I have a '91 Buick Lesabre that had a radio that didn't work worth a darn so I thought I'd replace it. My brother had a similar(but not identical) radio that he gave me. I installed this radio matching wire for wire and all seemed to go fairly well. Now I don't get hardly any reception on the radio and stations that I know I should get no prob barely come in at all. It seems like an antennae problem but to my limited knowledge everything seems ok with that. Is there a way to check if the antennae is good/bad and is that even the most likely cause of this sort of problem? Thanks for any advice you can give.
Replies (11)
swez on 06/3/2004 09:51:42
Vinnie,
Clean the antenna lead in wire (male) and HU receptical as well with a wire brush. If there is a power antenna on this car, go back and peel off the right trim covers and clean these as well. That may clear up your reception problems. This car is a real pain to get the trim off to get at the HU huh?
Did you check to see is antenna is going up and down when the HU is turned on or off? If the antenna mast does not go up, reception will be lousy.
Comments,
Swez
vinnie2u on 06/3/2004 21:41:46
I guess that makes pretty good sense to make sure everythings clean although I must admit it never occured to me to do that yet. I know the antenna is working right. It didn't at first but that was due to some minor technical difficulties that were fixed rather easily.
Also, I didn't even realize this at first(another sign of my installation ineptitude) but the rear speaker closest to the antenna isn't working right either. I haven't had time yet to check it out further to see if it is speaker prob or wiring prob, but the speaker wires looked like they followed the same path as the antenna cable. Could it be that the whole bundle of wires was damaged somehow and that's what's causing both problems? I aprreciate your time and advice greatly.
ttocs on 06/3/2004 22:02:40
what kind of radio did you take out? What kind did you put in?
swez on 06/3/2004 22:06:53
Yes, have a close look around back there. If these are stock speakers in there now, just a very cheap OEM 6x9".
Have a 92 Buick LeSabre at the moment as well. Already replaced the fron door speakers that were shot from age and the rears, HU, 4 channel amp, subs and amp are next on the list.
As for the antenna, this area can get water damage at times is the trunk seal is not in good shape. That's the first place I would look as the antenna wire splice often corrodes when it gets wet for a while. Since this is probably a power antenna, you may want to prevent a problem by pulling the NEG battery terminal when working back there by the relay that drives the antenna up/down.
Swez
vinnie2u on 06/4/2004 00:46:53
Both radios are just factory installed Delco's. Eventually I'd like to get around to upgrading to something nicer but I thought I'd experiment with this first so I had some idea of what the hell I'm doing. I've already picked up a lot of great info just from reading variious posts in here. You guys are awesome with the knowledge and advice. I find it ironic that I have to pay fifty f&*##$% cents to put air in my tires but I can get great help here on how to set up a very nice sound system in my car for free. I only wish I had some spare money to make a donation- but don't worry I won't forget and I'll get around to contributing something before too long. It's worth it.
Yes, it is indeed a power antenna. And without looking I'd bet there is corrosion back there from a bad seal on the trunk. Thanks again.
swez on 06/4/2004 08:12:22
There's your weekend project... clear out the corrosion around and in the antenna connections and see what happens. Does this other factory unit have a CD or tape player? Does that work? If yes, your install and wiring are probably OK.... just a poor antenna connection.
Air for 50 cents... yep! You can give/get all the free air you want here. We have some very skilled people in this team, when you are ready to research and then install your new gear. Once that's in progress, then you might wish to donate a few beans to the kitty. For the moment, you are our guest... keep your change in your wallet for now.
Swez
PS FYI... we run this site pure PG rated, as it's a family gig. Please restrain the use of "colorful language". This site attracts people all over the world and we try to keep it distinctly different so that others feel welcome and free to enjoy the site offerings. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
ttocs on 06/4/2004 23:28:46
does the pwr ant raise and lower?
swez on 06/5/2004 08:53:45
He said it did raise and lower before.
Swez
vinnie2u on 06/5/2004 23:07:44
Well, I'm getting somewhere. I made sure all connections were good and clean and solidly connected. My reception has definitely improved but still not what it should be. Some stations are coming in that didn't before but others that should still don't. I didn't have as much time to work on it today as I had hoped so I will continue to expolore more tommorrow.
I heartily apologize for my language. I'm not here to offend anyone and normally that's not my style- just let some bad judgement get the best of me. It won't happen again.
ttocs on 06/6/2004 13:57:23
no worries mang........
You can also go and buy another ant, it does not need to be the one that goes on the car, to plug in and see if it works better. You will need an ant adaptor however....
swez on 06/6/2004 14:27:15
Forget it... the issue is over with an on to other things.
As for reception issues, you may have to go out and get some new antenna wire, coaxial connectors to match and install same.
The antenna and radio have a specific range of impedance matching for the HU to ontain maximum signal strength from the antenna. If that impedance changes due to moisture, corrosion or poor connectivity, you will have reception problems as noted. Clean all connections as best you can. Clean the mast as well with steel wool.
Inside this power antenna, are connections from the antenna to the harness. If that connection is corroded, have to take the power antenna out, take it apart and give it a goof cleaning and lube with lithium based white grease before you reassemble the housing.
Not overly hard to do... just time consuming. Also, there is a plastic traveler that attaches from drive motor to antenna mast. Be careful with this as they get brittle with age and may break. If that happens, you'll have to replace the traveler or manually raise/lower the antenna.
Had a similar problem on my 90 Olds Trofeo'. The traveler fell apart and I getto rigged the antenna to a manual up/down mode. It worked fine afterwards... but I had to lower the mast manually at the car wash, then raise it again, after the wash. Used a zip tie at base of mast to keep it up while driving.
A new power antenna will set you back ~$30.00 - 60.00 Aftermarket. If you buy it from a dealer... figure $250.00 or more.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=265-951 ($50.00) Metra
http://www.antennax.com/Products/Description_ax05.htm ($30.00)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HA90TX1B8j6/cgi-bin/
ProdView.asp?s=0&c=2&g=731&I=12044PW22&o=p&a
=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=power+antenna ($60.00) Metra)
Good luck,
Swez
Replies (11)
swez on 06/3/2004 09:51:42
Vinnie,
Clean the antenna lead in wire (male) and HU receptical as well with a wire brush. If there is a power antenna on this car, go back and peel off the right trim covers and clean these as well. That may clear up your reception problems. This car is a real pain to get the trim off to get at the HU huh?
Did you check to see is antenna is going up and down when the HU is turned on or off? If the antenna mast does not go up, reception will be lousy.
Comments,
Swez
vinnie2u on 06/3/2004 21:41:46
I guess that makes pretty good sense to make sure everythings clean although I must admit it never occured to me to do that yet. I know the antenna is working right. It didn't at first but that was due to some minor technical difficulties that were fixed rather easily.
Also, I didn't even realize this at first(another sign of my installation ineptitude) but the rear speaker closest to the antenna isn't working right either. I haven't had time yet to check it out further to see if it is speaker prob or wiring prob, but the speaker wires looked like they followed the same path as the antenna cable. Could it be that the whole bundle of wires was damaged somehow and that's what's causing both problems? I aprreciate your time and advice greatly.
ttocs on 06/3/2004 22:02:40
what kind of radio did you take out? What kind did you put in?
swez on 06/3/2004 22:06:53
Yes, have a close look around back there. If these are stock speakers in there now, just a very cheap OEM 6x9".
Have a 92 Buick LeSabre at the moment as well. Already replaced the fron door speakers that were shot from age and the rears, HU, 4 channel amp, subs and amp are next on the list.
As for the antenna, this area can get water damage at times is the trunk seal is not in good shape. That's the first place I would look as the antenna wire splice often corrodes when it gets wet for a while. Since this is probably a power antenna, you may want to prevent a problem by pulling the NEG battery terminal when working back there by the relay that drives the antenna up/down.
Swez
vinnie2u on 06/4/2004 00:46:53
Both radios are just factory installed Delco's. Eventually I'd like to get around to upgrading to something nicer but I thought I'd experiment with this first so I had some idea of what the hell I'm doing. I've already picked up a lot of great info just from reading variious posts in here. You guys are awesome with the knowledge and advice. I find it ironic that I have to pay fifty f&*##$% cents to put air in my tires but I can get great help here on how to set up a very nice sound system in my car for free. I only wish I had some spare money to make a donation- but don't worry I won't forget and I'll get around to contributing something before too long. It's worth it.
Yes, it is indeed a power antenna. And without looking I'd bet there is corrosion back there from a bad seal on the trunk. Thanks again.
swez on 06/4/2004 08:12:22
There's your weekend project... clear out the corrosion around and in the antenna connections and see what happens. Does this other factory unit have a CD or tape player? Does that work? If yes, your install and wiring are probably OK.... just a poor antenna connection.
Air for 50 cents... yep! You can give/get all the free air you want here. We have some very skilled people in this team, when you are ready to research and then install your new gear. Once that's in progress, then you might wish to donate a few beans to the kitty. For the moment, you are our guest... keep your change in your wallet for now.
Swez
PS FYI... we run this site pure PG rated, as it's a family gig. Please restrain the use of "colorful language". This site attracts people all over the world and we try to keep it distinctly different so that others feel welcome and free to enjoy the site offerings. Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.
ttocs on 06/4/2004 23:28:46
does the pwr ant raise and lower?
swez on 06/5/2004 08:53:45
He said it did raise and lower before.
Swez
vinnie2u on 06/5/2004 23:07:44
Well, I'm getting somewhere. I made sure all connections were good and clean and solidly connected. My reception has definitely improved but still not what it should be. Some stations are coming in that didn't before but others that should still don't. I didn't have as much time to work on it today as I had hoped so I will continue to expolore more tommorrow.
I heartily apologize for my language. I'm not here to offend anyone and normally that's not my style- just let some bad judgement get the best of me. It won't happen again.
ttocs on 06/6/2004 13:57:23
no worries mang........
You can also go and buy another ant, it does not need to be the one that goes on the car, to plug in and see if it works better. You will need an ant adaptor however....
swez on 06/6/2004 14:27:15
Forget it... the issue is over with an on to other things.
As for reception issues, you may have to go out and get some new antenna wire, coaxial connectors to match and install same.
The antenna and radio have a specific range of impedance matching for the HU to ontain maximum signal strength from the antenna. If that impedance changes due to moisture, corrosion or poor connectivity, you will have reception problems as noted. Clean all connections as best you can. Clean the mast as well with steel wool.
Inside this power antenna, are connections from the antenna to the harness. If that connection is corroded, have to take the power antenna out, take it apart and give it a goof cleaning and lube with lithium based white grease before you reassemble the housing.
Not overly hard to do... just time consuming. Also, there is a plastic traveler that attaches from drive motor to antenna mast. Be careful with this as they get brittle with age and may break. If that happens, you'll have to replace the traveler or manually raise/lower the antenna.
Had a similar problem on my 90 Olds Trofeo'. The traveler fell apart and I getto rigged the antenna to a manual up/down mode. It worked fine afterwards... but I had to lower the mast manually at the car wash, then raise it again, after the wash. Used a zip tie at base of mast to keep it up while driving.
A new power antenna will set you back ~$30.00 - 60.00 Aftermarket. If you buy it from a dealer... figure $250.00 or more.
http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=265-951 ($50.00) Metra
http://www.antennax.com/Products/Description_ax05.htm ($30.00)
http://www.crutchfield.com/S-HA90TX1B8j6/cgi-bin/
ProdView.asp?s=0&c=2&g=731&I=12044PW22&o=p&a
=0&cc=01&avf=N&search=power+antenna ($60.00) Metra)
Good luck,
Swez
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