Defender Radio reception issue - Help please

Hi All - my Def 110 SW stereo has developed a (new) issue. When I switch the headlights on, the radio signal reception becomes very messy and confused - to the point that I cannot drive an night AND listen to the radio. I got used to a slightbacground noise when fans or wipers are on - but this was all well within "old defender" acceptable quirks

There is no issue on radio reception when I drive with lights off, and no issue whatsoever when I use any other feature of the radio (CD / USB / coaxial input) with lights on

But as I am driving to Italy on Tuesday I am stressing as it is compulsory on EU motorways to keep headlights on at all times - hence no radio (and no traffic info either!).

I have tried replacing the original (20 yr old) aerial with a halfords rubber one - still same issue. I believe this may have to do with an earthing problem - at head unit level or aerial level? The vehicle is 23 years old so you can just imagine how many people in the past have fiddled with its electrics, hoever this was all ok until a few days ago.

Any help gratefully received as always - :doh:

Aerial grounding can be an issue with Defenders, but doesn't explain 'why now'

Leaves me wondering whether the exceptional wet we've had the past week has caused problems, and when it dries out it will return to as 'near' as normal

Only other things that cross my mind are:

1) Headlamps put more load on alternator - wonder if alternator circuits are on their way out?

2) Wiring might pass alongside the headlamp relay - worth swapping with another

3) Slight arcing across the fuse blades - worth taking the headlamp ones out, cleaning up with emery paper if grubby and refitting

Have to confess 1 - 3 are longshots, but trying to think what would cause more elecrtical 'noise' with headlamps on

Probably also worth checking the inner wing earths behind the headlamps and the push fit connectors on the headlamps themsleves - I'd give it all a good spray with WD40

Dear Station House thanks in advance for your reply - I am on it!

Failing some of the basic interventions I am buying a high capacity USB key so I can listen to music for the 13 hrs drive until I get there

Ooooh! Whats one of them then? I just put my iPod earphones in to try and drown the noise of the fender out!!

It's a USB put yer music on it then plug into the radio and it plays the MP3 tracks

No idea as to a solution to your problem but.... the extendable aerial broke on my beast about 5 years ago and since then only static heard on the radio ( hardly surprising- )

Fitted some chequerplate to the wings and removed the whole aerial mounting to get it to lie flat and ............

have absolutely perfect radio reception now, with or without lights on

like I said no answer to your problem but hey

Try the chassis to bulkhead/body earth, caused me no end of trouble and expense in the past. Engine to battery earth can look good, but the body earth grounds all the bits and bobs. It looks like a P clip that goes round the negative lead coming out of the underseat battery box, and joins to the chassis. It's bare wire underneath, I suffered main beam head lights that flashed like the old bill and a temp gauge that went up and down when it felt like it. All down to this loose, dirty connection jiggling about.