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Wow -- I never expected so much great help. Thanks for the pics and excellent recommendations.
I did order a static antenna from Amazon. My plan was to take off the retaining nut and power up the radio and pull the antenna out completely.
Then insert the stationary one and secure it with the retaining nut.
Now, with all the great suggestions, I may just remove the power supply to the antenna and return the purchased one to Amazon!
I'll keep you guys posted -- as if anyone really cares
If I install the one from Amazon, I'll take a pic and post it here so you can see the final solution.
BTW, I have a VSC light on. Been reading about the reason it's on and how to turn it off. I checked the gas cap today -- cleaned the neck and cap. Will drive a bit and see if the light goes out. Some have had success doing that. Gonna take the simple steps first before getting too aggressive.
To Bgw70 -- I'm located near Crystal River, FL, on the Gulf Coast and just West of Ocala, FL
yep, i know where you are…I think about 2.5 or so hrs.
Try to clear those codes shorting pins 4&14 on the OBDII connector with the key on engine off.
So, you are saying the antenna adjusts its height depending on channel that the radio is on? I'm not sure how much radio I listen to anyway, I get that Amazon music free with prime and I'm usually listening to that or the Sirius off the wife's phone.
please let us know what it says in the owners manual
Hey Gleeson!
Sorry, I failed to say thank you for the pics and excellent recommendation.
The plug that you disconnected was the "power" source -- correct?
The antenna stays down but you have no issues with reception -- is that also correct?
Thanks,
-gene
Hey Gleeson!
Sorry, I failed to say thank you for the pics and excellent recommendation.
The plug that you disconnected was the "power" source -- correct?
The antenna stays down but you have no issues with reception -- is that also correct?
Thanks,
-gene
Hey Gleeson!
Sorry, I failed to say thank you for the pics and excellent recommendation.
The plug that you disconnected was the "power" source -- correct?
The antenna stays down but you have no issues with reception -- is that also correct?
Thanks,
-gene
no worries gene, and i’m glad you found it helpful.
i’m just trying to pay forward for all the help i’ve received over the years.
you are correct. that is the antenna power source i unplugged in my photos.
the antenna stays down all the time, no more noise going up and down!
the previous owner replaced the oem head unit with a pioneer avh-x2800bs dvd receiver paired with a beat sonic adapter. i still have steering wheel control of audio. the nav door hasn’t worked since i bought the car and i just keep it closed.
regarding radio reception after rear antenna disconnect, i still get 16 of 18 FM presets with no apparent degradation. AM however, there is clearly (pun intended) degradation and i only get 4 of 5 presets.
i don’t listen to the radio much if at all.
everything i need flows through my phone.
Ok guys, below is the final antenna change out.
Purchased via Amazon from AntennaMastsRus. Not cheap but the customer service is great.
Since I don't have the stock radio, I was not able to follow the "hyper extension" process for ejecting the mast along with the toothed cable.
Called the folks at AntennaMastsRus and got excellent directions on how to proceed. Complete installation in 3 minutes.
Ok guys, below is the final antenna change out.
Purchased via Amazon from AntennaMastsRus. Not cheap but the customer service is great.
Since I don't have the stock radio, I was not able to follow the "hyper extension" process for ejecting the mast along with the toothed cable.
Called the folks at AntennaMastsRus and got excellent directions on how to proceed. Complete installation in 3 minutes.
So I too dont have the stock radio, what did they say to do?
Below are the steps provided:
1. Remove the retaining nut on the mast -- I used a pair of needle nose pliers (be careful)
2. Turn on the radio -- the antenna will extend -- pull up if you need to in order to access the toothed cable
3. Using a pair of vise grips -- secure the cable as close to the car as reasonable.
4. Turn the radio off -- the toothed cable will try to retract. Since it can't, the radio will assume it has been completely lowered
5. Turn the radio back on and the entire cable will come out.
6. Insert the sleeve from the new antenna
7. Re-secure the retaining nut
8. Screw the new antenna into the sleeve
They recommended having a second person in the car. I did it alone by accessing the key from the passenger's side of the car, thus I was very close to the antenna and didn't miss a beat
Hope this is helpful.
-gene
Last edited by mcgene; Nov 14, 2023 at 04:37 PM.
Reason: adding web link
Below are the steps provided:
1. Remove the retaining nut on the mast -- I used a pair of needle nose pliers (be careful)
2. Turn on the radio -- the antenna will extend -- pull up if you need to in order to access the toothed cable
3. Using a pair of vise grips -- secure the cable as close to the car as reasonable.
4. Turn the radio off -- the toothed cable will try to retract. Since it can't, the radio will assume it has been completely lowered
5. Turn the radio back on and the entire cable will come out.
6. Insert the sleeve from the new antenna
7. Re-secure the retaining nut
8. Screw the new antenna into the sleeve
They recommended having a second person in the car. I did it alone by accessing the key from the passenger's side of the car, thus I was very close to the antenna and didn't miss a beat
Hope this is helpful.
-gene
Nice write up, thank you, it will certainly help someone down the road.
can you go back and add a link to the website where you purchased please.
Just noticed that you have an after market Pioneer unit. When I bought my 2005 SC430, the original owner had a Pioneer AVH 500-ex installed. It works well with the ML system -- sound is awesome -- however, it's a much older system and doesn't play well with Apple Car Play or any NAV. I've tried to connect my iPhone (wireless and wired) to access Waze and Google Maps -- so far no success.
Any good installers near you? I'm in a fairly isolated area of FL -- just outside Ocala on the coast near Crystal River. Haven't checked on any top notch installers around here.
-gene
I did my stereo install and used a BeatSonic interface. Most of it was plug-n-play.
As far as installers go, BestBuy does it. We have some stereo shops near us, Melbourne is about 10 miles south of me.
I am sure Ocala has a BestBuy.
did you see my thread where i was showing movies on the GPS screen? https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sc4...with-pics.html
Ok, new question, Previous owner had the radio replaced with a Pioneer head unit which I like btw, but I have no function on my nav door and I'm sure the tilt as well. He said when they installed the stereo that function went away as it was controlled by the radio?? Can that be right or is there maybe something I can look into to get it functioning again?
Thanks, Bgw70, for the links.
You are much braver than I am. I'm NOT particularly talented when it comes to doing what you did.
I could, as you suggested, take it to my local Best Buy store and have the head unit replaced with a more up-to-date unit.
Frankly, I have so many things I want to do that I'm not sure which comes first: New wheels, glass tinting, stereo upgrade. Obviously, window tinting will be least expensive and likely my first investment.
I appreciate all the help you guys have given me so far!
Regards,
-gene
