The antenna in the car isn't working - so trying to get it sorted. Its a hirschmann unit - there are only two wires going into it, and two suitable wires in the boot - they're running alongside the antenna wire. There is a separate grounding strap which is connected up too.
Anyway - when playing around with the wires, I shorted them and... the antenna went up perfectly. Uncrossed the wires and it went down again.
All very confusing for a non electrical person. Anyone have any ideas what is going on and how to rectify it?
Electric antenna problem
Moderator: martauto
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler
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What do you mean by you "shorted them" - they are presumably insulated cables, so how did you do this?
The antenna just has the +12V, earth (0V) and aerial trigger input; all it needs is the power connected up then the trigger wire held to either +12V or ground, whichever logic it happens to trigger with.
I'm guessing you held the trigger wire to the +12V to make it go up, and when you released the trigger wire, it retracted again.
It sounds like you need to check that the power cable (+12V) and earth are secure, and that the trigger wire is going to the appropriate output connection on the radio (usually a blue wire).
The antenna just has the +12V, earth (0V) and aerial trigger input; all it needs is the power connected up then the trigger wire held to either +12V or ground, whichever logic it happens to trigger with.
I'm guessing you held the trigger wire to the +12V to make it go up, and when you released the trigger wire, it retracted again.
It sounds like you need to check that the power cable (+12V) and earth are secure, and that the trigger wire is going to the appropriate output connection on the radio (usually a blue wire).
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
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ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
The aerial connector is connected to the body loom via one of those screw type connectors - was using the multimeter and I connected both terminals accidentally.
But your post gave me a eureka moment! I was assuming one of the wires was a ground, but thats obviously not the case since theres a grounding cable separate to it.
Will check the connections again - cheers.
But your post gave me a eureka moment! I was assuming one of the wires was a ground, but thats obviously not the case since theres a grounding cable separate to it.
Will check the connections again - cheers.
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Speedtouch
- Old Skooler
- Posts: 14061
- Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:00 pm
- Location: Canterbury
No problem - glad to be of help. 
///M aurice
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
ECU Upgrade EPROM Chips, £40 posted within the UK. Note these are not Zone chips.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=279421
Got this sorted today - its fair to say there were multiple issues
Firstly, took the headunit out and the blue wire was disconnected at the back. Connected it up - still no joy. There was a mound of insulation tape in there, so when I stripped it off, the blue wire was in fact going nowhere. Got it connected up at last and voila, the antenna powered up.
Tidied up some of the connections with the soldering iron, used the OEM cloth tape to make it all a bit neater. Drove around a bit, and then noticed the antenna wasn't powering down. Turned on the ignition again and it went down halfway, and then went up again.
Figured at this stage that it has a switched 12V rather than constant 12V going into it - confirmed with the multimeter, so everything came apart again. Turns out someone had chopped the constant 12V wire, and fed it into a switched ignition source. So with that rectified, I finally have a functioning power antenna.
Firstly, took the headunit out and the blue wire was disconnected at the back. Connected it up - still no joy. There was a mound of insulation tape in there, so when I stripped it off, the blue wire was in fact going nowhere. Got it connected up at last and voila, the antenna powered up.
Tidied up some of the connections with the soldering iron, used the OEM cloth tape to make it all a bit neater. Drove around a bit, and then noticed the antenna wasn't powering down. Turned on the ignition again and it went down halfway, and then went up again.
Figured at this stage that it has a switched 12V rather than constant 12V going into it - confirmed with the multimeter, so everything came apart again. Turns out someone had chopped the constant 12V wire, and fed it into a switched ignition source. So with that rectified, I finally have a functioning power antenna.