Hi peeps, I've owned my '2 for approximately 3 days and I'm totally chuffed with it except I have an annoying niggle: the stupid electric antenna is up ALL the time even though I'm not listening to the stupid radio!!
Its a 53 plate with the Toyota branded CD/radio and I wondered if they all do this or am I just being a plank and missing something obvious? I've meddled with all the settings on the poxy thing to no avail and I'm starting to get annoyed - seriously thinking about snapping the thing off! s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
It wouldn't be so bad if the aerial wasn't about 18 foot long and made my car look like a UFO or something!
If this is by 'design' is there anything simple I can do about it bearing in mind I dont really want to start pulling my new (to me anyway) car to bits?
Any help would be appreciated as I'm getting rather annoyed, not sure if you would have picked that up! s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
It shouldn't be up if the radio/CD player/cassette deck is powered off. However, the antenna does go up whenever the unit is powered on, which is totally annoying.
No idea about the Toyota radio, but my JVC kept it up with CD, if I had TA or some other RDS features on...
Quote from: "Tem"No idea about the Toyota radio, but my JVC kept it up with CD, if I had TA or some other RDS features on...
My new Pioneer H/U doesn't seem to allow me to drop the aerial whilst playing CD's either which is a little annoying to say the least s:? :? s:?
Not really a fix this...but I just disconnected the aerial behind the drivers side door bin. Therefore, its always down.
I hardly listen to the radio so its not a problem for me.
If you do a search there is a post supposedly telling you how to do it. Something to do with a relay and swapping wires on the headunit. s:? :? s:?
The best way to cure this problem, and by far the easiest way, is to install a switch in the antenna line. Heres how:
Step 1/ Reach up behind the dash and push out the Passenger window disable switch from behind. You need to press in the tabs on the top and bottom of the switch.
Step 2/ Cut the wires off of the back of the switch leaving roughly 1 inch of wire on the back.
Step 3/ Strip, join and then insulate the wires left sticking out of the dash, to enable the passenger window. Tuck them back through the hole and be safe in the knowledge that you'll never inadvertantly turn your window off ever again.
Step 4/ Join a length of wire long enough to reach to the back of the Stereo to each of the 1 inch lengths you left on the back of the switch. Feel free to use crimps, solder... whatever, just make sure you insulate it afterwards.
Step 5/ Run the wires through to the back of the stereo, and re-install the switch.
Step 6/ Locate the electrical antenna feed coming out of the back of the stereo. This will differ slightly depending upon weather you have an aftermarket unit or not, which will use an ISO plug adapter piece. If thats the case then its easy. You find the Blue wire that is connected from the stereo into the cars loom. Cut it and then connect the 2 wires you ran in from the switch to the 2 cut ends, and your antenna will go up and down simply by pressing the switch.
On cars with the stock head unit, you need to cut into a wire in the vehicles own stereo wiring loom. In this case you need to refer to this page m http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Toyota-Wiring.pdf (http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Toyota-Wiring.pdf) m , scroll down to 1987 and newer, and cut into the black wire that is at point H. connect up your switch and you can lower/raise the antenna at will.
Bear in mind when hunting for this wire that the later cars have 4 plugs going into the back of the Head unit, the extra ones being for a cd changer and the Toyota sat nav. You need to pick out the correct plug by counting the number of terminals in it. They're all different sizes.
You can of course fit your own switch to do this job if you dont want to use your window switch.
If the RDS is set to "On" the aerial will come up even if it's on CD or Tape, just switch the RDS setting off.
Quote from: "Les"If the RDS is set to "On" the aerial will come up even if it's on CD or Tape, just switch the RDS setting off.
Only works on certain makes and models of head units. Neither of the Head units I've fitted to my MR2's have had this facility. (Alpine and Blaupunkt)
Quote from: "Les"If the RDS is set to "On" the aerial will come up even if it's on CD or Tape, just switch the RDS setting off.
That doesn't work on post 03 models with the Fisher Price headunit...Its constantly up when there is power to the unit.
This is of total irrelivence but the old (and best) sony stock unit, only puts the ariel up when the radio is turned on. I dont know why they changed it, the origional unit is cool.
Quote from: "SiMR2"Quote from: "Les"If the RDS is set to "On" the aerial will come up even if it's on CD or Tape, just switch the RDS setting off.
That doesn't work on post 03 models with the Fisher Price headunit...Its constantly up when there is power to the unit.
Ah well just trying to help s:roll: :roll: s:roll:
Chop the bugger off and fit one of these s:wink: :wink: s:wink: (http://www.designboom.com/history/wirehangers/h12.gif) s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "Slidey McSlideSlide (dave"This is of total irrelivence but the old (and best) sony stock unit, only puts the ariel up when the radio is turned on. I dont know why they changed it, the origional unit is cool.
That was a feature that lots of Sony units had, I'm not sure if they still do though. There are several good reasons for the removal of the sony unit though, not least of which is that its now obselete. Also, its not compatible with the customer forking out an extra £1000 for the optional TNS sat nav...
Oh bum, looks like I'm stuck with it then as I dont really feel too confident hacking up my new car.
Cant believe there isn't an option to lower the poxy thing, that has to rank among the most stupid things ever!
I hate you Toyota!
GRRRR!! s:evil: :evil: s:evil:
Quote from: "Mr Vexed"as I dont really feel too confident hacking up my new car.
You wait...if you hang around here long enough, I'll lay some money down there will be some changes s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Yeah, mine is the Sony HU and when you select radio the aerial goes up. When you select CD the aerial goes down. When the radio is off the aerial is down.
I intend to put a new head unit in, but I don't see the problem with the aerial being up whilst the radio or cd player is on myself.
Just a question to those with the "old" sony HU.
Does yours have the tA/AF Auto frequency tune thing on it?
the radio manual suggests it should have, but the buttons are slightly different on the HU.
Simon
im pretty sure it does, i have it turned off, or the ariel would be up all the time, i think i read a thread about it somewhere.
Quote from: "Mr Vexed"Oh bum, looks like I'm stuck with it then as I dont really feel too confident hacking up my new car.
Its not really "hacking"... You can put in your own switch, and simply cut one single wire on the car, or you can save yourself the bother and expense of drilling holes and finding the right switch by simply using the one thats already fitted, yet has no real use...
Its a real easy 10 minute mod... and its reversible.
GSB, you're quite right and I'm gonna bung in my own switch this weekend, no point being a pussy about it as it needs to be done!
So its definately the blue wire to cut on the stock head unit (03 onwards) then is it?
I think you lot have corrupted me..............so, er lowering springs - how much? s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
noooooo, not the blue wire, that one always goes bang!
oh sorry, this isn't the movies is it s:oops: :oops: s:oops:
Quote from: "Mr Vexed"GSB, you're quite right and I'm gonna bung in my own switch this weekend, no point being a pussy about it as it needs to be done!
So its definately the blue wire to cut on the stock head unit (03 onwards) then is it?
Not on the stock unit... The blue wire refers to ISO standard colour codes, as used by all aftermarket audio suppliers. The Toyota loom on other hand, is a bit different, as the colours vary from year to year, and from model to model, so you have to locate the correct wire by its position in the plugs.
IIRC there are 4 leads plugged into the back of the stock head unit, 5 if you have a cd changer. The main power and speaker leads are plugged into the lower sockets on the head unit, the particular plug you need is the one on the lower part of the head unit, on the drivers side.
If you look at this link,
m http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Toyota-Wiring.pdf (http://www.installdr.com/Harnesses/Toyota-Wiring.pdf) m
and scroll down to the
"1987 and later" section you can see a rough diagram of the wiring for these plugs. The wire you need to cut and insert your switch into is at point
H. On my car the wire is Black in colour.
Ok thanks, I'll have a bash and no doubt return when I've ruined my stereo!
Thanks to everyone for the help!
Leave it up in one of the Southend car parks, I am sure that one of the local beauties will soon sort it out for you!!
Why don't you just change the damn antenna!!!
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/4B980056.jpg)
lol - I thought about it but I quite like the electric antenna, just dont want it up all the time! Would be nice it was a bit shorter though.
In that case, take it to an electrician and they will do the switch job for you. The easiest (not cheapest) way.
You don't say where you are in the country but if you can make it to one of the meets I am sure someone will have the knowledge to sort you out.
Simon
Thank you GSB. Great help and you were spot on. I have a reg '04 roadster and the wire was black for mine as well and was in the H position as in the diagram. I have no radio signal at all now but at some point I will connect it to the window lock switch, which is something I left for now since is 21:27 so a bit late s:) :) s:) . It took me 10 minutes to locate and cut the wire. Before that I sent 1 hour or so removing all the panels behind the drivers seat to try and locate the aerial wire....what a waste of time...at least I know now how to remove the panels.
Hi Michalis, I said you would find your answer here s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Glad you got it sorted.
Quote from: "xdesign"Why don't you just change the damn antenna!!!
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/4B980056.jpg)
have i read it somewhere that this mod doesn't work on uk cars? It's quite a popular mod on spyderchat iirc, but i'm sure there was some reason as looked into it myself as the increase in windnoise with the ariel up is huge!
Quote from: "Chris"Quote from: "xdesign"Why don't you just change the damn antenna!!!
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/4B980056.jpg)
have i read it somewhere that this mod doesn't work on uk cars? It's quite a popular mod on spyderchat iirc, but i'm sure there was some reason as looked into it myself as the increase in windnoise with the ariel up is huge!
Surely you can change the antenna s;) ;) s;)
You just have to change the whole unit, cause we have the electrical one...
Hmm, does the aerial have to be a certain length to pick up the wavelength of the radio waves broadcast in the UK?
It could be that they use shorter wavelengths in the USA, so they can use the shorter aerial...
... this is pure conjecture though - does anyone know?
I did put a shorter aerial than stock on my last car and my reception wasn't as good.
Quote from: "Mr 2"Hmm, does the aerial have to be a certain length to pick up the wavelength of the radio waves broadcast in the UK?
It could be that they use shorter wavelengths in the USA, so they can use the shorter aerial...
... this is pure conjecture though - does anyone know?
US FM frequencies are 88-108MHz, same as here and I suppose you have the same in UK as well?
The only difference is that they only use frequencies with odd digit in US, like 88.1 88.3 88.5 aso.
Quote from: "Tem"Quote from: "Mr 2"Hmm, does the aerial have to be a certain length to pick up the wavelength of the radio waves broadcast in the UK?
It could be that they use shorter wavelengths in the USA, so they can use the shorter aerial...
... this is pure conjecture though - does anyone know?
US FM frequencies are 88-108MHz, same as here and I suppose you have the same in UK as well?
The only difference is that they only use frequencies with odd digit in US, like 88.1 88.3 88.5 aso.
Yeah, they're the same here - well thats my theory sunk! s:lol: :lol: s:lol:
Quote from: "Tem"Quote from: "Chris"Quote from: "xdesign"Why don't you just change the damn antenna!!!
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/4B980056.jpg)
have i read it somewhere that this mod doesn't work on uk cars? It's quite a popular mod on spyderchat iirc, but i'm sure there was some reason as looked into it myself as the increase in windnoise with the ariel up is huge!
Surely you can change the antenna s;) ;) s;)
You just have to change the whole unit, cause we have the electrical one...
The group buy is over on spyderchat. Anyone else do these antenna's are they look pretty cool.
the GB on SC probably doesn't include teh base.
if you do this you need teh non powered base from teh US, circa $50 IIRC
Since someone sent a PM about it, if interested you can contact LordTabucan on SC for the antenna.
He can even get you the base for it from his local T.
Changing it is not that simple. You have to lift the car, remove the rear passenger wheel and remove the compartments behind the seats...
It's easy for a mechanic though! I paid 20 euro to have it changed.
Don't expect the signal to be as good as the stock antena.
Quote from: "Chris"Quote from: "xdesign"Why don't you just change the damn antenna!!!
(http://www.spydermagazine.com/files/4B980056.jpg)
have i read it somewhere that this mod doesn't work on uk cars? It's quite a popular mod on spyderchat iirc, but i'm sure there was some reason as looked into it myself as the increase in windnoise with the ariel up is huge!
The mod works, it just won't tune to anything unless your parked next to the radio station. I put one in but didn't bother wiring it back up.
The stubby aerial mod works fine on UK cars, only trobule is that it doesnt pick up any radio stations!!!
It depends if you want to listen to music industry bilge all day or have a good looking car. Personally, I'd snap off the big antenna and hook up your ipod
Phil
Funny this - the S2000 aerial is a wee little bee stinger just like that and it gives a cracking reception.
the bee sting aerials come from America where the VHF frequencies are different to ours, it could be why the aerial has bad reception
Nah it's more likely that the S2000 aerial is a bit more complicated than this one s;) ;) s;)
The Aerial that LT sells is (as far as I know) just the base part of another aerial, hacked off to length and then profiled at the top to a nice shape.
To be effective an aerial needs to be a very specific length (I forget what, but it's related to the wavelength of the thing you want to receive, I believe) - you can adjust that by constructing it differently inside (i.e. as more than a simple piece of straight wire)
Anyway - that's why LT's is pretty poor as an aerial.
Looks great, though, so I don't really care s:D :D s:D
cheers mate, suck eggs and all s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
and it is a simple bit of wire to a set length, sometime simple chocks and other basic attenuation devices can be used though within the aerial