Antenna Cable :: part number?
08-02-2013, 12:00 PM
#1
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Antenna Cable :: part number?
Well looking for the part number of the antenna cable and/or somewhere to buy a replacement.
Any help will be nice.
Oh, and the cable is NOT repairable!
Any help will be nice.
Oh, and the cable is NOT repairable!
08-02-2013, 01:38 PM
#5
Use needle nose pliers to pull the tip out of the radio. Then either crimp on a new tip or splice in another section of cable with the tip already crimped on. Its not hard. Pick up a little 1' section from Best Buy.
Solder the two center conductors together (D) solder the two outer shields together (B) and insulate them from each other and anything else in the car. While some claim this might affect FM signal strength, I've done it several times and never once could even tell a difference. Up to you. Certainly a hell of lot cheaper and easier than re-running the entire antenna cable.
On a side note, follow the factory antenna wire through the dash as best you can. Often times manufacturers have a male/female connection behind the glove box or in the passenger kick panel area. If this is the case with the RX8, unplug it and buy a 3' run from Best Buy. Plug er in and let er rip.
Solder the two center conductors together (D) solder the two outer shields together (B) and insulate them from each other and anything else in the car. While some claim this might affect FM signal strength, I've done it several times and never once could even tell a difference. Up to you. Certainly a hell of lot cheaper and easier than re-running the entire antenna cable.
On a side note, follow the factory antenna wire through the dash as best you can. Often times manufacturers have a male/female connection behind the glove box or in the passenger kick panel area. If this is the case with the RX8, unplug it and buy a 3' run from Best Buy. Plug er in and let er rip.
08-02-2013, 01:45 PM
#7
It's regular coax cable with a motorola connector on the end. Exactly the same as the majority of the automotive industry and the same every aftermarket unit requires. Very common.
Be happy the RX8 doesn't use some proprietary connector. Like European vehicles and many GM cars do.
EDIT: Yes. Universal. If you ask for an antenna extension cable at Best Buy, that's what you'll get. Comes in 1', 3', and 12' lengths I think.
Be happy the RX8 doesn't use some proprietary connector. Like European vehicles and many GM cars do.
EDIT: Yes. Universal. If you ask for an antenna extension cable at Best Buy, that's what you'll get. Comes in 1', 3', and 12' lengths I think.
08-02-2013, 01:55 PM
#9
I don't remember right off hand. Been too long since I've been behind the headunit in the RX8. And my last one was a Series II...
Just follow the cable best you can. On most all vehicles they make a turn towards the passenger side, eventually head down towards the passenger kick, and then run to the rear of the car. Some vehicles it's one solid cable the whole way. Some vehicles have a connection behind the glove, some right at the pass kick, some up under the top dash pad (just did a Tahoe or Yukon like that). It might even help to pull the glove box and look for a wire that looks like it might be the antenna wire. Then pull lightly on it to see if the antenna wire in the center dash starts moving. Then continue following it.
Just follow the cable best you can. On most all vehicles they make a turn towards the passenger side, eventually head down towards the passenger kick, and then run to the rear of the car. Some vehicles it's one solid cable the whole way. Some vehicles have a connection behind the glove, some right at the pass kick, some up under the top dash pad (just did a Tahoe or Yukon like that). It might even help to pull the glove box and look for a wire that looks like it might be the antenna wire. Then pull lightly on it to see if the antenna wire in the center dash starts moving. Then continue following it.
08-04-2013, 02:30 PM
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Am I losing my mind or what?!?!?!
So I think I traced the cable but now it looks as if both ends are male??????????
So I think I traced the cable but now it looks as if both ends are male??????????
Last edited by ripigs; 08-04-2013 at 03:25 PM.
08-04-2013, 04:23 PM
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Traced the cable starting from the back of the radio...up inside the back of the steering wheel...down to the kick panel just behind the fuses...and then it connects to the long extender from there go to the back.
08-04-2013, 04:30 PM
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And i went to best buy...talked to the car audio guy...when i said that both ends are male he looked at me if I was crazy and didn't know what I was talking about
08-04-2013, 04:30 PM
#14
Ahhhhhh. So it does run down the driver's side. Well it's nice you found it. But I guess you now know you need a male to male antenna extension. If you can't find one long enough, Metra does make a short male/male adapter (part number 40-UV42). Meaning you'd just buy the regular male/female extension piece from Best Buy or wherever, then use the adapter.
As for the guy at Best Buy, it's a crap shoot there. Sometimes you might get a quality installer in your area who loves what he does. Other times you get someone with zero experience and zero pride in his work. Or maybe it was just hard for him to visualize what you have going on.
and
As for the guy at Best Buy, it's a crap shoot there. Sometimes you might get a quality installer in your area who loves what he does. Other times you get someone with zero experience and zero pride in his work. Or maybe it was just hard for him to visualize what you have going on.
and
Last edited by firebirdude; 08-04-2013 at 04:34 PM.
08-05-2013, 01:16 AM
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You won't be able to trace the antenna cable... it goes into the main harness and runs to the drivers kick panel (as previously mentioned).... It is actually about 3" abouve the fusebox near the top of the panel.
Use a 6 foot male to female extension and a 6" or 12" male to male adapter....
You will have more luck finding the adapter if you ask for a "male to male Motorola antenna adapter".
When you secure the cable, make sure you leave yourself plenty of slack on the end at the dash openong, especially if you plan on adding an aftermarket headunit. most aftermarket decks have the antenna port on the opposite side of the radio than the stock unit... makes it nearly impossible to connect the stock cable to an aftermarket deck unless you have a really small hand...
Use a 6 foot male to female extension and a 6" or 12" male to male adapter....
You will have more luck finding the adapter if you ask for a "male to male Motorola antenna adapter".
When you secure the cable, make sure you leave yourself plenty of slack on the end at the dash openong, especially if you plan on adding an aftermarket headunit. most aftermarket decks have the antenna port on the opposite side of the radio than the stock unit... makes it nearly impossible to connect the stock cable to an aftermarket deck unless you have a really small hand...
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