The center console’s factory aux-in jack connection is lost when switching to an aftermarket head unit in a 4th generation 4Runner.
The 4th Gen has two antennae, one on each side glass of the cargo area. The power antenna line on the harness must be connected.
On my aftermarket system, I only utilized the antenna that fit and left the other dangling; I didn’t bother attaching them both. Although I don’t listen to AM, it seems to function well in my
4Runner. The bluetooth microphone is put there after I routed the cable up the driver’s interior “A” pillar, clipped the U-shaped bracket onto the top of the “A,” and ran it down through the rear of the dash, under the steering column.
In This Article...
What is the price of a new automobile antenna?
Depending on the style, replacing an antenna should cost between $100 and $150. Think it’s too expensive? Instead, purchase a used antenna from a junkyard.
Installing the antenna yourself will save on labor costs. If you’re unsure of how to do it, expert installation will likely cost $50 to $100, adding up to a total of $200 or less.
However, you shouldn’t bother replacing your antenna if you seldom listen to the radio anyhow. (Awesome, Spotify!)
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What happens if the antenna on your car breaks?
Car antennas frequently break or sustain damage since they protrude from the surface of a car’s exterior and stand there.
If you don’t have an antenna, your radio may be off. With a damaged radio antenna, reception will be problematic.
Should I take the antenna off before I wash the car?
It could seem simple and quick to maintain your automobile appearing clean and new by using an automatic car wash. However, if it sustains damage, it can look worse than when it first arrived.
Although an antenna can be used in a car wash, it is typically better to retract or remove it before entering to prevent damage. Your antenna could be damaged by the moving parts of a car wash, such as rotating brushes, mechanical arms, and blower housings.
This article will address how to avoid damage and what to do if your car receives any, in addition to detailing the potential harm automatic car washes can make to your vehicle’s antenna. I’ll also discuss the various car washes and let you know which one is the least damaging to your automobile.
How can I test the antenna on my car?
Even though testing antennas is a simple procedure, it can sound complicated to inexperienced ears. Fortunately, there are three tests you can run with an ohmmeter to verify sure your antenna functions.
You must take your antenna off before you begin. On the majority of autos, you can do this by taking the screw out of the hood slot.
Test No. 1:
- One ohmmeter wire should be connected to the radio pin.
- The other cable should be connected to the antenna’s tip.
- That equipment is operational if the reading is less than 5 ohms!
Second test
- Connect one of the ohmmeter’s leads to the antenna base.
- Touch the other antenna cable lead.
- You have a strong ground connection if the reading is less than 5 ohms!
Third test:
- One lead should be placed against the radio pin.
- Against the cable, place the other lead.
- When the meter reaches zero, the system is grounded and functioning properly.
You should replace your antenna if the results of tests 1 and 2 show values greater than five ohms or less than infinite. Bring your car to a mechanic, though, and ask them to provide you with a professional diagnostic if all of them are within the typical range.
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Can I take the automobile antenna off?
A good query! No tunes without an antenna! Fortunately, you can fix the antenna yourself for less than $20 and a brief trip to the auto parts shop.
The most popular kind of antenna is pillar-mounted, which can be removed from the holder with ease. The old unit can be removed by unscrewing it. It’s simple to find replacement antennae at an auto parts store or online with companies like Amazon. Once you have a new antenna, you should connect its connections to the mount’s old ones.
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I have a Toyota Tacoma; how do I take the antenna off?
It couldn’t be any simpler to take the antenna off the Tacoma. Use an open-end wrench to gradually loosen the antenna until the base’s threaded rod can be separated from it. The antenna should then be removed.
Antenna Installation
An aftermarket antenna can be set up just as easily. The antenna is simply threaded into position. I won’t lie; I don’t have much to say about each antenna because, aside from size and design, they aren’t all that different.
AntennaMastsRus6 3/4 Antenna
This antenna was the tallest, so I assumed it would perform the best. That wasn’t the situation.
Performance was comparable to that of the other antennas. All of the antennas tested here today in fact performed identically. Every antenna present had numerous instances of that “underwater sound,” while some antennas functioned better in haphazard locations on the road. It was annoying that not a single antenna worked perfectly from home to the office.
No antenna outperformed the others in terms of producing any mind-blowing outcomes. It was no clearer than any other antenna in areas where audio was actually coming in.
I spent a week driving around, switching between antennas, and using each one of these antennas to listen to AM and FM radio. Between these three antennas, I didn’t observe any performance differences.
I won’t argue that every antenna is bad; perhaps I should have purchased the Bullet and a few others to try out first. I’m now intrigued.
In regards to the aftermarket antennas I examined, appearance is the only factor that matters, so let’s avoid discussing performance.
CravenSpeed Stubby Jr Antenna
Short and chubby, the CravenSpeed Stubby Jr Antenna. Cool looks, ok performance. I do not like the stubby appearance. After using it for a week, I expected to like it the most but find that I loathe it the most.
KEYO1E 4.9 Short Antenna
My favorite antenna in terms of layout, dimension, and look is the KEYO1E 4.9 Short Antenna. No mention of “improved performance” was made once more. If anything, this one performed better, which may be why, after experiencing so much antenna annoyance, I was drawn to it. It all comes down to taste and appearance in the end.
Final thoughts
I’m not going to lie. Compared to the factory antenna, pretty much every antenna performs horribly. There are almost no dead spots in the original antenna that Toyota provides. The sound usually comes through clear and sharp when linked to AM and FM radio.
On the other side, the audio quality will unquestionably suffer if you install an aftermarket antenna. Since I don’t usually listen to AM or FM radio, it doesn’t matter to me, but if you regularly listen to the radio, getting an aftermarket antenna might not be the best choice for you.
Additionally, every aftermarket antenna we examined included built-in threaded rods. When threaded and unthreaded, each threaded rod would separate from the actual antenna. Although not a deal-breaker, repeatedly screwing and unscrewing the antenna is kind of bothersome.
Aftermarket antennas are only useful for the aesthetics and the practicality of not covering everything with a short overhang that they offer.