QuestionQUESTION: I recently acquired a 1996 Nissan Altima GXE from an auction. The car had an aftermarket stereo installed with a missing face plate. While uninstalling the unit I unplugged the antenna from the back of the head unit and the antenna extended up and then right back down again. I installed another stereo. However, now, even when the stereo is on, the antenna does nothing. Do you know what could be keeping the antenna from working correctly and how I can it get it to start working again? Thank you for any help that you may give me in this matter.
ANSWER: Gregory,
You either have to install a Nissan adapter to get the antenna up or change the antenna to an aftermarket antenna. This, providing the antenna wire is getting power is the solution.
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QUESTION: Thank you for answering my question for me. Although, could you tell me what to test to see if the antenna wire is getting power?
AnswerGregory,
The way a Nissan antenna works is that there is a power wire the turns on when the radio turns on. This signal feeds back to the antenna and activates a relay that runs the mast up. When power is turned off the relay reverses and the antenna goes down. Get a test light and see if the new head unit is powering the circuit to the antenna. If not, then the radio signal is not working to turn the antenna on. If you apply power to the antenna wire, the one from the car, the antenna should go up.
audio:
Radio 12v
yellow
+
radio harness
Radio Ground (chassis)
Radio Ignition lt. green + radio harness
Radio Illumination red/blue + radio harness
Factory Amp Turn-on green/yellow + radio harness
Power Antenna green/white + radio harness
LF Speaker +/- blue/red - black/white +,- radio harness
RF Speaker +/- yellow/red - red/white +,- radio harness
LR Speaker +/- lt. green/red - black/yellow +,- radio harness
RR Speaker +/- blue/orange - black/pink +,- radio harness
