Technical Antenna Problem

[PhilM Star]

I have traded in my Marea Weekender as posted elsewhere and collected my 1.9 Multiwagon. So far so good with none of the problems discussed here. However, I did find that there was a large amount of radio interference so I took out the radio to check the airiel connection. Lo and behold some innovative person had stuffed a standard car airiel behind the radio in the dash. I removed this and put a multimeter across the end of the origenal cable, which was still there, and the housing on the back of the car having unscrewed the airiel. No connection so the wire is broken somewhere. To get to the point; what is the cable path for the airiel and how easy is it to get at the back of the mounting in the roof of the car?
Found this document on the Blaupunk site which may be of use to others
http://fe0wap79.bosch.de/intershoproot/files/serviceDocuments/7608093700001_EA_GB.pdf :shakehead

 

[Rich]

Re: Blaupunk Radio in Stilo

Hi PhilM Star

Firstly, I've renamed the thread to a more specific name and hopefully it'll attract more attention .

Now, I've got to the antenna on my Stilo 3dr, and as far as I am aware the cable routing is the same on all variants. It goes from the back of the stereo, behind in the instrument cluster, to it's first junction connector which is directly behind the "My Car" switch panel. Then, it goes down under the drivers sill trim, then under the rear drivers still trim (5dr and MW), behind the rear carpeted panel in the boot area, up the drivers C-pillar trim, then across the roof (through another junction connector) to the aerial base.

Instructions how to remove the roof lining and "My Car" trim are in the Stilo guides section; see "Connect Nav+ Installation Guide" (the aerial needs replacing for it to work correctly and new GPS/GSM wires have to be installed along the same route as the radio antenna ).

Hope that is of some use

 

[PhilM Star]

Thanks for this. I have searched all over the internet and found nothing so this is rare information indeed. I checked at the bee sting end of the wire and it does seem to go down the drivers side C column. Strange thing was that when I tried the multi meter on the aeriel connector and the mini coax just inside the roof there was no connection, similarly there is no connection between the other side of the plug and the end of the cable. I would have expected one of them to have been OK. I have spoken to a Fiat dear and he said the aeriel is of the amplified kind so maybe there is some kind of resistance stopping me getting a reading. Anyway, I will look up the connector behind the MY Car assembly and check this. I have also seen reference to an inline/internal aeriel booster so will look into this also. The car, I have discovered, previously had a telephone fitted so maybe something wasnt put back correctly when it was removed. On the owners manual there is a pin out diagram one of which is for an aeriel on the power block, this is not connected but no sign of wires having been cut or removed:bang: I'll post any progress made and thanks again.

 

[Rich]

There is no in-line antenna booster, we had all the cables out so I can say that for definite! All that comes out of the base is the black antenna cable, and via it's connectors goes all the way to the headunit.

Put the multimeter on resistance check. If you did, then indeed there is a loose connection or broken wire. Each section is available separately . You now need to check the My Car connection (as you said) and check both parts of the cable.

Did you drop the roof lining to get to the antenna base??

 

[PhilM Star]

I have still not had the dashboard off to check the connector due to lack of daylight when i get home and my family planning my weekend for me I did drop the roof lining to get to the connector and have now taken off the base for the bee sting airiel. Once you have taken it of you can remove a plastic collar around the base of it. This reveals two screws that are inset and covered with a small blob of silicone. Care fully remove the blobs (retain to replace) and undo the screws then pull the black plastic shroud from the assembly (you may need to use a small knife to help it come out but dont damage it). Once you have removed this you can see the in line antenna booster on a small circuit board. This consists of a number of mini diodes a transistor and what looks like a thyristor but its been a long time since i half understood this stuff. The multi meter now gives a reading from the internal end of the cable to the first connector. The circuit board does prevent this test working when using the threaded connector on the base. There where no obvious signs of blown components on the circuit board but a lot of flux splashed around. I cleaned it up TNA, tried bypassing it with a strand of telephone cable but still nothing. I would have expected to get something if the cable was making a continuous connection to the radio as just putting a short length of plain wire on the radio airiel connector gets something. So, I think either the cable from the connector under the roof lining to the radio is faulty or the in line circuit is faulty, probably the former. I am going to try and get a car radio specialist to connect a cable from the first connector to the radio and check it with my existing radio. If this works fine; just put in a new cable if not then it looks like the in line assembly as well. I'll cost it and check ebay etc to see what I can do.

 

[PhilM Star]

Well its been some time since I updated this thread - work and stuff. I got a cable and it worked ok so I then took on the task of threading the cable through. IT goes under the roof lining to the drivers side rear pillar then down behind the trimn over the rear wheel arch. From here it goes down behind the trim under the rear door, through the central pillar base and under the trim beneath the front door. Removing the bonnet release handle then drawing the fabric back under the fuse box alowws you to thread the cable to the bottom of the dashboard recess. Tried threading it thriough to the rear of the radio without taking out the dashboard but couldnt do it. Removed the dash and bypassed the connector behind the MY CAR switch assembly as the cable was long enough and connected to the radio. Sorted. Replaced all the trim but its extremly fragile and a clouple of small cracks were made so take it easy. Radio works fine now but ive had a few other issues with plastic bits coming adrift under the car. fastened them up with plastic ties. Engine runs a treat.