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Best location for Sattelite Radio antenna wire

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by pmo, Nov 15, 2009.

  1. Nov 15, 2009 at 7:20 AM
    #1
    pmo

    pmo [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Just wondering if you guys could post pics etc of where you've installed a Sat Radio antenna and the routing of the antenna wire....thx:p
     
  2. Nov 15, 2009 at 8:15 AM
    #2
    Rocketball

    Rocketball If The World Didn't Suck, We'd All Fall Off

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    Pioneer head unit, PAC steering wheel control modual, Hard wired Sirius radio, Hard wired radar detector, Hella Supertone horns, Blacked out badges, Smoked Tails, BHLM (color matched Speedway Blue), T-Rex Eyelids, Black Powder Coated Billet Grill, Color Matched Engine Cover, Lund in channel vent visors, FJ Cruiser wheels, Leer 100XQ shell, OEM bed mat, Piezo beeper for locking doors, Tinted front side windows, Black Westin bull bar, Aires tube steps, Mini Maglite Mod, D-Cell Maglite Mod, Weathertech Digifit Floor Mats
    I put mine on the roof, right above the third brake light. Most stereo shops will use the same location.

    I don't have any pics, but here's how I did mine.

    1. Standing in the bed, start by taking out the third rear brake light assembly. Mine had a gasket on it that made it a difficult to remove. If yours has this, just take your time and it will come loose with gentle pulling.

    2. Once the light is removed, looking thu the hole where the light was, you should see a few clips that hold the headliner in place. Using an flat screw driver, pop the clips loose. Taking them all the way is not neccessary (at least it wasn't for me).

    3. If you have a sliding rear window, open it. This will make fishing the antenna wire thru the brake light and headliner much easier.

    4. Still standing in the bed of the truck, start fishing the wire thru the third brake light hole, thu the loose headliner, and into the cab of the truck. Pull all excess wire thru except for about 2 feet.

    5. Place the magnetic antenna on the roof using the plastic antenna "tail" (wire cover) as a guage. I put mine just far enough from the brake light that the antenna tail covers the wire right up to the brake light. I left about 1 foot of excess wire looped up in the headliner in case I ever need to fiddle with the antenna in the future.

    6. From inside the cab, start fishing the wire thru the headliner toward the passenger side of the truck. I guess you could go either way, I chose to use the passenger side.

    7. When you get to the side of the truck where the seat belt shoulder harness is mounted, start fishing the wire down the door post toward the bottom.

    8. Remove the plastic door sill(s) and front passenger kick panel. Pull the sills straight up and they will pop off. The kick panel comes off by unscrewing the black botton that looks like a rubber bumper. Under the door sills, you will see the factory wiring harness in clips. I ran my wiring along the same path right up to the kick panel in the front passenger area.

    9. After removing the glove box, I ran my antenna wire behind the glove box right up to the sat. radio, coiling the excess wire together and zip tieing it in place behind the glove box. make sure you run the wire in an area that does not block access to the cabin air fliter.

    10. After everything is buttoned up in front, reinstall the kick panel and door sills, and reinstall the brake light. If you damaged the brake light gasket for the brake light during disassembly, you might want to use some kind of sealant on it so it stays water tight.

    There ya go. Good luck.
     
  3. Nov 15, 2009 at 8:36 AM
    #3
    High-Gear

    High-Gear Zombie Killer

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    Does your truck have a factory satelite antenna? If so you can splice into that wire with a little solder and shrink tubing. I did it and it was very easy even for a novice. There is also a plug adapter to allow the hook up under the dash, but it is around $75.

    Just an option.
    The factory wire runs in the loom under the drivers kick panel.
    here is a link on how to splice the satelite wire:

    http://www.xm411.com/phpbb/viewtopi...&start=0&sid=27505055bfd3fd8bab8f6c5f553e0b86
     
  4. Nov 15, 2009 at 8:59 AM
    #4
    Rocketball

    Rocketball If The World Didn't Suck, We'd All Fall Off

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    Pioneer head unit, PAC steering wheel control modual, Hard wired Sirius radio, Hard wired radar detector, Hella Supertone horns, Blacked out badges, Smoked Tails, BHLM (color matched Speedway Blue), T-Rex Eyelids, Black Powder Coated Billet Grill, Color Matched Engine Cover, Lund in channel vent visors, FJ Cruiser wheels, Leer 100XQ shell, OEM bed mat, Piezo beeper for locking doors, Tinted front side windows, Black Westin bull bar, Aires tube steps, Mini Maglite Mod, D-Cell Maglite Mod, Weathertech Digifit Floor Mats

    Goor thought, but the 07's didn't have factory sat. radio.
     
  5. Nov 15, 2009 at 9:31 AM
    #5
    dktaco

    dktaco Yes MAObama is a joke!

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    I ran mine through the firewall and up the driverside window and put it between the weather stripping. No pics, but easiest method without removing break light or anything else.
     
  6. Nov 15, 2009 at 11:49 AM
    #6
    ilovetacos

    ilovetacos Well-Known Member

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    I put my Sirius Antenna next to the am/fm antenna. Ran the wire thru an existing hole on the right side of the firewall and behind the glovebox. Reception is fine, never lose signal.

    Jan-19_b8206313983d6ddf294545ce871d112297cd8fe7.jpg

    Picture1-23-07008_5c6f3fde0d1cbe85b06ea98434e45a1a30a091ea.jpg
     
  7. Nov 15, 2009 at 11:51 AM
    #7
    pmo

    pmo [OP] Well-Known Member

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    This is my first choice, can one move the weatherstripping enough and have it lay back down?? I read comments on here about a noise coming from the weatherstrip...mine is good, don't want to start something..lol!:)
     
  8. Nov 15, 2009 at 11:54 AM
    #8
    ilovetacos

    ilovetacos Well-Known Member

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    Sold!

    I tried this method first but couldn't get the wire behind the weather stripping.
     
  9. Nov 15, 2009 at 11:55 AM
    #9
    pmo

    pmo [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Hey Ilovetacos...I noticed you have braces on your hood...great idea...are they anything special just 'run of the mill" braces?? The antenna location is great as well
     
  10. Nov 15, 2009 at 12:01 PM
    #10
    ilovetacos

    ilovetacos Well-Known Member

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    Sold!

    I got them thru Redline Tuning. They're made specifically for the Tacoma.
     
  11. Nov 15, 2009 at 4:20 PM
    #11
    gusher

    gusher SUPERCHARGED!!!

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    I put mine in the same location and no problems. Easy install and a whole lot more convenient than running it from back above the third brake light.
     
  12. Nov 15, 2009 at 7:10 PM
    #12
    dktaco

    dktaco Yes MAObama is a joke!

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    I didn't put it under. It is between the little channel and the naked eye can't see it. LOL!

    No need. I will take pics tomorrow!
     
  13. Nov 15, 2009 at 7:14 PM
    #13
    kvnhlstd

    kvnhlstd Well-Known Member

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    My Sat radio and my Nav antennas are mounted on the interior corners of my dash... safe, secure, clear line of site.
     
  14. Nov 16, 2009 at 3:30 PM
    #14
    pmo

    pmo [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Do you have pics yet??
     
  15. Nov 16, 2009 at 4:17 PM
    #15
    dktaco

    dktaco Yes MAObama is a joke!

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    5100's set @ 2.5", Wheeler's AAL, Toyota factory trailer hitch w/ a Reese 3.5" drop ball, Gaylord's Tonneau cover, BLHM w/ 35w 6000k HID's, Lumincs yellow fogs, Sylvania 886 bulbs in taillights for reverse lights, Debadged, Dee-Zee nerf bars, Shorty black antenna, 3M rubberized billet grille & surround, Toyo Open Country AT's 31's, K&N intake, 40 series Flowmaster, Redline Racing Synthetic fluid all the way around, Wet Okole set covers, dash mat, Sirius Starmate 5 hardwired, Cobra radar detector hardwired, paint always taken care of the finest products from Autogeek.net and a Porter Cable dual action polisher.
    Here they are....

    IMG_3237_5cba4572489f4aacf751d7a92bb2342b1e593a0e.jpg

    IMG_3238_151db45e7e5a452e17019e5242caf3b72961165d.jpg

    IMG_3233_f87690d0d8c599d4794d19917b280e851248905a.jpg

    IMG_3235_56ee9a40803a2cdbad7f697485e2249f33102cdf.jpg
     
  16. Oct 1, 2010 at 5:34 PM
    #16
    jlleiber

    jlleiber Well-Known Member

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    Bringing back an oldie...I just ran my sirius antenna through my double cab 2010 taco just like Rocketball suggested and it was a breeze. Awesome post!
     
  17. Oct 2, 2010 at 5:57 AM
    #17
    CtTaco

    CtTaco Well-Known Member

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    lift up the back corner of the plastic bedrail cover right next to the tailgate and stick it to the metal underneath then replace the bedrail cap. Its a great spot because its far enough from the cab that the body of the truck wont block the sat signal....These things work perfectly throught plastic and it even worked through my fiberglass tonneau cover. Best part is you never have to see the ugly thing again :D
     
  18. Nov 7, 2011 at 3:32 PM
    #18
    gsuit11

    gsuit11 Well-Known Member

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    Hey,

    I love the idea of running the satellite antenna into the bedrail and was just wondering if you could explain where you ran it out of the cab?

    Thanks
     
  19. Nov 8, 2011 at 5:23 AM
    #19
    jlleiber

    jlleiber Well-Known Member

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    I would think your best bet is still running it out through the 3rd brake light, as the OP suggested, and then maybe routing down the seal of the back window?
     
  20. Nov 8, 2011 at 9:45 AM
    #20
    hookedontronics

    hookedontronics Well-Known Member

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    i usually put these right on top of the dash. In the case of my tacoma i used the oem shark fin
     

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