REFRESH on Antenna Range Mod - A-Pillar Removal and V1 Hardwire
08-01-2010 | 12:36 PM
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REFRESH on Antenna Range Mod - A-Pillar Removal and V1 Hardwire
I decided to do a V1 hardwire in the GT3, so I dug up this old post/thread from way back. LINK (Text below) If your keyfob has an issue, it might be the battery or the A-pillar antenna. And, for those that are contemplating the V1 (or any detector) hardwire, it's an hour job, quite easy, and is a 2 on a 1-10 scale. I bought a hardwire kit diretly from eBay for $8.00, which had all the wires, a fuse, and the adapter for power.
The reason I dig this up is that I had a faint memory that getting the A-Pillar off was a real bugger, but didn't remember exactly why. Now I do! Those little clips are stout! I had to really pull the plastic piece to get it off. Since one of the clips is just about adjacent to where the visor is [where the curve is on the pillar], try to pull from the inside portion at a 45 degree angle downward. That is, pull the side of the A-pillar plastic that is closest to the car's centerline and NOT from the side closest to the outside of the car - and don't pull striaght down, pull a little diagonal. Don't pull with your head too close to the action, as the clip will eventually come free you might smack yourself pretty good. When mine came free, 2 clips actually released - which was perfect for running wires.
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The reason I dig this up is that I had a faint memory that getting the A-Pillar off was a real bugger, but didn't remember exactly why. Now I do! Those little clips are stout! I had to really pull the plastic piece to get it off. Since one of the clips is just about adjacent to where the visor is [where the curve is on the pillar], try to pull from the inside portion at a 45 degree angle downward. That is, pull the side of the A-pillar plastic that is closest to the car's centerline and NOT from the side closest to the outside of the car - and don't pull striaght down, pull a little diagonal. Don't pull with your head too close to the action, as the clip will eventually come free you might smack yourself pretty good. When mine came free, 2 clips actually released - which was perfect for running wires.
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Originally Posted by himself from 2006
I did the remote range mod tonight, based on Izzyandsue's DIY, Here is my (short) contribution for my 2000 996.
This was my first attempt at a mod of any kind, and despite the fact that it seemed pretty easy, I was still a bit nervous to start pulling my car apart, but for all you faint of heart, if I can do it and get it back together, anyone can.
This part was easy. I needed a Star driver, and there was only one bolt.
I really had to pull to get the first one loose. These are stubborn little clips. One of the clips stayed lodged in the frame (i.e., came off of the plasitc A-pillar cover), so I needed some pliers to retrieve it and put it back. I had to pull pretty hard to get the whole thing out, and I felt like I was gonna break something. Good thing I didn't 
Start from the top (i.e., farthest from the dash) and you don't have to unwrap the whole thing (which I did, of course). You only need to unwrap about a foot or so.
There is only a little extra, maybe 4-5 inches to cut off. If you don't have a metric caliper, 130 mm (13 cm) is about 5.11 inches (roughly approximated to 5 1/8") [Again, measure from the black sleeve upwards]
I poked a little hole in the sleeve and used a velcro tie-down to secure the whole thing. The white antenna wire is nicely placed outside the foam and towards the inside of the car.
Mine wasn't very sticky. It held long enough to put the A-pillar back though.
Sweet, worked!!! I added at least 20-30 feet in range.
Pushes = pound in with palm of hand. Those little buggers are just as hard to get in as out. Also, I had a fit problem at the seat belt pillar (coupe). The end of the A-pillar has to tuck under the seat belt pillar. So you have to start at the front, then do the back, and save the middle for last. Took me 3 tries to get it back in place.
After the rest of the project, you'll be happy to get to this part.
Indeed!
This was my first attempt at a mod of any kind, and despite the fact that it seemed pretty easy, I was still a bit nervous to start pulling my car apart, but for all you faint of heart, if I can do it and get it back together, anyone can.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
1. Remove the sun visor. It simply pulls out
2. Use the small flat screw driver to pry of plastic cover on visor base. When removed, you will see the Hex bolt heads
3. Use the 4 mm Hex wrench key to remove both bolts. Hold on to the part, it has washers on the other side and can get fall off if not careful.
2. Use the small flat screw driver to pry of plastic cover on visor base. When removed, you will see the Hex bolt heads
3. Use the 4 mm Hex wrench key to remove both bolts. Hold on to the part, it has washers on the other side and can get fall off if not careful.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
4. Now pull off the A-pillar cover to reveal the cables underneath.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
5 Pull out the cables that are held in place on the foam sleeve. There is double sided tape holding it in place, pull carefully but firmly. From the top down
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
6. After pulling it, undo the foam by pulling apart the seam. The white wire is the antenna we are looking for.
7. Keep peeling off the foam until you get to the black sleeve on the antenna.
8. Measure off 130 mm from the end of the black sleeve upwards into the white antenna, and cut the the rest off. You need to keep 130 mm (25 mm is about an inch) of antenna above the black sleeve.
7. Keep peeling off the foam until you get to the black sleeve on the antenna.
8. Measure off 130 mm from the end of the black sleeve upwards into the white antenna, and cut the the rest off. You need to keep 130 mm (25 mm is about an inch) of antenna above the black sleeve.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
9. Pull the antenna wire off the foam sleeve, and enclose the rest of the wires with the foam sleeve.
10. The picture shows the wire after being secured with electrical tape to the OUTSIDE of the sleeve, and towards the inside of the cabin when the foam is taped back to the A-pillar.
10. The picture shows the wire after being secured with electrical tape to the OUTSIDE of the sleeve, and towards the inside of the cabin when the foam is taped back to the A-pillar.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
11. The two sided tape on the foam is sticky enough to simply push the foam back into its original position.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
12. TEST the remote now before assembling the trim. Walk away from the car, lock and unlock it, and grin.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
13. Replace the trim, it just pushes back in, do it from the bottom up and ensure it is on the inside of the rubber gasket.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
14. Secure the sun visor base with the two Hex bolts. Careful you don't loose the washers. Then push back in the sun visor and you are done.
Originally Posted by izzyandsue
:clapping:
