MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: ty222 on May 22, 2013, 11:45

Title: Ariel issues!
Post by: ty222 on May 22, 2013, 11:45
Hi troop ive just fitted a new after market radio to my car,the problem is eveytime its on the ariel comes up....i dont want it to as i do hate the ariel and oly ever use aux anyway,is there any way to stop it?
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: nathanMR2 on May 22, 2013, 11:49
You can cut into a wire on the rear of the stereo (light blue I think) and add a switch. You can also wire it to your window disable button and use this in place of an addition switch
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: ty222 on May 22, 2013, 11:57
thats great thanks, sounds easy enough anyway think i will try and add a switch on the light blue wire and see how it goes.
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: nathanMR2 on May 22, 2013, 12:03
Just make sure you test it with a volt meter to make sure you have the correct one
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: nathanMR2 on May 22, 2013, 12:07
Also be aware that my current aftermarket Kenwood stereo uses the same blue cable to activate the aerial as well as my amp remote lead. So if you intend to use a amp at any stage you might want to cut into the aerial cable its self if it has the same setup on your head unit
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: onion86 on May 22, 2013, 12:21
As you've not said what brand it is, with Sony's if you turn the 'AF' function off it stops the aerial from coming up unless the radio is on. This has worked with 3 different Sony stereos I've had on 2 different '2s (my new one has a single TA/AF button and I have to have them both set to off for it to work).

I'm sure this must work on some other brands but I know it doesn't work on them all, worth at least trying that first if you have the option.
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: venomizer on May 24, 2013, 11:27
I have a Sony too (BTX-4000U), and in the manual it says the same, that the aerial won't go up if AF and TA or off, but it never worked on mine - the aerial was always up when the unit was on, regardless of what audio source I had selected and even with AF/TA off. I ended up just re-wiring the power aerial wire through to the window disable switch as others have mentioned.
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: onion86 on May 24, 2013, 11:42
My current one is an MEX-BT3900U (do you mean MEX-BT4000U?) so I can't see how it wouldn't work being that close to mine  s:? :? s:?
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: venomizer on May 27, 2013, 20:29
Quote from: "onion86"My current one is an MEX-BT3900U (do you mean MEX-BT4000U?) so I can't see how it wouldn't work being that close to mine  s:? :? s:?

Yeah that's the one   s:P :P s:P  

I think it might be a fault with mine. The manual says it's supposed to do what you said, but it just doesn't. I've even had the multimeter out to check the power aerial pin coming out of the back of the HU and it always has +12V on it whilst the HU is on, regardless of mode. Pretty sure it must be a fault. I emailed Sony but they wanted me to send it off to some repairer with the advise that if nothing wrong was found, I would have to pay for it... No thanks (considering it was such a specific and minute problem). Ended up just doing the passenger window switch mod.
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: swampy_donkey on June 1, 2013, 12:38
I'm having the same troubles guys, just fitted a pioneer deh4400bt and the aerial isn't playing ball. It's all wired up and tested with the voltmeter, just doesn't come up. Drat.
Title: Re: Ariel issues!
Post by: no1trancefan on June 14, 2013, 14:19
is it the black wire for the aerial? think it neds a rocker switch as the window lock switch looks like plastic casing will get damaged if prise that open