Poor AM/FM reception (aftermarket) '09

[dayday]

So far I've had a Clarion and a JVC, and now I'm getting ready to put in a Pioneer. I've had poor reception with both and I'm wondering if this is common with aftermarket headunits or if maybe I have a bad antenna adapter. I did run the ground through the factory harness and also added one to the ground point just below the headunit. Anyone else experience poor AM/FM reception with aftermarket headunits in '09+ Vibes?

[Beer Belly]

FM works great, but i've never been able to get even 1 AM channel....not sure why either.

[KNINE]

I have the same problem, but I never listen to am. I think I once read a post about this stating that the am antenna is powered, and needs 12 volts on some lead someplace. Hopefully somebody more knowledgeable than me can give you a better answer.

[dayday]

My FM channels seem about 1/2 as strong as they were with a stock headunit, even the strong stations will get some static periodically. AM is very week, fades in and out and the volume usually needs to be increased by nearly 25% to hear anything. I like to listen to the news on my way into work. The local news channel has an AM and FM version, both suck:(

[KNINE]

My FM seems okay. I mostly listen to Sirius so it's not an issue for me.

[audiovibe]

double check to make sure the Tan power antenna lead is hooked up to a source that gives +12 volts. If that does not work you could always get an aftermarket powered antenna.

[dayday]

Hmmmm, I don't think I used the tan for anything. I thought it was only used to activate a power antenna mast if the car was equipt. So it needs 12v in? Again I thought it was used to send 12v out to a power antenna mast.EDIT****OK, I'm finding some info now on previous year Matrix/Vibe that the factory antenna is amplified. I assume now the newer generation Vibes are also. The "tan" wire you mention I assume is in the car's factory harness somewhere and I should use the Blue/White wire from the aftermarket headunit to power that?

[lowincash]

I don't listen to AM stations but the FM reception is not as good as with the stock radio it seems. I have a kenwood unit. It varies tho, it's weird because while at a stop light it'll sound normal then if I move forward a foot or so then the reception will get static and stuff lol

[audiovibe]

Quote, originally posted by dayday »EDIT****OK, I'm finding some info now on previous year Matrix/Vibe that the factory antenna is amplified. I assume now the newer generation Vibes are also. The "tan" wire you mention I assume is in the car's factory harness somewhere and I should use the Blue/White wire from the aftermarket headunit to power that?Yes the Tan wire is in the factory harness, hook that up to the blue/white frim the radio and you should be golden.

[dayday]

BINGO..... Tan wire did the trick!!!!1,000,000 thanks to you......and there was even a taped up unused blue wire in my Metra harness that matched up to the tan wire's pin, DOH!!!

[audiovibe]

Happy to hear it helped you out:)

[RobK]

i have an 03 vibe with the same problem with my pioneer headunit...is there a tan wire with mine? I don't recall there being one...

[dayday]

When searching for the info here that I needed, most if not all posts pertained to the earlier vibes. There were posts saying the wire needed was attached or ran along with the antenna behind the radio.