Sending power through the black wire, the Antenna Question
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31
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2003 C320 Sport Sedan
Sending power through the black wire, the Antenna Question
I researched and searched every angle for a month before I installed by new HU and all of the goodies that had to go along with it to replace the BOSE system. Now everything is installed but I have **** poor FM/AM/HD radio reception.
I just read through 50 posts that contained the word antenna. I do not have tint but I do have a Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT with a CARPI 131. Someone posted in one of the threads that you need to send power to an antenna amp and that it is on a black wire. Maybe it is the computer nerd in me but before I shoot +12 volts into a black wire I want to double check with the forums.
The old radio was the Audio-10. The Pioneer has a nice power antenna line out that is blue with a white stripe. Are we sure that the black wire is where the power needs to go to.
Also, some people has posted saying that even after shooting power to the antenna amp they still didn't get a good signal. Should I just say to hell with it and mount a VW antenna on the roof?
I will post the pics of the extensive, 6 day install that had everything out of the car including the seats in a few days. You guys are going to dig this since everything now looks stock from MB.
I just read through 50 posts that contained the word antenna. I do not have tint but I do have a Pioneer AVIC-Z110BT with a CARPI 131. Someone posted in one of the threads that you need to send power to an antenna amp and that it is on a black wire. Maybe it is the computer nerd in me but before I shoot +12 volts into a black wire I want to double check with the forums.
The old radio was the Audio-10. The Pioneer has a nice power antenna line out that is blue with a white stripe. Are we sure that the black wire is where the power needs to go to.
Also, some people has posted saying that even after shooting power to the antenna amp they still didn't get a good signal. Should I just say to hell with it and mount a VW antenna on the roof?
I will post the pics of the extensive, 6 day install that had everything out of the car including the seats in a few days. You guys are going to dig this since everything now looks stock from MB.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 453
Likes: 3
From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
Had the same issue on mine, though, admittedly, I never cared enough for radio reception to ever fix it. I will say though that my old radio (without the CARPI, which doesn't jumper the blue wire on the harness) had good audio reception though, so it did seem to work fine and power the antenna that way.
The wiring diagram I used can be found here. If the link doesn't work, you can search out another copy or try later if the server is down; sorry, it's been flaky lately. And according to that, it does indeed look like the black wire. As a note, German vehicles seem to use brown wires instead of black ones for ground wires. You'd think they'd just all use the same color...
You did seats too? Nice. That's fun work, except when you break those stupid plastic pieces.
The wiring diagram I used can be found here. If the link doesn't work, you can search out another copy or try later if the server is down; sorry, it's been flaky lately. And according to that, it does indeed look like the black wire. As a note, German vehicles seem to use brown wires instead of black ones for ground wires. You'd think they'd just all use the same color...
You did seats too? Nice. That's fun work, except when you break those stupid plastic pieces.
Last edited by jedcred; Feb 10, 2010 at 03:33 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31
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2003 C320 Sport Sedan
The CARPI was still too weeks out when we got started. The first thing you want to do is install the HU on any install so I missed it in between. We removed the pins on everything in the harness adapter (Metra) that didn't go to anything to keep the clutter down. When the CARPAI came I there was an additional wire and I think that is where I screwed up, I will just have to plug the pin back in I think. I am not really getting a good visual of how it was in my head, all I can see are the somewhat orginized cluster **** of wires since I have the CARPAI and HD Tuner above the HU.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 453
Likes: 3
From: Bay Area, CA
'04 Mars Red C230K Sport Coupe (not Coup-EH)
So you have the HD Radio unit? Can you do me a favor? Can you get a read for the voltage level for the power for the HD Radio unit (the yellow-black wires that have a little box in between). I get anywhere from 3-10V (it changes constantly) and I couldn't get the HD Radio icon to light up on the GPS unit. I'm not sure if the unit itself is bad, the power adapter is bad, or the unit just doesn't recognize unless it has radio reception (which it didn't, because I wasn't powering the antenna at the time, as I found out later).
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 31
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2003 C320 Sport Sedan
HAHA, you too huh.
My HD icon shows up and everything works but not as it should. I will get the voltage reading for you this weekend when I dive back in there. Even without my antenna hooked up, like when we were playing around and didn't physically have it plugged in anywhere the HD icon lit up so I think you have a bad unit. I would RMA that sucker back to Pioneer. Just call them and tell them it is dead and they should replace it. If you need one you can use my reciept.
My HD icon shows up and everything works but not as it should. I will get the voltage reading for you this weekend when I dive back in there. Even without my antenna hooked up, like when we were playing around and didn't physically have it plugged in anywhere the HD icon lit up so I think you have a bad unit. I would RMA that sucker back to Pioneer. Just call them and tell them it is dead and they should replace it. If you need one you can use my reciept.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Power Antenna input on w203 head unit socket
Hi
I just recently replace my head unit with a new JVC. I have problem with my radio receptiom. I haven't connected my power antenna cable. So my question is would that be the issue.
Also If yes would anyone be able to tell me which cable on car socket is power antenna? if you could guid me with row and column of the cable please?
Many Thanks
I just recently replace my head unit with a new JVC. I have problem with my radio receptiom. I haven't connected my power antenna cable. So my question is would that be the issue.
Also If yes would anyone be able to tell me which cable on car socket is power antenna? if you could guid me with row and column of the cable please?
Many Thanks
Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Hi
I just recently replace my head unit with a new JVC. I have problem with my radio receptiom. I haven't connected my power antenna cable. So my question is would that be the issue.
Also If yes would anyone be able to tell me which cable on car socket is power antenna? if you could guid me with row and column of the cable please?
Many Thanks
I just recently replace my head unit with a new JVC. I have problem with my radio receptiom. I haven't connected my power antenna cable. So my question is would that be the issue.
Also If yes would anyone be able to tell me which cable on car socket is power antenna? if you could guid me with row and column of the cable please?
Many Thanks
Which JVC HU did you install?
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Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2
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It is JVC KW-AV70BT 2-DIN AV RECEIVER
Here below is link on JVC's website
http://mobile.jvc.com/product.jsp?mo...hId=133&page=1
Many Thanks
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Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
It is JVC KW-AV70BT 2-DIN AV RECEIVER
Here below is link on JVC's website
http://mobile.jvc.com/product.jsp?mo...hId=133&page=1
Many Thanks
Here below is link on JVC's website
http://mobile.jvc.com/product.jsp?mo...hId=133&page=1
Many Thanks
Hope it gets resolved.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 651
Likes: 5
From: So. Cal.
'02 C320 Wagon, '78 308 GTS, '06 Highlander Hybrid
I just replaced my Bose headunit and amp with an aftermarket OEM style from a SL55. It took some modifications, but I got it cheap. Now I have Nav, DVD, and bluetooth. But I have very poor radio reception. I figure this is because I don't have power going to the antenna amp. I have a C320 wagon and the Bose amp was in the right rear. The connection to the amp was power, ground, 4 speakers + center, and three other wires (black, brown, & white). These wires lead up to the top of the hatch, where the antenna is. I've heard some say that I just need to provide +12V to the black wire...is that correct? If that is true, does anyone know what the brown and white wires go to? Do I need to ground either of the brown or white? I'm planning on putting a Soundstream low profile sub where the Bose amp was. Should fit fine.
I just put +12V to the black wire and nothing...any suggestions?
I just put +12V to the black wire and nothing...any suggestions?
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 651
Likes: 5
From: So. Cal.
'02 C320 Wagon, '78 308 GTS, '06 Highlander Hybrid
DOH!!!
I was putting power to the small black wire in the back where the amp is/was...and was getting nothing
I decided to check the wiring harness at the head unit and sure enough there is a small black wire. I put power to that and presto...reception.
Thanks.
I was putting power to the small black wire in the back where the amp is/was...and was getting nothing
I decided to check the wiring harness at the head unit and sure enough there is a small black wire. I put power to that and presto...reception.
Thanks.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
c230
So should i put a switch in between the antenna and 12v on so the antenna amplifier isnt running all the time, such as when im playing music off my ipod?
