2006 Sonata - Antenna Amp?

Discussion in 'Hyundai Sonata' started by OU97CPA, Jul 11, 2006.

  1. OU97CPA

    OU97CPA Guest

    Just replaced the stock stereo w/ a Kenwood head unit. Everything is
    great except AM reception. FM is good, but that could be because I'm so
    close to the transmitters.

    Is there an amp on the antenna I need to connect to the head unit? If
    so, which factory wire is it? Thanks for any help anybody can give.
     
    OU97CPA, Jul 11, 2006
    #1
  2. OU97CPA

    Eric G. Guest

    Where did you find a head unit that would fit the Sonata? Or did you nake
    modifications?

    Thanks.

    Eric
     
    Eric G., Jul 11, 2006
    #2
  3. OU97CPA

    OU97CPA Guest

    I bought the head unit from Crutchfield; they supplied the wire harness
    (which is actually one used by Ford, but fits '06 Sonata); Cardomain
    has the Scosche Dash Kit, which they claimed was "factory color and
    texture," but which was actually black and didn't match texture. Still,
    after install, I'm happy with it. The kit can be used either as
    double-din or single-din with a pocket. Metra also makes a dash kit;
    I'm not sure if it's higher or lower quality.

    The only problem with harness is that it omits 4 wires. A brown and
    green at pins 18 & 19, which are the steering wheel controls. I used
    Pac Audio's steering wheel adapter to work around that. There are 2
    other wires, which I assume may be for an amp for the in-glass antenna.
    Not sure; I tried to connect the antenna power wire from the Kenwood HU
    to them, but it didn't help my non-existent AM reception.
     
    OU97CPA, Jul 11, 2006
    #3
  4. OU97CPA

    hyundaitech Guest

    This isn't really my area of expertise, but any antenna amps I've seen go
    inline with the antenna wire. There isn't anything like this on the
    vehicle-- you'd have to purchase something and install.
     
    hyundaitech, Jul 11, 2006
    #4
  5. OU97CPA

    OU97CPA Guest

    Thanks for the info! Do you know where I can view/download the pin
    diagram for the factory harness? The only ones I've been able to locate
    are for aftermarket harnesses, which omit the wires that the harnesses
    omit. I'm just curious what the 2 other wires on the factory harness
    are for.

    Thanks
     
    OU97CPA, Jul 11, 2006
    #5
  6. OU97CPA

    Eric G. Guest

    Could the extra wires be for the facotry sub-woofer? Just a thought.

    Eric
     
    Eric G., Jul 11, 2006
    #6
  7. OU97CPA

    Bob Guest

    The one that was on pin 24 - I think it's G/B, but I can't read it for
    sure - is for the antenna amp. It needs 12 volts when the radio is on. If
    the amp's not powered, it's likely that the only thing you'll hear is what
    leaks through the amp, and cable. VHF (FM) is able to do that more easily
    than HF (AM).
     
    Bob, Jul 12, 2006
    #7
  8. OU97CPA

    Shadow Guest

    If they still use the same plugs, its the wire above the black ground wire
    on
    the factory harness, it may be grey(i think) connect the blue wire from the
    aftermarket H/U to this wire, if it doesnt have a blue wire use the blue
    wire
    with a white stripe (it will have this wire)
     
    Shadow, Jul 12, 2006
    #8
  9. OU97CPA

    OU97CPA Guest

    Pin 24 it is. Connected it to the wire from my head unit, and I have
    radio again! Thanks for the help
     
    OU97CPA, Jul 12, 2006
    #9
  10. OU97CPA

    hyundaitech Guest

    You can view/print the schematics, shop manuals, and technical service
    bulletins at www.hmaservice.com. You'll need to register for an account,
    but it's free. The site requires IE.
     
    hyundaitech, Jul 12, 2006
    #10
  11. OU97CPA

    Eric G. Guest

    Let me ask you guys something, since you seem to know your radios and
    wiring. I have Sirius radio. I can use it fine with my FM modulator,
    but as you probably know, the sound is much less than CD quality. On my
    (now traded in) Elantra, I used an in-line antenna adapter to pipe in
    the Sirius. Although it still relied on a FM modulator, the sound was
    much better - almost CD quality.

    When I got rid of the Elantra I removed the antenna adapter and tried to
    install it in my Sonata. With it in place, I had great sounding Sirius,
    but my AM reception was almost nothing, and my FM was very poor.

    Removing the adapter fixed that problem and I have left it alone ever
    since.

    Could the adapter interfere with the built-in antenna amp? Is there any
    way around that?

    Thanks for any help you can provide. I am thinking maybe this is some
    kind of grounding issue, but I tried a few things with no success. Of
    course, I wasn't aware of the antenna amp to begin with.

    Eric
     
    Eric G., Jul 12, 2006
    #11
  12. OU97CPA

    hyundaitech Guest

    It could be interfering with the proper passage of the signal along the
    antenna wire. I'd think it'd need a built-in amp or some sort of
    pass-thru switch to prevent lack of reception.
     
    hyundaitech, Jul 12, 2006
    #12
  13. OU97CPA

    Eric G. Guest

    It is a pass-through switch. It worked just fine on the Elantra without
    losing any reception. That is what really has me confused.

    Eric
     
    Eric G., Jul 13, 2006
    #13
  14. OU97CPA

    Bob Guest

    There may be a voltage on the center conductor which provides either AM/FM
    switching to the amp module near the back window (according to the
    schematic, there is an AM and FM antenna section). This is unlikely, as
    someone else here just replaced their radio with an aftermarket one, and I'm
    sure that does not provide a bias voltage. The switch for the modulator is
    likely cap. coupled which would block that voltage (if present). Measure
    from ground to the center pin from the radio.

    More likely is that either the switch isn't working - kill the power to the
    Sirius receiver, and see if there's any difference in reception on a sort of
    receivable FM station - NOT the channel Sirius is transmitting on - when the
    Sirius receiver is turned on. If not, the switch, or the switching output
    from the Sirius receiver is broken. If it gets worse when the Sirius
    receiver is on, and better, but not good when it's off, it's probably a
    problem with the cable between the switch and the car radio - assuming the
    tail from the switch is the side the car radio belongs on, and the "hole" in
    the switch is where the car radio antenna goes. The modulator from the
    Sirius is probably hot enough that the car radio can hear it, even if the
    cable is bad.
     
    Bob, Jul 13, 2006
    #14
  15. OU97CPA

    Eric G. Guest

    I tested for voltage and have none (well, it actually shows 1 mV but I
    think my meter is just out of calibration). The adapter gives me the
    same reception on all AM/FM stations with or without the Sirius radio
    connected. Also, if it is connected, power on or off makes no
    difference. Yet I tested it all out on my Entourage, which I believe
    hasd the same antenna, and it worked fine. Weird.

    Eric
     
    Eric G., Jul 13, 2006
    #15
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