I have recently fitted a new Pioneer MP3 head unit to my03. works well except that I can only pick up one very local FM station? I have been told I need an FM Booster as the car is new? Is this correct or bullsh*t? If its true can anyone tell me where I can get one from?

Thanks

Sounds like bullsh*t to me, unless there's something special about new cars not picking up radio that I don't know about... What sort of aerial does it have - a normal up/down type or one built in to the rear window ? I have heard that the ones built in to the window don't provide as good reception as the older style ones, but that could be rubbish as well.

Window aerials are definitely not as good as older style aerials, and hence cars with such aerials require a signal booster.

Hi Glenn

Yes, its built into the window. They tested the unit in the shop and it worked fine?? He said to get a booster and if this did not reolve it he would swap it.

I was fairly sure that the window aerials weren't as good as the old ones. Begs the question then as to why the manafacturers are selling new cars with inferior aerials. And if they insist on fitting them as standard then why don't they also include an FM booster with them as standard to get the signal level back up to normal...

update....

added a booster/amp £12 Halfords... can now get most FM stations but no AM at all...I think I will have to invest in either a better head unit or a new aerial.

Steve

This problem is simple to fix. Within the wiring loom supplied with the pioneer unit there are two wires with plastic connectors; these come unplugged as standard (your installatiion instructions refer to them uner points 26, 27 and 29.

This is power for the electric aerial but the instructions don't make it clear that this must also be used to power the radio aerial amplifier that is already standard in the car. The cable is blue and white.

I was confused at first by this but it works perfectly.

Betcha it works ;)

Steve

JockyTT

Cheers mate, I will try this out tonight.

Sorry to sound thick but do you mean I have to connect the blue/white cable to a live source?

The Pioneer head unit should have better reception that the Original.

Not that me having Pioneer everything in my car makes me baised or anything :p

I've got a Pioneer unit in my car but the reception is pants.
What should I do with this magical blue/white cable, as at present it is going nowhere??

With your Pioneer unit you have a wiring block. One part of it connects to the unit, the other terminates in a ISO plug to connect to the car.

Within this group of wires (on newer pioneer units) is a cable that is white/blue but, if you look at it, it is terminated in a clear bullet (or spade, I forget) connector and does not run all the way between the two blocks like the other wires. There should also be another loose white/blue cable that this connects to. connect these two together.

In MY02+, there is an FM amplifier attached under the rear parcel shelf (I think). This requires power and takes it's power from the 'external remote antenna' feed from most headunits. As long as you use the correct adaptor lead from the car's loom to the Pioneer loom, them by connecting the blue white wire you complete the circuit. Without this, you get poor FM and virtually no AM.

Hope this helps. It worked perfectly on my car.

My Pioneer has been 'chopped' so I have lost the connecting blocks and wired directly.
Do you know which colour wire on the scooby loom is the amplifier??

Yep, its a plain white wire. Here's some pics

This is the wire from the headunit disconnected

http://members.lycos.co.uk/jockytiktok/DSC0025.jpg


This is it connected. Mine has a tag on it to say 'system remote control'

http://members.lycos.co.uk/jockytiktok/DSC0022.jpg

And this is where it goes from a blue/white wire from the headunit to a blue wire in the connector loom and ultimately a white wire in the cars loom

http://members.lycos.co.uk/jockytiktok/DSC0023.jpg

[Edited by JockyTT - 7/28/2003 8:09:54 PM]

JocktTT

U R the man!!

Thanks mate works perfectly, I can pick up FM nice and clear,also I can listen to Talk Sport again in the mornings...

Cheers mate

Steve

Nice one! I had exactly the same problem - you might have guessed.

Steve

Welldone Jock, got mine sorted now too.
Found the white wire on the scooby loom and all sorted now :)

Is that a kilt ur wearing in those pics JockyTT?

or one of those tartan shelf rugs???!!!!! :eek:

[Edited by ringpuke - 7/31/2003 1:35:14 PM]

LOL @ Ringpuke!

I have tartan bucket seats. They are really cool and a great talking point!


(just an old travel rug I used to stop me marking the shoddy seat material, I'm afraid)