radio antenna
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville Florida
radio antenna
As I was driving today, I realized my radio reception was really sucking. After turning the radio off then back on I realized I wasnt hearing the antenna go up and down. Its all the way down but I can't get it to go up. Where should I start checking to figure out the problem? I dont see a fuse for the antenna just the radio and the radio unit is working fine (cd and ipod) just crappy radio reception.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,934
Likes: 846
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
i have XM Bluetooth tune in radio so mine can stay down hate local stations advertising. check for power first does it make noise? if so probably the cable.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Livonia MI
You say you have no noise at all.
Just had the same problem. Here's where you can start:
With the motor off, check to see if you hear any clicks from the antenna or the antenna relay when you turn the radio on. (The antenna relay is in the cargo box behind the passenger seat. It's mounted on the front of the box in the center.)
If you have no noise at all (no clicks or buzzing) You should check all your contacts and grounds. If you do hear clicks, you most likely have a problem with the antenna assembly itself.
To the best of my knowledge, there are no good replacement power antennas on the market right now.
I was lucky enough to have one of our fellow forum members rebuild my antenna for me.
I can't speak for him, but hopefully he sees this post and chimes in. He really knows his stuff on these parts.
Just had the same problem. Here's where you can start:
With the motor off, check to see if you hear any clicks from the antenna or the antenna relay when you turn the radio on. (The antenna relay is in the cargo box behind the passenger seat. It's mounted on the front of the box in the center.)
If you have no noise at all (no clicks or buzzing) You should check all your contacts and grounds. If you do hear clicks, you most likely have a problem with the antenna assembly itself.
To the best of my knowledge, there are no good replacement power antennas on the market right now.
I was lucky enough to have one of our fellow forum members rebuild my antenna for me.
I can't speak for him, but hopefully he sees this post and chimes in. He really knows his stuff on these parts.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville Florida
ok, thanks I didn't know about the relay behind the seat, I will check that out. I looked at the antenna briefly and I noticed the three wires were crimped to each other. Isn't there supposed to be a three prong plug?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
The plug for the antenna(late79-82)is beyond the rubber plug in the inner fender. Pull it out and you'll also see you can disconnect the co/ax cable there too.
Sounds like you got a broken nylon cable inside the antenna motor that raises and lowers it.
Most times the antenna motor will continue running when that cable breaks, but you might have lucked out where it turned off after cycling down.
See if the antenna will raise by hand. If it does, broken cable.
Sounds like you got a broken nylon cable inside the antenna motor that raises and lowers it.
Most times the antenna motor will continue running when that cable breaks, but you might have lucked out where it turned off after cycling down.
See if the antenna will raise by hand. If it does, broken cable.
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Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 390
Likes: 1
From: Livonia MI
If the wires are crimped/ spliced before they go into the car, that means it's been serviced or replaced before. I would definitely check all the connections first. After that, listen to KapsSA. He's the guy who helped me. He knows his stuff.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville Florida
thanks guys, and nice catch larry. when I tried to pull up the antenna it wouldn't move although I couldn't get a good grip on it. If the cable broke wouldn't it still be making the noise? Is there anyway to send direct power to the antenna motor to check if it is broke or not? of course I don't have any of my voltmeters with me 
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville Florida
well thanks to your all's help I figured out it is the relay, I could jump the connections to the connector for the antenna at the relay and it went up and down just fine, then when i plugged it back in it went down a little more since I didn't get it all the way with the jumped connections. So it seems the relay is stuck in the down configuration. Now the question is where do I get a replacement relay?
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,371
Likes: 223
From: Beecher Illinois
Are the other 3 wires at the relay orange, yellow(or pink), and black?
Try jumping power to the yellow. That's the trigger from the radio.
It should go up with + to yellow, remove the jumper to yellow and it should go down.
You may just have a bad hookup at the radio.
Try jumping power to the yellow. That's the trigger from the radio.
It should go up with + to yellow, remove the jumper to yellow and it should go down.
You may just have a bad hookup at the radio.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 6
From: jacksonville Florida
yes there are three wires (orange, yellow and black) I assume the black is ground. Well I jumped the relay with those three wires, at first yellow to green and black to gray didnt do anything, then I assumed the orange was the other positive so I jumped orange to green and black to gray. It went up then switched it, orange to white and black to green. It went down. After making it go up and down a few times I tried the yellow again, this time it worked and it went up from power from the yellow wire. I plugged the connectors back into the relay and no it works go up when the radio is on, goes down when radio is turned off. Not quite sure if that is an indication of a bad connection somewhere or something in the receiver is starting to fail, but at this point in time it is working again. Thanks for all the help!
