Replacing head unit: 3 antenna input question & power antenna replacement question
New to me 02 Sport with old crappy Pioneer CD player. I’ve taken out the old head unit to see what awaits me for this new stereo install from unit when my Crutchfield unit arrives. I paid the extra $25 to have Crutchfield do the harness connections for me.
1st issue: I see two antenna wires wrapped in foam which, after researching, I now know need to be combined using a Y adapter I can get on Amazon, and an adapter that makes the little teeny rear antenna plug the same size as a regular plug. I got that. These two antenna inputs were not inserted into the back of the old head unit, which tells me why I got such crappy radio reception.
But... I also see what looks like an antenna input that also comes out, a third one and not part of any harness, and not wrapped in foam, and it has a red plastic end. It’s a double wire, like lamp cord, and it has one large and one small wire. The large side has the red antenna input which I removed from the old pioneer head unit, and the small wire has been separated and wire nutted to a blue and white wire on the old pioneer harness. Any idea what this 3rd “antenna wire” is and what I do with it?
2nd issue: The power antenna is shot and I want to replace it with a rubber antenna, like 12-14 inches tall. I’ve read countless threads on the taco whip mod, but all I want is a regular screw down antenna, I don’t really care about Toyota OEM stuff for an antenna. As long as it fits I’m good. I’m wondering if I can just go to AutoZone and just get a regular screw down antenna and the parts and housing that bolts down onto my fender. Is this possible or do I have to use OEM?
EDIT: I just remembered that the previous owner installed an antenna that sticks to the inside top windshield. Probably because he was too cheap to replace the broken power antenna.
Sorry for the long post, and any and all help is much appreciated !
New to me 02 Sport with old crappy Pioneer CD player. I’ve taken out the old head unit to see what awaits me for this new stereo install from unit when my Crutchfield unit arrives. I paid the extra $25 to have Crutchfield do the harness connections for me.
1st issue: I see two antenna wires wrapped in foam which, after researching, I now know need to be combined using a Y adapter I can get on Amazon, and an adapter that makes the little teeny rear antenna plug the same size as a regular plug. I got that. These two antenna inputs were not inserted into the back of the old head unit, which tells me why I got such crappy radio reception.
But... I also see what looks like an antenna input that also comes out, a third one and not part of any harness, and not wrapped in foam, and it has a red plastic end. It’s a double wire, like lamp cord, and it has one large and one small wire. The large side has the red antenna input which I removed from the old pioneer head unit, and the small wire has been separated and wire nutted to a blue and white wire on the old pioneer harness. Any idea what this 3rd “antenna wire” is and what I do with it?
2nd issue: The power antenna is shot and I want to replace it with a rubber antenna, like 12-14 inches tall. I’ve read countless threads on the taco whip mod, but all I want is a regular screw down antenna, I don’t really care about Toyota OEM stuff for an antenna. As long as it fits I’m good. I’m wondering if I can just go to AutoZone and just get a regular screw down antenna and the parts and housing that bolts down onto my fender. Is this possible or do I have to use OEM?
EDIT: I just remembered that the previous owner installed an antenna that sticks to the inside top windshield. Probably because he was too cheap to replace the broken power antenna.
Sorry for the long post, and any and all help is much appreciated !
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