Replacing antenna booster - SOLVED
01-27-2010, 11:42 PM
#16
Racer
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Hi Everyone,
I got the Nakamichi MB-VI CD Changer/Reciever in today. Beautiful unit, well made, with plenty of installation "stuff" included in the package. It will be a nice addition to my 928 S4. A good deal for $299, I am excited.
Whoops - Antenna Booster
This evening I went out in the garage to prepare the car to install the new unit. So I pull out the old Pioneer CD/Receiver and begin untaping and undoing the wiring loom prepared by the PO's installer.
Lo-and-Behold, while the power line (black wire) for the antenna booster is connected to a blue wire, (this with the wiring loom all bundled up and taped) when I untape and unbundle the loom, the blue wire is cut off. It isn't connected to anything, just buried in the bundle of wires and covered.
The orginal antenna booster on my car is unpowered...!
So the plan now is to reconnect the power to the antenna booster when I install the Nakamichi deck! If it works, I have a couple of extra antenna boosters, anyone?
VTY,
Joe
I got the Nakamichi MB-VI CD Changer/Reciever in today. Beautiful unit, well made, with plenty of installation "stuff" included in the package. It will be a nice addition to my 928 S4. A good deal for $299, I am excited.
Whoops - Antenna Booster
This evening I went out in the garage to prepare the car to install the new unit. So I pull out the old Pioneer CD/Receiver and begin untaping and undoing the wiring loom prepared by the PO's installer.
Lo-and-Behold, while the power line (black wire) for the antenna booster is connected to a blue wire, (this with the wiring loom all bundled up and taped) when I untape and unbundle the loom, the blue wire is cut off. It isn't connected to anything, just buried in the bundle of wires and covered.
The orginal antenna booster on my car is unpowered...!
So the plan now is to reconnect the power to the antenna booster when I install the Nakamichi deck! If it works, I have a couple of extra antenna boosters, anyone?
VTY,
Joe
01-27-2010, 11:54 PM
#17
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Hi Randy,
I bought the antenna from a UK supplier (GSF = German, Swedish & French) where it was described as Roof Aerial (Amplifier) for Golf Mk II. There were a few Golf antennas in their catalogue so I went along and selected the most likely-looking with same thread from a bunch they brought out of stores. It cost about $30 so a lot cheaper than the Porsche part!
Fact that I managed it shows job isn't that hard! Easy to drop the sunroof motor (a few nuts to remove the gear reducer thing and two rubber mounts for the reducer, I don't think you even need to remove motor but I did as I had a used replacement which ran a little smoother).
The only tricky thing is getting at the nut where the original antenna is attached to roof. Conventional wrench won't go into recess so I used what we call a box spanner here (pictured). It's 17 or 19mm. You gently move the solid sunroof cable guides out of way to create space for the wrench (they are pretty flexible).
The Porsche antenna has a square flange to hold it in square hole in roof so needn't be counterheld as you loosen/tighten. The replacement had no flange but the rubber base seems to fit pretty tightly over hole, and no water has come in that way with rain or washing car. You need assistant to hold it as you tighten from inside car or you're ok if you have long arms!
The other photo shows at on right the connections for the co-ax antenna and the antenna amp, just to left of foam protection.
The replacement antenna had a different plug from original. I just got an adapter at auto parts store which plugged straight into existing cable going to radio.
Oh the amp power lead had a different connector on replacement. I just crimped on connector from original - dead simple.
I bought the antenna from a UK supplier (GSF = German, Swedish & French) where it was described as Roof Aerial (Amplifier) for Golf Mk II. There were a few Golf antennas in their catalogue so I went along and selected the most likely-looking with same thread from a bunch they brought out of stores. It cost about $30 so a lot cheaper than the Porsche part!
Fact that I managed it shows job isn't that hard! Easy to drop the sunroof motor (a few nuts to remove the gear reducer thing and two rubber mounts for the reducer, I don't think you even need to remove motor but I did as I had a used replacement which ran a little smoother).
The only tricky thing is getting at the nut where the original antenna is attached to roof. Conventional wrench won't go into recess so I used what we call a box spanner here (pictured). It's 17 or 19mm. You gently move the solid sunroof cable guides out of way to create space for the wrench (they are pretty flexible).
The Porsche antenna has a square flange to hold it in square hole in roof so needn't be counterheld as you loosen/tighten. The replacement had no flange but the rubber base seems to fit pretty tightly over hole, and no water has come in that way with rain or washing car. You need assistant to hold it as you tighten from inside car or you're ok if you have long arms!
The other photo shows at on right the connections for the co-ax antenna and the antenna amp, just to left of foam protection.
The replacement antenna had a different plug from original. I just got an adapter at auto parts store which plugged straight into existing cable going to radio.
Oh the amp power lead had a different connector on replacement. I just crimped on connector from original - dead simple.
to replace your roof antenna remove the sunroof motor cover remove the screws that anchor the track rods if the tracks are in the way.
Disconnect the wires, one unplugs and the coax is a screw on coupler, then with a good set of long needle nose pliers grip the securing nut for the antenna base,
A helper is a good thing here to hold the antenna while the nut is removed.
Install is the reverse of take apart
Disconnect the wires, one unplugs and the coax is a screw on coupler, then with a good set of long needle nose pliers grip the securing nut for the antenna base,
A helper is a good thing here to hold the antenna while the nut is removed.
Install is the reverse of take apart
Now - I don't suppose you have a part number for that new antenna?
I suppose I may have to take the original off and bring it with me to the VW parts counter.
Thanks.
01-28-2010, 05:51 AM
#18
Drifting
Sorry Randy I only have the part number that this UK-based supplier has applied to their stock, and I haven't kept the original packaging.
It wasn't a VW part as such, but a part to fit VW (amongst others), so if you go down to the dealership and look at a few antennae I'm sure you'll find a good substitute.
Teir catalogue described it as "Roof Aerial (Amplifier) VW Golf Mk II"
It wasn't a VW part as such, but a part to fit VW (amongst others), so if you go down to the dealership and look at a few antennae I'm sure you'll find a good substitute.
Teir catalogue described it as "Roof Aerial (Amplifier) VW Golf Mk II"
01-28-2010, 01:48 PM
#19
Racer
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Hi Everyone,
Got the Nakamichi player installed and everything works great, including FM and AM. So the antenna booster works, but it was disconnected by the PO's installer. Yea!
Sounds great!
VTY,
Joe
Got the Nakamichi player installed and everything works great, including FM and AM. So the antenna booster works, but it was disconnected by the PO's installer. Yea!
Sounds great!
VTY,
Joe
01-28-2010, 02:56 PM
#21
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Hi JayC,
I havent shoved everything in there, yet, but I will just stick the Amp in, back behind the radio on top of the hump. I may get something to pad it a bit, so I dont have to hear it bumping around in there.
I am thinking I may stick the Amp down with some double sided foam tape.
Is there some kind of connector latch or something to hold all the speaker wire connector into the Amp module? I didnt see anything, just wondering if I missed it? Right now there is nothing but a friction fit holding the connector in there.
Let me know,
Joe
I havent shoved everything in there, yet, but I will just stick the Amp in, back behind the radio on top of the hump. I may get something to pad it a bit, so I dont have to hear it bumping around in there.
I am thinking I may stick the Amp down with some double sided foam tape.
Is there some kind of connector latch or something to hold all the speaker wire connector into the Amp module? I didnt see anything, just wondering if I missed it? Right now there is nothing but a friction fit holding the connector in there.
Let me know,
Joe
Last edited by JoeTaylor; 01-30-2010 at 01:50 PM.
01-30-2010, 12:09 PM
#22
Racer
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Hi Everyone,
I got the Nakamichi MB-VI 6-CD changer/receiver installed (DIN 1), whew. It looks and fits great. Its a big bonus to be able to have a CD changer installed. It also has a cleaner sound than the ol' Pioneer single CD/Receiver that was installed by the PO.
One thing I had to do, as JayC said, was detatch the amplifier block off the back of the unit, connect it to the remote wiring cord and position it separate from the CD/Receiver.
I had to take off the passenger side tray and the side panel on the center console. Then pull all the wiring out, install the Nakamichi unit flush and then stuff the amplifier block/wiring up in the nooks and crannies from the side of the center console.
Once everything was in and tested, I buttoned up the side panel and reinstalled the passenger side tray. Bingo!
Looks great, sounds better, photo attached. Thanks for your help JayC!!
VTY,
Joe
I got the Nakamichi MB-VI 6-CD changer/receiver installed (DIN 1), whew. It looks and fits great. Its a big bonus to be able to have a CD changer installed. It also has a cleaner sound than the ol' Pioneer single CD/Receiver that was installed by the PO.
One thing I had to do, as JayC said, was detatch the amplifier block off the back of the unit, connect it to the remote wiring cord and position it separate from the CD/Receiver.
I had to take off the passenger side tray and the side panel on the center console. Then pull all the wiring out, install the Nakamichi unit flush and then stuff the amplifier block/wiring up in the nooks and crannies from the side of the center console.
Once everything was in and tested, I buttoned up the side panel and reinstalled the passenger side tray. Bingo!
Looks great, sounds better, photo attached. Thanks for your help JayC!!
VTY,
Joe
Last edited by JoeTaylor; 01-30-2010 at 01:43 PM.
01-30-2010, 12:45 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
Looks great. Nice. Thank you for the information on amplifiers.
I actually needed to go deeper than you did to fix mine.
Yesterday I pulled the glove compartment on an 85 and removed the windshield antenna amplifier.
Visible above the rightmost round dash airduct is a small rectangular box that had a 928 part number, sorry, no pictures. It bolts to an under dash mount point with a single 10 mm bolt. Easy access through the glove compartment hole.
Coming from the windshield was a tiny plug with one wire with an end that looked identical to the TB tensioner wire plug. Soldered into the box, and routed out of the box to the radio, was an antenna wire and a companion power wire.
My antenna wire was broken/cut near the CE panel on its way to the radio. I was able to carve-up the antenna wire and solder a new male end on it, then used a store-bought antenna extension wire to make up the distance difference to the radio.
Similarly, I was able to splice a new power wire and route it back to the console. It connects with a white wire from the CE panel that is ignition-switched. I could run it to the radio antenna amp power wire instead.
Not trying to hijack, and I love your radio installation! Just seemed like a good place to inject this amplifier experience.
I actually needed to go deeper than you did to fix mine.
Yesterday I pulled the glove compartment on an 85 and removed the windshield antenna amplifier.
Visible above the rightmost round dash airduct is a small rectangular box that had a 928 part number, sorry, no pictures. It bolts to an under dash mount point with a single 10 mm bolt. Easy access through the glove compartment hole.
Coming from the windshield was a tiny plug with one wire with an end that looked identical to the TB tensioner wire plug. Soldered into the box, and routed out of the box to the radio, was an antenna wire and a companion power wire.
My antenna wire was broken/cut near the CE panel on its way to the radio. I was able to carve-up the antenna wire and solder a new male end on it, then used a store-bought antenna extension wire to make up the distance difference to the radio.
Similarly, I was able to splice a new power wire and route it back to the console. It connects with a white wire from the CE panel that is ignition-switched. I could run it to the radio antenna amp power wire instead.
Not trying to hijack, and I love your radio installation! Just seemed like a good place to inject this amplifier experience.
01-30-2010, 01:29 PM
#24
Racer
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Landseer,
Do you need a new antenna booster? Or does your booster work ok?
I thought I was going to have to replace mine, but found that is wasnt connected to the power source. So I have the two replacements sitting around here.
A photo of them is on my first post in this series, you are welcome to one of them if you like.
Let me know,
Joe
Do you need a new antenna booster? Or does your booster work ok?
I thought I was going to have to replace mine, but found that is wasnt connected to the power source. So I have the two replacements sitting around here.
A photo of them is on my first post in this series, you are welcome to one of them if you like.
Let me know,
Joe
01-31-2010, 01:03 PM
#25
Rennlist Member
Thank you, Joe, for the sincere offer.
Let me see how the patched system works outside of my basement garage next week.
If it's weak, I'll buy the box amp from you!
Let me see how the patched system works outside of my basement garage next week.
If it's weak, I'll buy the box amp from you!
