Top roof antenna replacement/upgrade? Ls430 03'
04-01-12, 01:32 AM
#1
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Top roof antenna replacement/upgrade? Ls430 03'
Is there a way to remove the older looking antenna (which im sure doesnt have any use) and replacing it with a more modern (also still useless) shark fin style antenna? Does anybody else think that would look good?
04-01-12, 11:31 AM
#2
Is that antenna for the now disabled analog-cell-phone-system-based Lexus Link - meaning now useless or for GPS, still being used in my car?
I think the shark fin antenna in that spot on my IS is for the Sat Radio.
I think the shark fin antenna in that spot on my IS is for the Sat Radio.
Last edited by TerrySmith; 04-01-12 at 11:40 AM.
04-01-12, 01:01 PM
#3
Lead Lap
I have provided this information before but I do it again instead of trying to find the old thread where I posted diagrams.
The 2003 LS430 roof antenna was used either for the analog Lexus Link or for the digital dealer installed phone system which was based on the Nokia CARK-91 handsfree kit and Nokia 6310i GSM-only handset supplied by Cingular/AT&T.
If a car was equpped with Lexus Link, the roof antenna was used for it. If no Lexus Link, the roof antenna was available for use with the dealer installed phone system. If the car had Lexus Link and the customer also wanted the dealer installed Lexus phone system, an imprinted phone antenna was installed on the rear window similar to the imprinted rear window phone antennas standard on the 95-00 LS400.
The roof top antenna could likely give a nice boost in cell phone range to those who drive in areas where service is poor like the imprinted rear window phone antenna does in my 2000 LS400. Using the roof antenna with a cell phone requires a phone cradle with an antenna connection -- like the interchangeable snap-in charging cradles from Bury which supplies the phone cradles for the LS430/LS460 Bluetooth Complimentary Kits sold by Lexus dealers in Europe and for the similar systems in Mercedes cars in the U.S.
According to the 2003 LS430 phone system installation instructions (107 pages long!), it looks like there is a factory installed phone antenna coax cable under the back of the LS430 center console leading to the trunk as there is in my 2000 LS400. In my 2000 LS400, the factory phone antenna can be used by attaching the coax cable under the console to a phone cradle antenna coupler and connecting two antenna coax cables in the trunk together. I suspect it is the same on the 03 LS430.
The 2003 LS430 roof antenna was used either for the analog Lexus Link or for the digital dealer installed phone system which was based on the Nokia CARK-91 handsfree kit and Nokia 6310i GSM-only handset supplied by Cingular/AT&T.
If a car was equpped with Lexus Link, the roof antenna was used for it. If no Lexus Link, the roof antenna was available for use with the dealer installed phone system. If the car had Lexus Link and the customer also wanted the dealer installed Lexus phone system, an imprinted phone antenna was installed on the rear window similar to the imprinted rear window phone antennas standard on the 95-00 LS400.
The roof top antenna could likely give a nice boost in cell phone range to those who drive in areas where service is poor like the imprinted rear window phone antenna does in my 2000 LS400. Using the roof antenna with a cell phone requires a phone cradle with an antenna connection -- like the interchangeable snap-in charging cradles from Bury which supplies the phone cradles for the LS430/LS460 Bluetooth Complimentary Kits sold by Lexus dealers in Europe and for the similar systems in Mercedes cars in the U.S.
According to the 2003 LS430 phone system installation instructions (107 pages long!), it looks like there is a factory installed phone antenna coax cable under the back of the LS430 center console leading to the trunk as there is in my 2000 LS400. In my 2000 LS400, the factory phone antenna can be used by attaching the coax cable under the console to a phone cradle antenna coupler and connecting two antenna coax cables in the trunk together. I suspect it is the same on the 03 LS430.
Last edited by Kansas; 04-01-12 at 01:25 PM.
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TSFARRIS (06-18-21)
04-01-12, 02:45 PM
#5
Lead Lap
The analog Lexus Link was still an option on the 04 LS430: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_Link
The Bluetooth Complementary Kit, which included a charging cradle with an antenna connection, was available in the U.K. and Europe for the 04-06 LS430. Maybe Toyota just didn't want to delete the antenna from North American LS430's for the last two model years (05-06) - I can't tell you why it was kept.
The Bluetooth Complementary Kit, which included a charging cradle with an antenna connection, was available in the U.K. and Europe for the 04-06 LS430. Maybe Toyota just didn't want to delete the antenna from North American LS430's for the last two model years (05-06) - I can't tell you why it was kept.
04-03-12, 06:32 AM
#7
Just stick with what's on there. Changing the car just to "modernize" the car IMHO cheapens it. For example, if you want a car with LED's, buy a car with LED's, When I see cars posing like something they're not, it irks me. You have a beautiful car in it's own right. Embrace the 430. The stick antenna suits the 430's lines. Just my humble opinion.
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04-03-12, 10:53 AM
#8
Please clarify because i am sooooo confused by this post:
On my LS430 2004 the roof intena has nothing to do with the radio?
I have a basic model that has not sat nav etc.. basic cd player, no monitor etc....
your telling me this is mearly a decorative piece?
please say yes as id like to buy a faux fin antena lol.
On my LS430 2004 the roof intena has nothing to do with the radio?
I have a basic model that has not sat nav etc.. basic cd player, no monitor etc....
your telling me this is mearly a decorative piece?
please say yes as id like to buy a faux fin antena lol.
04-04-12, 09:36 AM
#12
ughhh... i dont know if i like it from this angle... id need to see a front shot. havnt ordered it yet. cant decided if it looks right.
Not worried about resale, u just throw the stock one back on.
Not worried about resale, u just throw the stock one back on.
04-04-12, 09:42 AM
#13
Im actually really digging it, especially in body color. But Im still having a hard time getting how/why/if the one on my car now is completely cosmetic, serves no purpose and isnt actually doing anything? That doesnt strike anyone else as being way odd?
04-04-12, 11:42 AM
#14
it all has to do with cost. sometimes on an assebly it is cheaper to just do it rather then deciding which ones need it or not and having a seperate process. Im really digging the fin though.
04-04-12, 01:37 PM
#15
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lexus_Link
Again, I'm looking for that "antenna stick" for my 05 and will be glad to take it out from your garage space. :-)