Antenna and Aftermarket Headunit

[Aodhan]

Tried searching for this issue with not much luck.

I installed a new headunit (Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997) in my 1998 limited 4runner and the issue that I am having is that when the unit is on, no matter if its CD/Sirius/USB the antenna powers up and goes up.

Any advice or suggestions on how to disable it? I would like it to only power on with the Radio, but I think its going to come down to installing a switch for the antenna. Anyone have any experience with doing that? As far as my electrical/wiring experience I would rate myself 5/10 (enough knowledge to be dangerous :jump: ).

Thanks for the help!

 

[tre9er]

If you wire the antenna lead to the existing antenna, you should be fine. I'm guessing maybe you have the amp lead wired to it instead...

 

[Crashnrondo]

Most of the head units operate like that, the best thing you can do is instal a switch on the antenna lead. I have an Alpine that only send up the antenna when the radio is used and I still have a switch because I use the glass antenna mostly.

 

[Hepar]

My exact issue with my current deck. My old deck (fancier features) would only power the antenna up if the radio was on. Otherwise it would be down. I have the switch and been planning on it for a while, just haven't gotten around to doing so.

As far as the difficulty, it will be super easy. Just find the power antenna line and run a switch in the middle of it. And there are switches you can get that will install into the factory blank spots, so you just pop them in.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I've had 3 alpine decks and never had this issue.

I've also used a Sony, Clariion, and Panasonic deck in the 4Runner without this issue.


What type of head unit do you have?

 

[Aodhan]

Brian - I have a Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997. I have used Alpine in the past and would have again, but the deal I go on the Kenwood was too good to pass up.

Does anyone know what is the best way to gain access to the antenna wire for a manual switch?

 

[BrianSD_42]

I'm pretty sure you have it wired wrong if it is doing that.

The Kenwood is a good HU and should have this feature (and I'm pretty confident it does)

Have looked at crutchfield's free online web install guides?

 

[Rhoov1]

Hi all, Im brand new to the forum and just purchased a 97 SR5 4x4. Aodhan, you have the Blue with White stripe remote turn on lead hooked up to the power antenna lead. Take the solid blue off the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997 and hook it to the blue power antenna lead off your vehicle harness adaptor. Do not hook the Blue/White to anything except an amplifer turn on. This should solve your problem. I am the install manager for Soundwerks Car Audio in Yucca Valley and we are a Kenwood and Kenwood Excelon dealer, I also have the X997 in my Lexus GS400. Great Unit with great capabilities!

 

[hrt4me]

Hi all, Im brand new to the forum and just purchased a 97 SR5 4x4. Aodhan, you have the Blue with White stripe remote turn on lead hooked up to the power antenna lead. Take the solid blue off the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997 and hook it to the blue power antenna lead off your vehicle harness adaptor. Do not hook the Blue/White to anything except an amplifer turn on. This should solve your problem. I am the install manager for Soundwerks Car Audio in Yucca Valley and we are a Kenwood and Kenwood Excelon dealer, I also have the X997 in my Lexus GS400. Great Unit with great capabilities!

great 1st post, welcome aboard!

 

[BrianSD_42]

great 1st post, welcome aboard!

agreed. awesome first post. welcome to T4R!

 

[Robb235]

Hi all, Im brand new to the forum and just purchased a 97 SR5 4x4. Aodhan, you have the Blue with White stripe remote turn on lead hooked up to the power antenna lead. Take the solid blue off the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997 and hook it to the blue power antenna lead off your vehicle harness adaptor. Do not hook the Blue/White to anything except an amplifer turn on. This should solve your problem. I am the install manager for Soundwerks Car Audio in Yucca Valley and we are a Kenwood and Kenwood Excelon dealer, I also have the X997 in my Lexus GS400. Great Unit with great capabilities!

Awesome advice.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Appears this question has been answered but I have a Kenwood HU in my 3rd gen and the antenna is hooked to the blue wire coming out of the radio and it only powers up the antenna when the HU is set to "Tuner". When playing CD's or MP3's, the antenna stays down. I am installing an amp'd subwoofer today and will be running the blue/white wire to that for remote turn-on, which should go hot no matter which mode the HU is set to. I suppose some HU's only come with one remote power wire and those would probably go hot regardless of mode, hence the antenna would go up when the unit is switched on.

 

[Rhoov1]

T4r_Finally. You are right! Some head units only have the Blue/white remote turn on which activates whenever the deck is turned on which in turn activates the "ON" on the amplifier and power antenna. All Kenwood Excelon headunits have both blue power antenna lead and blue/white amp turn on. Or remote turn on.

 

[Hacker]

I have a Pioneer AVH-X3500BHS, with the blue/white wire, and it, too, retracts the antenna when it isn't using the radio.

 

[zooroadbaja]

I swapped my antenna out for a tundra one :first:

 

[Aodhan]

Hi all, Im brand new to the forum and just purchased a 97 SR5 4x4. Aodhan, you have the Blue with White stripe remote turn on lead hooked up to the power antenna lead. Take the solid blue off the Kenwood Excelon KDC-X997 and hook it to the blue power antenna lead off your vehicle harness adaptor. Do not hook the Blue/White to anything except an amplifer turn on. This should solve your problem. I am the install manager for Soundwerks Car Audio in Yucca Valley and we are a Kenwood and Kenwood Excelon dealer, I also have the X997 in my Lexus GS400. Great Unit with great capabilities!

Why thank you!!

I will tear into the unit tonight and figure it out. I was not the one to install it, but I will figure it out!

 

[Aodhan]

I presume taking the trim and stereo out should be pretty self explanatory? I would take it back into the shop by I can't until late next week, and since it seems pretty simple (i think) I would rather just get it done and over with.

 

[Hepar]

I wish I had that wire... :crybaby:

 

[T4R_Finally]

I presume taking the trim and stereo out should be pretty self explanatory? I would take it back into the shop by I can't until late next week, and since it seems pretty simple (i think) I would rather just get it done and over with.

The process is documented and is fairly easy. I believe there are even youtube videos out there on how to do it. You have to pop the console part around the e-brake, pop the console part around the shifter, and then you can remove the trim around the radio. Of course there are all kinds of things plugged into the back of it.

 

[Hacker]

I presume taking the trim and stereo out should be pretty self explanatory? I would take it back into the shop by I can't until late next week, and since it seems pretty simple (i think) I would rather just get it done and over with.

Yes, very easy to do. Unlike other cars I've done that on, very little danger of breaking any plastic clips when doing it, either.

+1 good engineering for Toyota on this.