Power antenna
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Power antenna
I purchased a power antenna for my 78 Corvette the issue I have is the original power antenna has 3 wires the new aftermarket one has 2 I have found the relay for radio and antenna what wires do I hook up
New antenna has red and blue wires orginial has white green and gray, can the relay be used yet or can it be by passed
Any suggestions
New antenna has red and blue wires orginial has white green and gray, can the relay be used yet or can it be by passed
Any suggestions
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
Can not tell you how to wire it in...if at all possible with the factory relay UNLESS we know how the new power antenna needs to be wired in with the blue and red wire.
Also depends on if you still have the factory radio...or if an aftermarket radio is installed...is the control wire to the factory relay for the antenna getting a signal when requested to do so.
DUB
Also depends on if you still have the factory radio...or if an aftermarket radio is installed...is the control wire to the factory relay for the antenna getting a signal when requested to do so.
DUB
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
yes i am running the stock radio, wiring diagram doesnt tell me much, i have found th erelay under arm rest, not sure how to hook wires up, i have been reading different replys from other forums as well, the old power antenna went up when radio was turned on and down when turned off, not sure what to do any help is appreciated
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
The aftermarket antenna I bought had 3 wires, but the black (ground) wire was pretty short (approx 12"). Yours might be grounded thru the mount, in which case you would need to provide a ground to the frame.
On mine, the red went to power (powered when the car is on), and the other wire went to the 'signal' wire that had power only when the radio is on (I tied it directly to my aftermarket radio).
Your best bet would be to use a test light to figure out which of your current wires has power all the time, and which has power only when the radio is on, and tap into those two wires. Technically, the aftermarket antennas don't need a relay, but if your relay is functioning, then it's probably easier to just use it.
On mine, the red went to power (powered when the car is on), and the other wire went to the 'signal' wire that had power only when the radio is on (I tied it directly to my aftermarket radio).
Your best bet would be to use a test light to figure out which of your current wires has power all the time, and which has power only when the radio is on, and tap into those two wires. Technically, the aftermarket antennas don't need a relay, but if your relay is functioning, then it's probably easier to just use it.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
yes i am running the stock radio, wiring diagram doesnt tell me much, i have found th erelay under arm rest, not sure how to hook wires up, i have been reading different replys from other forums as well, the old power antenna went up when radio was turned on and down when turned off, not sure what to do any help is appreciated
DUB
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Power Antennae
Same issue as a few others.... New Power antenna with RED/BLUE wires. Old antenna has the three wires to a relay.
I have not yet checked the power to each (green,gray,white) wires yet but hoping there was more info out there on how to connect these without smokin something up.
I have not yet checked the power to each (green,gray,white) wires yet but hoping there was more info out there on how to connect these without smokin something up.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,364
Likes: 221
From: Beecher Illinois
Do aftermarket antennas NOT have instructions??
If you want to hack up your original antenna wires you need to get at the relay under the center armrest 78-80 or jack compartment 81-82.
The orange wire is constant power, the yellow is the trigger from the radio to raise/lower it. The relay itself isn't used for the aftermarket antenna.
You can't use the green/white/gray wires as they are. You'd need to hack them up and attach 2 of them to the orange/yellow.
I have an NOS antenna available for sale if interested.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-antennas.html
Under armrest in a 78......
If you want to hack up your original antenna wires you need to get at the relay under the center armrest 78-80 or jack compartment 81-82.
The orange wire is constant power, the yellow is the trigger from the radio to raise/lower it. The relay itself isn't used for the aftermarket antenna.
You can't use the green/white/gray wires as they are. You'd need to hack them up and attach 2 of them to the orange/yellow.
I have an NOS antenna available for sale if interested.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-antennas.html
Under armrest in a 78......
Last edited by KapsSA; Jul 6, 2017 at 08:00 PM.
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4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix Arizona
Do aftermarket antennas NOT have instructions??
If you want to hack up your original antenna wires you need to get at the relay under the center armrest 78-80 or jack compartment 81-82.
The orange wire is constant power, the yellow is the trigger from the radio to raise/lower it. The relay itself isn't used for the aftermarket antenna.
You can't use the green/white/gray wires as they are. You'd need to hack them up and attach 2 of them to the orange/yellow.
I have an NOS antenna available for sale if interested.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-antennas.html
Under armrest in a 78......
If you want to hack up your original antenna wires you need to get at the relay under the center armrest 78-80 or jack compartment 81-82.
The orange wire is constant power, the yellow is the trigger from the radio to raise/lower it. The relay itself isn't used for the aftermarket antenna.
You can't use the green/white/gray wires as they are. You'd need to hack them up and attach 2 of them to the orange/yellow.
I have an NOS antenna available for sale if interested.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-antennas.html
Under armrest in a 78......
Ah that makes some sense to me thank you. I'm familiar with the wires/relay locations so I'll get a look tomorrow.
Instructions? Terrible!!! It spends more literature on the physical install than the wiring.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
The courtesy circuit has power all of the time (orange wires), and waits to be grounded via one of the white wires or the headlight switch. I'm guessing that one of your orange wires is touching ground someplace, and wasn't touching before you put everything back together?