Antenna won't go down
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 46
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Antenna won't go down
Posted this in another forum...no luck.
I did a bunch of research on this via the search function. I discovered that the blue wire on my aftermarket radio was not connected to the yellow wire coming out of the antenna relay. I hooked the yellow wire to the blue wire. When I turned the radio on, I heard the relay click and listened to the new antenna go up. When I turned the radio on, I again hear click, but the antenna stays up.
so...I took a set of leads directly from the battery to the wires on the new antenna to make sure it wasn't the antenna. As directed in another thread, I alternated +/- leads to gray/green/white. The antenna goes up and down correctly.
What would cause the antenna to default in the up position? Orange and black from antenna relay appear to be correctly connected.
thanks.
I did a bunch of research on this via the search function. I discovered that the blue wire on my aftermarket radio was not connected to the yellow wire coming out of the antenna relay. I hooked the yellow wire to the blue wire. When I turned the radio on, I heard the relay click and listened to the new antenna go up. When I turned the radio on, I again hear click, but the antenna stays up.
so...I took a set of leads directly from the battery to the wires on the new antenna to make sure it wasn't the antenna. As directed in another thread, I alternated +/- leads to gray/green/white. The antenna goes up and down correctly.
What would cause the antenna to default in the up position? Orange and black from antenna relay appear to be correctly connected.
thanks.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 46
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at this stage of the game, chasing electrons, a hacksaw is sounding good. But, after chaning the heat/ac switch, cigarette lighter and attaching the blue wire to the yellow wire, I'm emotionally invested in the power antenna.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 263
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From: bethpage NY
i understand that i just invested in a wire for my mp3 player 
untill i actually have the energy to work on that... but maybe i will go mess with that now i did but a universal antenna and just plopped it in the hole but i am doing a motor build and i do have some time before i get my block back.... hmmm
untill i actually have the energy to work on that... but maybe i will go mess with that now i did but a universal antenna and just plopped it in the hole but i am doing a motor build and i do have some time before i get my block back.... hmmm
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
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no fun moving the muffler over to yank the old antenna. Less fun working the wiring harness through the grommet behind the speaker...if you want to do it right.
81, btw.
81, btw.
Last edited by MrMootsie; Sep 20, 2010 at 07:35 PM. Reason: clarity.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Posted this in another forum...no luck.
I did a bunch of research on this via the search function. I discovered that the blue wire on my aftermarket radio was not connected to the yellow wire coming out of the antenna relay. I hooked the yellow wire to the blue wire. When I turned the radio on, I heard the relay click and listened to the new antenna go up. When I turned the radio on, I again hear click, but the antenna stays up.
so...I took a set of leads directly from the battery to the wires on the new antenna to make sure it wasn't the antenna. As directed in another thread, I alternated +/- leads to gray/green/white. The antenna goes up and down correctly.
What would cause the antenna to default in the up position? Orange and black from antenna relay appear to be correctly connected.
thanks.
I did a bunch of research on this via the search function. I discovered that the blue wire on my aftermarket radio was not connected to the yellow wire coming out of the antenna relay. I hooked the yellow wire to the blue wire. When I turned the radio on, I heard the relay click and listened to the new antenna go up. When I turned the radio on, I again hear click, but the antenna stays up.
so...I took a set of leads directly from the battery to the wires on the new antenna to make sure it wasn't the antenna. As directed in another thread, I alternated +/- leads to gray/green/white. The antenna goes up and down correctly.
What would cause the antenna to default in the up position? Orange and black from antenna relay appear to be correctly connected.
thanks.
I can't comment on the blue thats aftermarket. Are you sure thats the antenna wire for this radio?
The rest of the wires are all correct. Green, grey, white, go from the relay to the antenna. There should also be a black ground coming out of the relay.
You don't mention if the orange wire is live. It runs from the CTSY CLS 20 amp fuse in the panel to the relay. It is always hot. This is the one that controls the down function. See if the orange is there and always hot.
Some of the newer antennas don't need the factory relay. Or come with there own relay. The relay in the car may not work with this antenna or you may be trying to use it with 2 relays inline, one in the car and one on the antenna....depending on what type of antenna you have. Is it the factory antenna or has it been replaced.
Jim
Last edited by jdp6000; Sep 21, 2010 at 09:10 AM.
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Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 46
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Thanks for the reply. It's a replacement antenna from Zip.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
It's unclear to me whether or not it is already equipped with relay. I have the Pioneer wiring diagram for the radio, and it indicates that the blue wire is for antenna power. The orange wire is connected to the radio wire which requires constant hot. It appears to be correctly connected. If it isn't connected correctly, would the yellow wire from the antenna relay cause the relay to click when the radio is turned on/off?
thanks. This is a useful discussion.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
It's unclear to me whether or not it is already equipped with relay. I have the Pioneer wiring diagram for the radio, and it indicates that the blue wire is for antenna power. The orange wire is connected to the radio wire which requires constant hot. It appears to be correctly connected. If it isn't connected correctly, would the yellow wire from the antenna relay cause the relay to click when the radio is turned on/off?
thanks. This is a useful discussion.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Thanks for the reply. It's a replacement antenna from Zip.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
It's unclear to me whether or not it is already equipped with relay. I have the Pioneer wiring diagram for the radio, and it indicates that the blue wire is for antenna power. The orange wire is connected to the radio wire which requires constant hot. It appears to be correctly connected. If it isn't connected correctly, would the yellow wire from the antenna relay cause the relay to click when the radio is turned on/off?
thanks. This is a useful discussion.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
It's unclear to me whether or not it is already equipped with relay. I have the Pioneer wiring diagram for the radio, and it indicates that the blue wire is for antenna power. The orange wire is connected to the radio wire which requires constant hot. It appears to be correctly connected. If it isn't connected correctly, would the yellow wire from the antenna relay cause the relay to click when the radio is turned on/off?
thanks. This is a useful discussion.
The grey and white is the up and down power supply. I don't remember which is which. Easy to check. When you turn the radio on power goes from the blue to your relay then through either the grey or white....identify which one. Once you have figured that out with the radio off the orange should be powering the other or those two wires. Its only for the length of time it takes for the antenna to go up or down,
Its something really simple here, think it through,
See if the antenna has another relay....after market somewhere along the line....some of these new ones have it right on the mast shaft....look underneath the quarter panel....see if you see one.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Thanks for the reply. It's a replacement antenna from Zip.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
It's unclear to me whether or not it is already equipped with relay. I have the Pioneer wiring diagram for the radio, and it indicates that the blue wire is for antenna power. The orange wire is connected to the radio wire which requires constant hot. It appears to be correctly connected. If it isn't connected correctly, would the yellow wire from the antenna relay cause the relay to click when the radio is turned on/off?
thanks. This is a useful discussion.
http://www.zip-corvette.com/ProductD...GR-SR&CTitle=&
It's unclear to me whether or not it is already equipped with relay. I have the Pioneer wiring diagram for the radio, and it indicates that the blue wire is for antenna power. The orange wire is connected to the radio wire which requires constant hot. It appears to be correctly connected. If it isn't connected correctly, would the yellow wire from the antenna relay cause the relay to click when the radio is turned on/off?
thanks. This is a useful discussion.
What do you mean by the orange is connected to the radio, I know you need power to hold presets but are you running an orange out of the radio to the relay too?
You relay could be fried. It may not be switching over. Replace it its cheap.
Last edited by jdp6000; Sep 21, 2010 at 09:54 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Jim
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,740
Likes: 3
From: Aurora Ontario
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Sounds like Bubba cut the orange power line to the antenna for power to the radio memory and didn't continue it on to the antenna relay.
I BELIEVE with the yellow powered by the radio lead the antenna will go up, but with no constant hot to the antenna it won't go back down.
The relay is located in the jack compartment for your year.
Pull the plug with the yellow and orange connectors noting which connector in the relay goes to the orange. Run a jumper wire direct to the battery + and to the orange contact at the relay. It should go down with the ignition or radio "off'. If so, contact the yellow contact with the jumper and see if it goes up. If not, contact BOTH yellow and orange and see if it goes up.
If so, run a hot lead to the orange terminal, either tapping into the original orange or I'd go to the fuse panel "batt' term. Use an inline fuse.
I BELIEVE with the yellow powered by the radio lead the antenna will go up, but with no constant hot to the antenna it won't go back down.
The relay is located in the jack compartment for your year.
Pull the plug with the yellow and orange connectors noting which connector in the relay goes to the orange. Run a jumper wire direct to the battery + and to the orange contact at the relay. It should go down with the ignition or radio "off'. If so, contact the yellow contact with the jumper and see if it goes up. If not, contact BOTH yellow and orange and see if it goes up.
If so, run a hot lead to the orange terminal, either tapping into the original orange or I'd go to the fuse panel "batt' term. Use an inline fuse.
Last edited by KapsSA; Sep 21, 2010 at 08:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 46
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didn't work....grrrr... I'm going to order a new harness and relay and replace the whole thing. It's worth the time. Is an 81 relay the same as the 80? It looks the same, but I can't find it on line.
