RustyRodder Posted October 19, 2017 Share Posted October 19, 2017 Evening guys, My OEM antenna is a bit...lacking with the new paint. Was considering swapping to a power antenna (want to stay OEM appearing, rather than a windshield mount). What does it take to do? I see [supposed] kits on Ebay for 40 bucks. Figured to wire an up/down switch like my old T-bird. What does it take? I am sure somebody here knows! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Me! Me! I did it! I swapped all of the stock wiring in, even down to the fuse terminal on the fusebox My FM reception is considerably better than it was with the original fixed antenna. I don't know how the aftermarket ones work, this is how the stock one is though. The factory power antenna wiring is as simple as it gets. 6 wires and a relay. You only need to worry about three - "105" "P1" and "99" 99 goes to ground. 105 goes to battery positive. P1 goes to the radio - on the stock radios, this is hot when the radio is on. The other wires are part of the OEM antenna assembly, no idea about the aftermarket ones. I don't know if the relay is available new. It's mounted under the dash on the right side. Any XJ with the "Accusound by Jensen" package ought to have it hanging out in there. Another way to tell is the nut on the fender - it kind of looks like a castle nut: Other than that, it mounts under the inner fender with this bracket: The mounting points for the antenna bracket inside the fender should be there already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeep Driver Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Minuit, I don't' mean to hijack a thread here, but I have a parallel question- Will that antenna relay, or another relay, reverse polarity from a single signal? IOWs, power on signal- devise moves up. Power off, devise moves down. I think I have it figured out using two relays, just have not played with it yet. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 10 hours ago, Jeep Driver said: Minuit, I don't' mean to hijack a thread here, but I have a parallel question- Will that antenna relay, or another relay, reverse polarity from a single signal? IOWs, power on signal- devise moves up. Power off, devise moves down. I think I have it figured out using two relays, just have not played with it yet. Thanks. To be honest, I'm really not sure. I'd have to study it some more to figure out what's actually going on. If I had to guess I'd say the relay is reversing the polarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ωhm Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 My question is "What turns off the motor when its either fully extended or fully retracted?" I can't see it from the electrical drawing. Must be something internal to the motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 Limit switches inside the antenna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ωhm Posted October 20, 2017 Share Posted October 20, 2017 OK, I see them slide switches (must be the limit switches) inside the antenna on the electrical drawing. Yea, relay plus position of limit switches determine motor polarity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasbulliwagen Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 I installed one from an XJ Waggy Limited in mine several years ago. I don't remember the wiring being a big deal with it. It's a 32 year old antenna and it still works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 It's a stupid simple install. Mine was nearly all PnP, only had to source a $5 bracket as I recall. The antenna relay was there, the antenna electrical harness plugged in, the antenna cable plugged in, a new fender pad and cap nut came with the antenna, and the existing factory radio I had at the time had the antenna signal on the correct radio connector pin. The problem now is it'll be tough to find a NOS 96 XJ and below power antenna. I'm sure there's some in the yards, but they're at least 21 years old now. Glad I grabbed a couple of NOS antennas when I put mine in years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnj92131 Posted October 21, 2017 Share Posted October 21, 2017 Seems to me that the rules for radio antennas have not change over the Years. The length of the antenna for FM frequencies is still the same as it was long before we humans knew about radio. What does change over time is the condition of the equipment we use and some of the software our radios use. Over time, old equipment degrades. In part due to age and in part due to oxidation. For example, I have a military purpose 1955 built Collins r-390a receiver that was totally overhauled and renewed a few years ago. It still performs at near the theoretical noise floor for a high frequency receiver. For those of you who remember the Pueblo incident in North Korea - the Collins R-390A were some of the classified equipment on board that ship. And for the Apollo Project, a number of these old R-390A receivers were totally rebuilt. Finally, for the first Gulf War in 1990, these old Tube radios were placed back in service on a number of Navy ships, because of static issues with later solid state replacements. What I am trying to say is that cleaning up and restoring old equipment with high quality parts makes a whole lot of sense. It is just time consuming and requires attention to small details. Modern stuff is built so as not to be servicable. That is great when it works, but when something minor goes wrong - well toss it and buy a new one. Cheap Chinese C.R.A.P. makes this almost reasonable. Lastly, about Chinese quality. How many of you younger guys ever heard of "Made In Japan" quality issues? You may find it hard to understand that "Made In Japan" was once the same as C.R.A.P. The VCR was invented by an American Company - AMPEX- but how many of you know that? The first successful VCR was a SONY in the Late 1960's. One of my high school buddies had a Sony VCR to record the 1969 Apollo 11 moon landing. Sorry for the long blurb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyRodder Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 23 hours ago, HOrnbrod said: It's a stupid simple install. Mine was nearly all PnP, only had to source a $5 bracket as I recall. The antenna relay was there, the antenna electrical harness plugged in, the antenna cable plugged in, a new fender pad and cap nut came with the antenna, and the existing factory radio I had at the time had the antenna signal on the correct radio connector pin. The problem now is it'll be tough to find a NOS 96 XJ and below power antenna. I'm sure there's some in the yards, but they're at least 21 years old now. Glad I grabbed a couple of NOS antennas when I put mine in years ago. The finding of an OEM one is the trouble. Up here most of the XJ's are long rusted and scrapped. I did find this on Ebay, looks like it could be fanagled on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Your link doesn't play for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyRodder Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 Really? hmm, works for me. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Power-Antenna-Auto-Motor-Replacement-kit-AM-FM-JEEP-CHEROKEE-WAGONEER-COMANCHE-/182725882367?fits=Model%3ACherokee&epid=2268700127&hash=item2a8b4fb1ff:g:a14AAOSwmZFZmVv4&vxp=mtr How about now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 56003151 is the part number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Link works now. That's generic part from you know where. I went through a couple of Crown XJ/MJ-specific power antennas from Team Cherokee at first, both lasted just a few months. Even TC quit selling them when they finally realized they were junk. I'm not saying don't buy that, but don't buy that. Even a crusty OEM used antenna from a wreck will be better than. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyRodder Posted October 22, 2017 Author Share Posted October 22, 2017 Well dang, worth a shot. Guess I'll be watching Fleabay and whatnot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minuit Posted October 22, 2017 Share Posted October 22, 2017 Like 97.5% of aftermarket things the Crown antennas are spotty at best. My first one extended once and got stuck. I held my nose and accepted a free replacement which works at this very moment. Noisy little bastard though. Hopefully it'll hang on long enough for me to find an OEM one. It does provide good radio reception though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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