passenger, but her hair mussed;
Listening to Radio 4...

How many ways can one be a snob at once?

You missed out the most important Andrew, TMS