Car Stereos: Installing aftermarket radio into a 2001 LeSabre., antenna amplifier, factory antenna

Question
QUESTION: I successfully installed a pioneer DEH-6200BT in to my 2001 LeSabre. However, AM radio is extremely static. I installed the antenna adapter, so FM works perfectly fine. But AM doesnt.

Thanks

ANSWER: Hi David,

The problem is that your LeSabre is equipped with a factory antenna amplifier, to boost the signal from the AM/FM antenna embedded in the rear glass.  The amplifier is especially important for good AM reception.  The antenna amplifier won't work unless you activate it by powering the correct wire in the factory radio plug.

According to my information, the power antenna wire is located in pin 19 of the stock plug; that's the third position from the end, right next to the constant power wires and in the same row.  If the adapter harness you're using has a wire in this position, you can connect it to the blue or blue/white wire in your after-market radio harness.  

If your harness doesn't have the wire you need, or if you're not sure of the correct position, then you can look for the antenna amplifier module under the C-pillar cover next to the rear window.  (I believe the amplifier is located on the passenger side of the rear glass, but I'm not completely certain of this).  You can probably find the wire you need right at the amplifier module (the wire should be white) and connect an extension that runs up to the radio harness.  This is the best option if you're not completely certain of the wire position in the stock radio plug--if you connect the wrong pin in the plug, it could cause problems with other vehicle systems.

Hope this helps!

Brian

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sorry, one more question:

Is there a 12v constant that would be able to handle the load of the radio near the wire harness with which you can get a key-switched power source through the use of a relay?

Thank you

Answer
If you're looking for a power source to connect to the head unit's red accessory power wire, using a relay triggered by the key switch's accessory wire, then you can just tap into the yellow constant power connection.  The constant power source in the factory radio plug has enough current capacity to supply both of your head unit's power leads.  (Typically, the current drawn through the red accessory wire is under 10 mA; it just provides a turn-on signal, while the main operating power is drawn through the yellow wire).

Usually, when I'm installing a head unit into one of these vehicles, I look for a Retained Accessory Power relay in the fuse box under the rear seat.  You can tap into this relay to get an accessory power wire that works like the factory radio (stays on after the key is switched off until you open a door).  The relay isn't present in every vehicle, though; if you don't have a power sunroof, the RAP relay may not be there.

Note that if you buy one of the door chime adapter modules, it will also include a data-controlled accessory power output for your after-market deck.

Hope this helps!

Brian