Car AudioCar audio related questions and helpful hints for building the best sound system for your car or getting the most out of what you have.
Welcome to ThirdGen.org!
Welcome to ThirdGen.org.
You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, at no cost, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, join the ThirdGen.org community today!
SOLVED: Power antenna wont work off new head unit.
I bought a Clarion DXZ785USB head unit and connected the dedicated antenna wire to the power antenna wire of the car. When I switch source to Radio, I think it turns off the amplifiers because I hear nothing out of the speakers (not even a hiss) and I must turn the radio off and then back on in order to get sound again. Everything works fine (amplifiers are on and music playing) as long as I don't select Radio as the source. If I unplug the antenna wire from the head unit, I can switch to the Radio and I am able to hear the normal FM static and a few more powerful stations.
It seems like having the power antenna connected to the head unit causes it to short or something and it turns off all power (even to the remote-turn-on wire). The manual says that the antenna wire of the head unit provides up to 500 mA of current. Does the antenna require more than this? I wouldn't think so considering it's on a relay, but maybe the relay is bad?
EDIT (10/20/2009): I put in a relay to power up the antenna circuit, instead of the radio powering it, and now the antenna works perfectly. The radio was not able to supply enough current.
__________________ 170.1 RWHP @ 4217RPM, 232 FT.LB. @ 3390RPM
1984 Firebird Trans Am / Stock H.O. L69 305 / 700R4 / 3.73:1 Posi / Flowmaster exhaust / Accel HEI Super Coil
Yes, the only plug connected to the adapter is the one with the switched power and ground. I dont use the other two plugs since I am using RCA cables to the amps. This plug also has the antenna wire and I plugged in the antenna wire from the head unit to the adapter. The remote turn-on wire of the head unit is connected directly to my remote turn on wire going all the way to 2 amps in the back of the car.
After thinking about it some more, the power antenna itself or the relay is bad. When you turn the source to radio, it powers up the antenna wire for the antenna to go up. If the relay or the antenna is grounded, when you turn the source to radio, the antenna wire grounds and shuts down the radio. All goes back to normal when you turn the radio off and back on again. Did the power antenna work before or ever worked since you got the car?
__________________ 1989 Iroc-z, stock 350 TPI, auto trans, oil cooler, leather int., bose stereo, t-tops, Single Magnaflow cat with Magnaflow cat-back exhaust, 4 wheel disc, gold pkg., and custom aftermarket hood. Pics of my 89 Iroc http://www.thirdgen.org/techboard/me...y-89-iroc.html
After thinking about it some more, the power antenna itself or the relay is bad. When you turn the source to radio, it powers up the antenna wire for the antenna to go up. If the relay or the antenna is grounded, when you turn the source to radio, the antenna wire grounds and shuts down the radio. All goes back to normal when you turn the radio off and back on again. Did the power antenna work before or ever worked since you got the car?
Yea, the antenna works perfectly fine if I give it 12V. It was working properly with my previous Pioneer head unit (I had the antenna connected to the remote wire). It just doesnt want to work off the dedicated antenna wire on this new head unit. If all else fails, I'll just hook it up to the same wire as the amp remote turn-on. The only downside is that the antenna will be up even if I'm listening to a CD or playign a song from a USB flash drive.
Pics of my 89 Iroc 
