Any ideas for removing xm radio antenna?

My brand-new 2012 Tacoma has a "shark fin" xm radio antenna at the back of the access cab roof, and interferes with installing a camper. I don't care to keep the xm radio, but am looking for a good way to at least reduce the height of the antenna by about 2". Is it totally crazy to saw it off?!

 

replace it with the older factory style xm antenna. (09-11) I think its around $60.

 

Thanks for your response. It's hard to tell how the shark fin is attached.

 

You'll need to remove the headliner to verify mounting technique and ultimately change yours out. Pretty easy to remove/install headliner - just refer to the online repair manual for instructions.

I recently installed a low profile 09-11 OEM sat. antenna on my '05 AC.
For this version, there is one special nut that holds the antenna down and a locator pin that prevents rotation.

The antenna part number is color specific:

86960-04010-A0 Super-White (040)
86960-04010-D0 Barcelona Red (3R3)
86960-04010-C0 Black Sand Pearl (209)
86960-04010-B1 Magnetic Gray (1G3)
86960-04010-E0 Pyrite Mica (4T3)
86960-04010-B0 Silver (1E7)
86960-04010-J0 Speedway Blue (8P1)
86960-04010-G0 Timberland Mica (6T8)

The nut you'll need is:

86396-47010 Sat Antenna Nut

You can order both parts from Town & Country Toyota for 25% off (55.81 + 6.78). They only charge 3.99 for shipping!

Hope that helps...

 

Thanks so much for the detailed info, billyjoe. This just might do it!!

 

When you installed the new antenna did your truck already have an existing sat antenna ? I want to add sat radio to my 2011 DC using toyota parts but i'm not sure if is possible or worth the hassle. i guess i would have to cut a hole in my roof to run the wires.

 

No, it's a 2005 AC. Toyota didn't offer factory installed Sat Antennas until 2009.

It's quite easy actually. Simply remove your headliner, drill a 9/16" hole (centered & 5.25" forward of 3rd brake light), use a round file to square the corners, then drill a small hole (forward) for the rotation prevention pin. Insert the antenna "bolt" through the hole and screw the nut on (from inside under roof).

I'm not sure if the 2011s come pre-wired with Sat antenna cable. If they do, attach it the antenna connector. Then you'll need the optional OEM antenna cable that connects behind the left kick plate and runs to the back of your radio.

You can purchase a custom cable from VAISTech.com ($80) that provides a shorter direct connection (better signal). Attach this cable to the antenna connector, then route across underside of roof, down the right A-Pillar, along the harness bundle over to the radio.

Refer to the online service manual for instructions on removing headliner, radio, etc.

Whole thing took about 1.5 hours:

- Remove headliner: 20 mins
- Mount antenna: 25 mins
- Remove Glove/Radio: 5 mins
- Route custom cable: 10 mins
- Reinstall headliner, glove & radio: 30 mins

Just let me know if you have any further questions

 

Thanks, that does sound pretty easy. I hope it's prewired.

 

Thanks for posting this Tortoise......I was looking at the new style shark fins on a '12 the other day and wondered if they functioned better than the lower styled ones on my '10. Does anyone know if they offer better reception or are interchangeable?

 

Hey I am looking to go the opposite way to a shark fin antenna...does anyone have the part numbers by color for that? Thanks in advance.

 

Or do they come unpainted? I went to the dealer and when they looked it up only one listing popped up.

 

Did anyone end up doing the swap? I have a 2015 with the "fin" and would like to go low profile if it works/fits as good.

 

I did the swap on my 2012 which had the fin... with the older flat one so I could run my roof rack. Under my front runner aluminum roof rack it doesn't pickup XM stations going certain directions so I dropped the service