» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | | | 03-24-2007, 02:21 AM | #1 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 9 | Antenna plug disaster Today I installed a new Blaupunkt unit that I bought from crutchfield. I installed all the wires to the harness, plugged it it and sweet it worked! Only problem was the reception wasnt that great. When I went to unplug the stock antenna plug from the adapter plug as I pulled it out the reception went from crap to awesome. I discovered the center portion of the stock antenna plug was really loose, then the worst thing happened, the loose middle plug part of the connector fell off. I then cut the stock plug off and cut back the antenna cable to expose the wiring and the inside 1 or 2 strand wire. I jumped the antenna wire to the antenna adapter to figure out how it works but thats where I am stumped. If I take the car into a shop will they be able to solder a new antenna plug to the antenna cable and will it be ok to have them just use a standard male plug? Only reason I ask is because I read that the antenna is amplified not sure if that makes a difference? Sorry for the long post but it was kinda tough to describe. BTW I have a 1998 ti Thanks, Vaughn | | | 03-24-2007, 08:42 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | You should be able to just solder a new plug on there. Take the plug down to radio shack, IIRC it's a coax on one end, and a BNC on the other. They should have both in stock. __________________ I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | 03-25-2007, 01:41 AM | #3 | Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 9 | Thanks for the reply! Unfortunately I have to work a mad schedule this weekend so wife is going to take it in to a local place. They said it would be quick and cost about $30. I wish I had time but its worth it for me to have them do it. Thanks again. | | | 05-10-2007, 10:55 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but did you get this resolved? I just discovered today that I have the same issue with my antenna cable. I installed a new headunit recently and the reception has been crap ever since. I was in there poking around and jiggled the cable and it was all better. I eventually decided that the problem is definitely in the connector. Please let me know how you resolved this. | | | 05-11-2007, 01:22 AM | #5 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Central NJ Posts: 2,440 | This happened to my friend's car. I just crimped a new connector on for him and it was good as new. | | | 05-11-2007, 05:52 PM | #6 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | Where'd you get the plug? Radio Shack? | | | 05-11-2007, 10:24 PM | #7 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | I'd like to know the answer to that question too! | | | 05-11-2007, 10:38 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Stamford, CT <-> Boston, MA Posts: 1,393 | Got a picture of the plug in question? | | | 05-12-2007, 01:09 AM | #9 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | I can get a picture tomorrow probably. | | | 05-17-2007, 02:26 AM | #10 | Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: raleigh Posts: 17 | What did you do with your old unit? Was it original? | | | 05-17-2007, 03:10 PM | #11 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | Update. I totally forgot to take a picture of the plug. I did fix it though. The center wire of the coax cable had broken off Where it was soldered to the plug. It's possible with some careful manipulation to separate the plastic cover from the back of the plug. I was able to get in there enough to solder the wire back onto the plug. It works great now. | | | 05-17-2007, 11:02 PM | #12 | Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,224 | could you still get a pic of the plug? I'd like to see if I can find a replacement one for my bmw. Unfortuntely, I have no clue what the original looked like. | | | 05-18-2007, 02:46 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Halethorpe, MD Posts: 1,028 | Honestly, it will be a couple of weeks before I get a chance to get in there and mess with it again. I'm going to be swapping the stereo out again, but I'm just not going to have time to deal with it until June probably. Sorry for the delay. | | | 05-18-2007, 09:07 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: state college, pa Posts: 3,431 | Take the entire radio down to Radio Shack. You just need to find something that fits the connector on the back and is large enough for the wire. __________________ I scream, you scream, we all scream for ZOMBIES. | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Thread Tools | | Display Modes | Linear Mode | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |