Little help needed

Ok so I've had the CB hooked up for a while now and it has worked so-so the entire time. I'm looking to correct all the issues since performance seems very hit or miss. Ok so I moved my antenna to the top middle of my headache rack and it now completely clears my cab. Previously I had it mounted to the side of my toolbox and reception was spotty. Now for the record it is a Uniden Pro 538W with a firestik firefly antenna, both are grounded with the power lead coming straight off the battery.

Mainly I had noticed that I was getting engine noise I meant to track it down but my alternator blew up shortly after and once I replaced it no more engine noise.

But, I have noticed a major drop in performance where I can only hear straight static on it (which prompted me moving the antenna). Previously even if I had so-so reception
I could pick up the weather (it has an option for it) very well. Now it seems I canot pick up much of anything. Every now and again I can pick up something but like I said its really hit or miss for both CB channels and weather.

Now aside from moving my antenna and double checking my grounds which I have done. I know its not engine noise since the static is stable no fluctuation with engine on or off or with RPMs higher or lower. I plan on checking the grounds in my engine bay to rule that out. I'm kind of at a loss so far as to what else I can check.

The one other thing is when I hook up my SWR meter to tune the antenna or just test it. Since initial setup, when attempting to tune the needle would not adjust to the set mark without fideting with it for a while and rocking the needle back and forth by keing the mic a few times. After getting it there It will REF at 1 or 1.1 always on channel 1. When trying channel 40 though I cannot get it to the set mark. It will go almost all the way and in the few cases I can it will not give a reading when switching to REF. On channel 40 it will always bottom out on the left instead of stopping on 1 or higher. So any ideas?

Hope someone can chime in with some tips or advice on what to check next since I'm halfway tempted to chuck the #### thing out the window going down the highway.

 

A Ford Ranger sorry

 

Haven't tried disconnecting the mic but when I have received decently I have been able to send out. I'll try disconnecting the mic and see if the reception improves.

 

Glad you got it figured out, unfortunately it's the same with the truck on or off for me. And nothing outside the regular radio and oem components.