easy install of a power antenna

[Only4U]

me and my friend just installed a power antenna on my 97 camaro and it was a whole lot easier than i thought it would be. i went to autozone and bought the "Metra Roadworks" power antenna fully automatic 1" mounting hole and flush base. i found this to be the easiest one to put on the f-body because of the shape of the rear fender (the part number is Universal AW-PW12) this is easy to install but u must make your own bracket (the 90 degree arm that holds it in place) the only bad thing in the instructions was the wiring diagram. i have a cd changer in my trunk and that complicates the motor wiring. normally you would wire the red wire from the antenna to an ignition fuse and the blue one from the antenna to the radio antenna output wire. well i decided to run the red wire to my cd changer constant power source and then i ran the blue wire to my radio fuse. the antenna works fine but when it was down i noticed the car is so much better looking because it is smooth; even so, i broke the blue wire and installed a single break switch--this way whenever the car is on i can flip the switch and raise or lower the antenna. i thought it was cool and it is a nice touch instead of the noisy factory piece of crap.

[SunsetOrange98Camaro]

How much did it cost?? I have been wanting to do this for a long time but the power antenna's are a little high. Ive been looking for a cheap one will no luck. Guess I will have to cough up the money. Also Im guessing the mast is chrome?? I really would like to get a black one if they make them for the power antenna. I will probably have to keep looking.

[Only4U]

well, the antenna is about $43 or so with the tax included...you might need some 16 gauge wire and connectors if you want to be perfect (i wasn't, connectors just "hold out" longer, apparently) anyway, the wire is about $3 and if you want to do the switch (really cool btw) then they run about $157 for the low grade ones; the really nice ones will run you up to $800 or so :D actually i paid about $3 for it (and it lights up when it's on). anyway, that's about it. (the best place for a switch, only if you have an A4 anyway, is right in front of your gear shift...on the ashtray. if you just take out the ashtray you can have access to everything and you'll need to drill a hole in the top of the ashtray and put the switch up under there and all your wires are out of your way and out of the way of the gear shift stick as well) and they are all chrome that i saw...you can look for a black one though; my town sucks and most things you are looking for only comes in one color...that includes even touch-up paint :D

[SunsetOrange98Camaro]

I definately plan on putting a switch on it when I do get one. I already have a manual fan switch that I put under the cig. lighter on my 98 A4. It also has two LED's on either side of it. I plan on taking out the ashtray and putting my MTX external bass control for my sub amp there. I will mount it on a piece of ABS plastic. I plan on putting a switch for the power antenna, sub amp, neons, and DEI proximity sensor on the console as well. I will take out the little cubby hole thing and put a flat piece of ABS there and mount the switches. Of course this is all in my head, nothing has been done yet. [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Firebrd9783]

Why a switch? When I installed mine, it goes up and down with the radio, so if you want it down while driving then turn off your factory radio/Cd player, but if you have an aftermarket cd player, the it only goes up when the tunner is on, so now mine never comes up cuz I only use the CD player, so if thats what you want the switch only for, your tunner, then I suggest you get an aftermarket cd player instead of spending 187+ for the switch, but thats just what I would do.

[ June 12, 2002: Message edited by: Firebrd9783 ]

[ June 12, 2002: Message edited by: Firebrd9783 ]</p>

[Only4U]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> then I suggest you get an aftermarket cd player instead of spending 187+ for the switch, but thats just what I would do. <hr></blockquote>

LOL!!! dude i was joking, i only paid about $3 for my switch. but, the reason i have the switch is because i have a cd disc changer that is set to an fm station. when i have that on, my radio has to be on, but i don't want the antenna up (i get the same reception with it up (you know, kinda like with the ladies) as i do with it down (well not so well-adapted in that area)) but i listen to the radio at times as well; so i flip the switch and have good reception. lol, if it were $187 i think i would find something better to spend my money on...like maybe a whore. jeez, i'm dirty.


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