The Ford Capri Laser Page

Hi All, I have finally got myself a beauty of a Capri a Mk3 85 2.0 Laser with less than 40k . The car is in beautiful condition with minimal rust well only small surface rust in certain areas.

However, I have a few questions.

Firstly, I have the original cassette player and have spent the past two days putting all the wiring back to original. Then taking the cassette player apart replacing the drive belt and fitting a new electric Ariel. However, I’m having two 'issues'. Firstly, I get a whine through the speakers and as the engine rev increases the whine changes pitch too regardless of the radio being on or off. I suspect this to be down to a bad ground but after talking to a local audio specialist he told me this may be resolved by using suppressor caps on the distributor? I grounded the Ariel to the body of the car so doubt it is this. What would be the 'correct' way to resolve this issue?

Secondly more of a question then an issue but I’m not sure if my radio picks up FM. Maybe a daft question but it’s the first time in my life I’m using an analogue radio it seems to find AM stations but nothing on the FM. I've posted a picture below of the radio I have. Am I right in saying this will not pick up FM?


Other than this she just has the usual Capri issues. Cracked dash, seats have split where the grey cloth meets the plaited effect cloth, rev gauge has stopped working. Any recommendations on interior repairs in London would be appreciated.

Lastly am I correct in saying the rev gauge maybe down to the green cable that comes off the coil and runs to the clocks and by checking the continuity I could solve this issue?

Hi,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on buying the car of your dreams!
The radio noise definitely sounds like a suppression issue to me. I think most HT leads these days have built in suppressors, although you can get in-line ones that fit on the distributor cap. You can also get a suppressor to fit on the coil.

Your photo isn't displaying on the forum, you need to follow these instructions (supplied courtesy of Paul):

pbar wrote:This assumes you have a pic on your computer (for example on your desktop) already -

1. Go to https://postimages.org/ (you do not have to be a member or login)
2. Click Choose Images
3. Browse to the pic you wish to use and double click it (or click once and click Open)
4. Copy the Direct Link in the list (i.e. click the symbol on the right or highlight it and press Control-c)
5. Open up a new message window on here (as if to type your reply/new message, or whatever, as you normally would)
6. Type your message and when done click the Img button and then press Control-v (this will paste the link you previously copied in step 4)
7. Press Preview to see how it will look or Submit, and you're done.

Andrew.

Welcome to the forum!

If you have the original radio from the Laser then it will definitely pick up FM, I think from memory that the 'L' button is for Longwave (AM) and the 'M' is for mediumwave (FM) so press the M and scroll through the frequency using the right hand dial

Also yes there is a green wire coming from the coil into the back of the dash, try to adjust the wire in the back of the dash first as apparently this is more likely the culprit - let me know how you get on though, I've been putting mine off for about a year!

Cheers
Danny

D366Y wrote: I think from memory that the 'L' button is for Longwave (AM) and the 'M' is for mediumwave (FM) so press the M and scroll through the frequency using the right hand dial

The L button is for Longwave and the M is for mediumwave, they are both AM. The FM button is usually marked with FM, although sometimes a U was used.
Early car radios didn't tend to be able to receive FM transmissions.

Andrew.

Maybe it was U then in my laser, but I definitely got FM

Andrew 2.8i wrote:Hi,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on buying the car of your dreams!
The radio noise definitely sounds like a suppression issue to me. I think most HT leads these days have built in suppressors, although you can get in-line ones that fit on the distributor cap. You can also get a suppressor to fit on the coil.

Your photo isn't displaying on the forum, you need to follow these instructions (supplied courtesy of Paul):

pbar wrote:This assumes you have a pic on your computer (for example on your desktop) already -

1. Go to https://postimages.org/ (you do not have to be a member or login)
2. Click Choose Images
3. Browse to the pic you wish to use and double click it (or click once and click Open)
4. Copy the Direct Link in the list (i.e. click the symbol on the right or highlight it and press Control-c)
5. Open up a new message window on here (as if to type your reply/new message, or whatever, as you normally would)
6. Type your message and when done click the Img button and then press Control-v (this will paste the link you previously copied in step 4)
7. Press Preview to see how it will look or Submit, and you're done.

Andrew.

Hi Andrew, thanks for the reply. I don't know if the HT leads have ever been changed they may even be the original from the factory believe it or not like a lot of the other parts on the car. I will look into getting some newer leads and see if this resolves the issue. Any recommendations for what leads to go with?

P.s. Thanks for the info on how to upload a pic I have edited the original post, so the image should now show

D366Y wrote:Welcome to the forum!

If you have the original radio from the Laser then it will definitely pick up FM, I think from memory that the 'L' button is for Longwave (AM) and the 'M' is for mediumwave (FM) so press the M and scroll through the frequency using the right hand dial

Also yes there is a green wire coming from the coil into the back of the dash, try to adjust the wire in the back of the dash first as apparently this is more likely the culprit - let me know how you get on though, I've been putting mine off for about a year!

Cheers
Danny

Hi Danny, thanks for the reply.

I've tried the scrolling through with every single button pressed going back and forth through the frequency range. I manage to pick up some French radio stations from France (god knows how) but no FM. I think it may be case of the radio not being able to pick up FM.

Looks like the dash will be coming apart again for the 3rd time in two weeks . Just out of curiosity if there is a break in the green wire what is the best way to fix this. Would it be to run a completely new wire or just replacing the broken section of the wire?

Andrew 2.8i wrote:

D366Y wrote: I think from memory that the 'L' button is for Longwave (AM) and the 'M' is for mediumwave (FM) so press the M and scroll through the frequency using the right hand dial

The L button is for Longwave and the M is for mediumwave, they are both AM. The FM button is usually marked with FM, although sometimes a U was used.
Early car radios didn't tend to be able to receive FM transmissions.

Andrew.

I think I may have one of the earliest models. I don't have a 'U' button nor a 'FM' only buttons I have are 'L'/'M'.

I guess this means replacing it for something a bit newer. Are they any aftermarket radios that slot into the original hole or am I better of going for an original one that can receive FM?

mk3_capri wrote: I think I may have one of the earliest models. I don't have a 'U' button nor a 'FM' only buttons I have are 'L'/'M'.

I guess this means replacing it for something a bit newer. Are they any aftermarket radios that slot into the original hole or am I better of going for an original one that can receive FM?

Hi,
It's up to you which stereo you fit. However, fitting a non-standard stereo will mean that you will have to trim the fascia panel for it to fit, as there are no non-standard stereos that will fit straight out the box. I wouldn't recommend you do that as uncut fascias are difficult to come by. You could, of course, buy a another fascia that has already been butchered.

Alternatively, you could buy a replacement radio, like this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-CAPRI-R ... ctupt=true

This particular one has been modified for MP3 connectivity, but regains the original look. It might be a good buy if that is what you are after.
In any case, note the FM "U" push buttons that your radio does not have.

Andrew.

The radio you have must be an earlier one, my 86 laser has the same radio as below (apart from mine does say FM is has U buttons - this is a late radio so changed it again)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ford-Capri-I ... :rk:1:pf:0

As Andrew said, it would be much easier to get a radio like this, or buy a fascia that has already been cut up if you want to fit an aftermarket radio - original ones that haven't been cut and butchered are like hen's teeth and well sought after so no point cutting yours if it is in good knick!
I used to get French radio as well on the Longwave

With regards to the green rev wire, personally I'd try patching it first if you're good with a soldering iron, but don't try patching in a small piece of an inch or something, take out a bit more (2-3 inches at least I'd say) so you have the space to move the wire easily and have enough to hold onto etc.

Danny

Alternatively, get into Radio 4, which is on Longwave!

You could leave the original radio in place and fit a new stereo in the glove box, it's an option that a lot of owners choose. There is even a 'mount' you can buy at Halfords to make this easier, and you may wish to buy a stereo with a remote which makes life even easier.

pbar wrote:You could leave the original radio in place and fit a new stereo in the glove box, it's an option that a lot of owners choose. There is even a 'mount' you can buy at Halfords to make this easier, and you may wish to buy a stereo with a remote which makes life even easier.

I've done this on both of mine, leave the original in place to look nice but use the one in the glove box

That radio definitely does not accept the fm signal.

D366Y wrote:

pbar wrote:You could leave the original radio in place and fit a new stereo in the glove box, it's an option that a lot of owners choose. There is even a 'mount' you can buy at Halfords to make this easier, and you may wish to buy a stereo with a remote which makes life even easier.

I've done this on both of mine, leave the original in place to look nice but use the one in the glove box

I do think that, out of all the options, this is the best one, especially if the original dash is still uncut. It's not that hard to do, and gives you all the options, FM, CD, MP3, etc.

pbar wrote:

D366Y wrote:

pbar wrote:You could leave the original radio in place and fit a new stereo in the glove box, it's an option that a lot of owners choose. There is even a 'mount' you can buy at Halfords to make this easier, and you may wish to buy a stereo with a remote which makes life even easier.

I've done this on both of mine, leave the original in place to look nice but use the one in the glove box

I do think that, out of all the options, this is the best one, especially if the original dash is still uncut. It's not that hard to do, and gives you all the options, FM, CD, MP3, etc.

Thats definitely an AM only radio. Ah, the wonders of Medium Wave and then the whole Long wave band apparently devoted to Radio 4 and French stations only, the uncertainties of the signal disappearing under every bridge
Im not sure whether this would have been original equipment in your car in the year it was made as by then an AM only radio would have been regarded as a very basic, entry level stuff, more 1.3 L territory. Its possible that years ago a previous owner downgraded it when they sold the car so they could put the original in their next car. Back in the day everyone was rapidly taking out AM radios and replacing them with AM/FM or AM/FM Cassette stereos. But there again back in the day everyone was cutting huge holes in their rear shelves and wondering why they started bowing and falling apart.

IMHO the best way forward for you could be a modern stereo specifically designed for classic car use. It has the 2 spindles needed to fit in an uncut dash but can handle usb, bluetooth & DAB. These ones look the part and are certainly rather better to live with than an AM only mono radio.
https://www.retrocarstuff.com/shop/classic-car-stereo/