power antenna switch mod

[j13smiley]

also did this mod on my '98 and it is a MUST-DO mod for anyone that has a crappy gm power antenna. most of my music comes from cd or cassette - i don't listen to the radio too often. we all know the the gm power antennas are prone to going bad. so i figure the less wear and tear the longer they will last this mod allows you to operate the power antenna with a switch that you can mount/hide anwhere you want. plus the outside looks better without an antenna sticking up in the air

under normal operation, when the ignition is turned on, if the radio is turned ON - the antenna will raise. if the radio is turned OFF - the antenna will lower. no need to raise the antenna for listening to cds or cassettes. so if the swith is turned ON, the antenna operates as normal. if the switch is OFF - the antenna will always stay down until the switch is turned on (assuming the ignition and radio are also on).

- remove the dash and pull the radio. pontiac likes to use the pink wire from the radio as the remote lead to the antenna. on my stock '89 delco am/fm cassette player, it was pin #8 (the only pink wire). you mayu have to get the pinouts for your particular radio. cut the wire. run some extensions to where ever you plan on mounting your switch. i used 18 guage wire and butt splices to connect my wiring. soldering is best - but it can get tough to get a soldering iron inside the dash here you can see the pink wire is cut and the 2 red wires that i connected and ran up the dash.
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/antenna_89_radio.jpg

- any SPST on/off switch should work. i just used a push button switch from radio shack. i installed quick disconnects on the wire ends so that it is easy to disconnect the switch for dash removal.
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/antenna_89_switch.jpg

- mount your switch. in the '89 i already had 1 existing hole from a previous owner. i installed my garage door switch there so i just drilled another hole and mounted my antenna switch next to it.
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/antenna_89_dash1.jpg

- completed dash. you can see the new buttons - the red one is for the power antenna.
http://smiley.tzo.com/fbody/pics/button_89_dash.jpg

 

[Jan Larsson]

I always done the same as I tend to listen to more CD's than anything else in my cars (both the TTA and my 84 Firebird) so I too have a tiny toggle switch I installed just next to the radio (DIN size JVC) in the mounting bracked adapter it self).

 

[j13smiley]

got any pics of your switch?

 

[Jan Larsson]

I do now, just went out a snapped a couple:
http://la.rsson.com/Radio_1.jpg
http://la.rsson.com/Radio_2.jpg

I circled the switch in read. As I have a aftermarket CD/Radio I picked up the install kit from Best Buy or similar place and also used the wire harness adapter avalible not to cut any wires, so the orange (I belive) in the wire harness adapter I cut and ran to the tiny switch you see pictured to do exactly what you done. Switch is nearly invisible, the space is very limited but I managed to find a really tiny switch that worked well.