Ok the rear window defroster works fine, but the two windows on the side don't defrost at all. has anyone else had this problem? I think its time to talk to the dealer :evil:

Would you happen to be referring to the wires in the two rear most windows? If so, those aren't defrosters. Those are your your radio antenna.

Hmmmm, did you notice the lack of an antenna on your XB? And you've got something that looks like defrosters in your side windows. Most people could put this one together. But you'd better go talk to the dealer. Ask him what those black round things in the wheelwells are too.

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

:oops: :lol: :oops: :lol:

I thought the same thing RFX did.

LMAO

That would be a normal first assumption. I thought that too until I noticed each side was different. Then I check the manual.

MEXb Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 6:58 am Post subject:

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Hmmmm, did you notice the lack of an antenna on your XB? And you've got something that looks like defrosters in your side windows. Most people could put this one together. But you'd better go talk to the dealer. Ask him what those black round things in the wheelwells are too.


I wouldn't think that would be a normal assumption. I've never seen a car with an antenna in a rear glass. I know Chevrolet used to have some in the windshield. I don't think your heckling is appropriate.

There are a lot of cars with antennae in the rear glass. Our Honda Pilot has it.

Actually, it seems like there are 2 wires on one side that are the antenna. And the rest look like they are for a defroster. If you trace the wires, you notice that some of them go back to a little black square... The SAME ones found on the rear defroster... Take a look...

the little square is called an antenna amplifier it draws power from the deforster circuit to amplify the ability to recieve radio signals, not is doesn't get better when defroster is on, it is constantly powered up when car is on.

refer to my sig for any questions.

Hmmmm, did you notice the lack of an antenna on your XB? And you've got something that looks like defrosters in your side windows. Most people could put this one together. But you'd better go talk to the dealer. Ask him what those black round things in the wheelwells are too.

what a smart @$$ LOL

I wouldn't think that would be a normal assumption. I've never seen a car with an antenna in a rear glass. I know Chevrolet used to have some in the windshield. I don't think your heckling is appropriate.

They've been doing it for years -- especially imports -- being a tinter -- we noticed the FM antenna's started getting printed on glass maybe 10 years ago or so. AM's have been in glass (windsheilds usually) for several decades

You have the advantage of working on many different cars daily. I don't work on cars so I only have exposure to the things I drive or ride in and that's mostly been American cars and trucks.

I know I know .. that's kinda why I added "being a tinter" ... to sorta explain WHY we'd have noticed it so long ago... just cause it's kinda our job ... a little 'explanation' included in there so I didn't seem like an ___ just 'cause I could say 'well neener-neener, i saw it before you!' ... I probably wouldn't have noticed it either had my career not originally revolved around glass.

the little square is called an antenna amplifier it draws power from the deforster circuit to amplify the ability to recieve radio signals, not is doesn't get better when defroster is on, it is constantly powered up when car is on.

i think not....
the defroster circuit is a switched power circuit.....
the little black square it a wire to glass connector (it is meant to be removable if the glass needs repairing)

it gets the power from the radio harness...(power ant.)
it is often why when people swap radios they loose reception (they don't hook up the power ant wires, 'cause they don't see a power ant.)

now for the smart ___ question...
what car (or other vehicle) has a lined defroster on side windows????
none that i know of...

While we are on this subject has anyone found a way to improve reception, other than satellite radio. I was getting great reception with the factory stereo but when I switched it became pretty crappy. I do have the power antenna wire hooked up. I'm even using a Pioneer unit and they make the factory unit so one might reasonably assume that the tuners would be similar.

Thanks!

wow some poeple on here get pretty excited with their keyboard courage

brent

Chadfo I noticed the same exact thing and I actually read a thread on it here somewhere a week or so ago and it seems everyone has the same issue. I traded in my old Sony deck with my old box and I am staying stock this time around, I would say the drop in reception was about 30% when I went from stock to the sony last time and it was not some cheap $29 Urban Audioworks :lol: (remember those) it was a pretty decent sony.

key board or not, i would have said it to you in person...

anyway my experience was after swapping out the factory stero for an aftermarket pioneer, i lost about 50% in reception...
hooked up the power ant. wire and now i have better than stock reception...

what did you hook it up to, and where would I find this power ant. wire?

what did you hook it up to, and where would I find this power ant. wire?

He is probably reffering to the blue power ant wire on the harness of your radio. The xB is pinned there. I hooked up mine when I put in my AVICN1. I still notice the signal is decreased but that could be attributed to the 12 ft antenna extension that runs to the brain of the N1.

hooked it up to what?

hooked up the power ant. wire from the new radio to the coresponding wire on the factory harness(if you have the wire adapter, its in there)

Wow there is a lot of hatorade being spread around. Everything is obvious if you know it. As for the antenna, I'd guess the antenna has an adapter a la the Veedubs require like BrianxB mentions.

guess is wrong, no adapters needed....

what did you hook it up to, and where would I find this power ant. wire?

He is probably reffering to the blue power ant wire on the harness of your radio. The xB is pinned there. I hooked up mine when I put in my AVICN1. I still notice the signal is decreased but that could be attributed to the 12 ft antenna extension that runs to the brain of the N1.

i got the same unit...could be something with where we live...

what did you hook it up to, and where would I find this power ant. wire?

He is probably reffering to the blue power ant wire on the harness of your radio. The xB is pinned there. I hooked up mine when I put in my AVICN1. I still notice the signal is decreased but that could be attributed to the 12 ft antenna extension that runs to the brain of the N1.

And, 12 feet of coax only attenuates the signal about 3dB (or 50%) per 100 feet at 100MHz. 12 feet would attenuate the signal only about 6% If your signal strenth was so marginal that 6% makes a difference, then you would not be able to drive the car around with full quieting FM even without the longer cable.

Do you know as little about RF as you claim most people know about automobiles?

And, 12 feet of coax only attenuates the signal about 3dB (or 50%) per 100 feet at 100MHz. 12 feet would attenuate the signal only about 6% If your signal strenth was so marginal that 6% makes a difference, then you would not be able to drive the car around with full quieting FM even without the longer cable.

Do you know as little about RF as you claim most people know about automobiles?


You said 12 feet of attenuation twice in there with two different stats.

Do you know as little about the english language as you claim about other peoples flaws?

Damn people, can't people just answer a persons question? (I normally wouldn't point something like this out, but its getting old)


(and yes, I probably made a mistake in here too, and thats fine by me!)

ok pretend I know nothing about ant. (which I don't) and that I know some about stereos. what can I do to make it have a better reception. pretend i'm a dumbass, which I am

i heard there are FM amp's for low reception issues. it powers up the FM reciever somehow

im probably also talkin out of my ___ :roll:

and anyone back me up on this?

i heard there are FM amp's for low reception issues. it powers up the FM reciever somehow

im probably also talkin out of my ___ :roll:

and anyone back me up on this?

There are preamps that can go between the antenna and receiver. Unfortunately, they amplify the noise as much as they amplify the signal. If the signal is already down in the mud a preamp won't do much good.

I smiled when I saw the topic.... how could he have possibly known, right? But it is still funny. <grin>

it sure is and thanks for the top 20

hahah i thought it was defroster too hahahah

well, i hate to be the bearer of bad news, the side windows have no defrosters on them.
i know, i know.......
your all upset......

if they were defrosters, how much benefit do you think it would have. (i cant see out the side windows while driving...)

i believe the side defroster thing comes up a lot with people not on this board. people need to remember that everyone is not familiar with the car like others. it is a learning curve. luckily it didn't turn into a flame fest.

so I still want better reception, some one write a diy

yeah it does seem to come up a lot,
but it still does not make sense to have defrosters on these windows..

maybe scion can get the dealers to explain this to the customers...

I don't think the dealers know that, they don't care. some do, but most would probably tell you they were defrosters

so they're the ones starting this mess....
wait till i see my dealer.....lol

Thanks Scionlife.com! :relief: Saved me from asking the dealer :doh:

I don't think the dealers know that, they don't care. some do, but most would probably tell you they were defrosters

My salesman said they were defrosters, and that the mirrors were heated.

Like others, it does not matter, as I cannot see through them while driving, and like others still, my reception has dropped significantly with the new HU... not that I care as I have yet to use FM or AM since getting XM 9 months ago.