Pioneer Avic-F90BT Antenna Stinks!

[HouseCat]

So, I took out the stock radio from my 2008 4Runner and put in a Pioneer Avic-F90BT GPS/Radio. While it cranks and sounds awesome, it won't pick up 1/2 the radio stations my stock radio did. So, I bought the HD radio accessory to see if that would help, and it was about the same. It did boost current signals a little more, but not to an enjoyable listening level. Still a lot of static and such. Now, I live south of DC, and there are a lot of radio stations around here, so location and broadcast isn't the problem. I think its the crappy receiver/antenna on this highly acclaimed Pioneer (which is supposed to be a good brand, or so I thought.)

My husband threw away the box the Pioneer came in, so I'm stuck with the stupid thing. (Only thing I use it for now is my iPod.) He suggested attaching an exterior antenna to the 4Runner to see if that helps. Any suggestions on how to remedy this without removing the unit?

 

[Bookmonke]

Did you hook up the wire that powers the antenna booster that is in the 4runner? I think off the Pioneer it is the blue or blue and white, check the install manual, that has to be hooked to the plug that was with the two antennas in the 4runner.

 

[004Gunner]

Iirc this issue is common with the diversity antennae. I think the 4th gen runner has the diversity antennae like the 3rd gen does and you have to connect both of them for good radio reception. I'm actually looking for the adapter myself because I never connected the other antenna with my initial install. Someone posted the same issue you describe and said a Scosche brand adapter fixed it but they didn't have the adapter's part number.

 

[drbiii]

Here's a link to one of my other posts with the part numbers to use so you can connect the diversity antenna and the regular antenna to the single input.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/469932-post10.html

 

[HouseCat]

Did you hook up the wire that powers the antenna booster that is in the 4runner? I think off the Pioneer it is the blue or blue and white, check the install manual, that has to be hooked to the plug that was with the two antennas in the 4runner.

THAT FIXED IT! You're right...the blue and white wire powers a normal exterior antenna, but with the 4Runner system, you have to hook that into the #8 black booster wire, which I think goes to the back window or something. Not sure, but once I did that, it worked like a charm. Thanks again! :guitar3: