This sounds like the classic tuner death syndrome that afflicts factory tuners. There's a tiny IC (op-amp?) inside the sealed RF module that dies for whatever reason, and the result is nearly always static on FM, and sometimes reception on AM.

I've been addressing that by replacing the RF module with the one used by PCATS tuners, with a bit of pin hackery.

If this is what's really wrong with tonyc's radio, then that's probably the only option for repair. A full PCATS kit might be an even better option, since most of the cost is in the RF module.

Cheers