Just bought a 97 factory cd player last week. Turns out it doesn't send the same signal that older decks do to turn on the power antenna. So, I rigged a bypass switch. I gotta get back to work(heh heh), but I thought I'd let anyone interested know. I'll post on it later.

1990 Formula TBI
black on black
mods so far-97 cd player

 

*sniff*...no one cares... ...:>

 

Sure we care!

 

How do you even test the power antenna to see if it works. I have a head unit from 1995 and my antenna doesn't work. I thought it was the antenna not the signal. How did you rig is up?

 

well, it all comes down to the wiring harness. My theory is that while the gm wiring did change in 88(?), some of the signals are different. Hence why most aftermarket units can't use the radio controls. To test the power antenna, all you have to do is bridge the power antenna and the constant wire on your harness. It's helpful to have some 20 amp fuses ready, because for some reason, the power antenna and the dome light run on the same circuit. I got a schematic from an older post about power antennas. It seems GM got a little murky with signals in 92-94, with all the radio options, no wonder. When you bridge the wires, the antenna will come on with the radio, or you can rig a switch to do it manually, like I did. I only use it when my stations come in crappy. It took alot of trial and error and about four fuses. The biggest problem was tracing the wires and mapping the colors. i hope this helps!


90 Formula--Black and Silver
enviromentally friendly TBI(dammit)