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can I remove that stubby antenna from my 09 vibe?

Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:03 am
by file014
I think its really dumb that the 09 has the antenna in the middle of the car sticking straight up. But at least it can be easily removed, leaving only a 2 inch high cone of plastic. Anyways, the secondary antenna, at the back passenger side corner, is that for XM? Id like to remove it or at least the vertical part. Can it be done? It seems stupid to put 2 antennas there right where you could have cargo stacked.

Re: can I remove that stubby antenna from my 09 vibe? (file014)

Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:45 am
by star_deceiver
One is for Onstar and XM, the other is for the stereo. Can they be removed? Sure, who uses onstar anyways!

Re: can I remove that stubby antenna from my 09 vibe? (file014)

Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:34 am
by goochsmooch
I unscrewed the one for the radio for a couple of days but I found that when I was in dense traffic I couldn't get a clear signal, especially on the AM dial, which is essential during hockey season. Now that I'm done with the onstar and I'm likely going to cruise this thing until the wheels fall off, I'd be interested to know if the onstar/XM antenna can be cleanly removed.

Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:30 pm
by file014
The radio antenna comes off easy enough, I just think it was stupid to put it there. Methinks the camry has the antenna around the windshield so there is no external antenna. Or is that the crown vic? I forget.Im still on my free year of onstar, so I guess I leave it for now. I dont care about removing the base, I just dont like the antenna sticking up. Its in the way. Twisting it seems like it will just break it. We need to figure out how to remove this POS once onstar is over.

Re: (file014)

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:18 am
by bondo123
thanks for the tip i didn't know you could screw that off, i did that last night and the vibe looks much better, i don't mind an antenna there but its just so damn long, i was going to snip it in half but didn't know to use what to cap the end, as to the onstar antenna i think it looks pretty cute and kind of unique so i am not going to bother with itdo you guys know where to buy a replacement antenna half as long to screw in that base?

Re: (bondo123)

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:23 am
by kowell
Quote, originally posted by bondo123 »do you guys know where to buy a replacement antenna half as long to screw in that base? There are a ton of small antennas available on ebay for Matrix and Vibes.

Re: (kowell)

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 4:45 am
by bondo123
thanks just got a short stubby one there, don't know what the designers were thinking? it's not exactly like the length matters here... or is it, because XM requires a longer antenna? hummm......

Re: (bondo123)

Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2009 11:37 am
by foxpaws
Quote, originally posted by bondo123 »thanks just got a short stubby one there, don't know what the designers were thinking? it's not exactly like the length matters here... or is it, because XM requires a longer antenna? hummm......Size matters...

Re: (foxpaws)

Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 1:34 am
by bondo123
"size matters"i certainly hope not, now that i replace it with a short "stubby" one , hope there is no performance degradation, hehehehe

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 12:13 am
by file014
Anyone removed that stubby antenna yet? My onstar and XM have long since expired. It doesnt seem to want to unscrew, but I havent forced it.

Re: (file014)

Posted: Thu Aug 19, 2010 10:02 am
by star_deceiver
I havn't looked to see what's involved in removing it... but I have a feeling it involves taking down some of the headliner...

Re: can I remove that stubby antenna from my 09 vibe? (goochsmooch)

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:09 am
by ou.grizzly
Quote, originally posted by goochsmooch »I unscrewed the one for the radio for a couple of days but I found that when I was in dense traffic I couldn't get a clear signal, especially on the AM dial, which is essential during hockey season. Now that I'm done with the onstar and I'm likely going to cruise this thing until the wheels fall off, I'd be interested to know if the onstar/XM antenna can be cleanly removed. A smaller 7" antenna from a Honda S2000 will fit the Vibe http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...ories

Re: can I remove that stubby antenna from my 09 vibe? (file014)

Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 8:06 am
by Vibe2.0
I think this will be my first "mod" on my 09 vibe. http://www.visualgarage.com/Product_Overview.htmlI did the tint with the high IR rejecting type so maybe this shark fin counts as my second mod. anyone already use one? How well do they work?

Re: can I remove that stubby antenna from my 09 vibe? (ou.grizzly)

Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 9:26 pm
by Vibe2.0
Hey I like that. thanks for the link. this may be a much more functional choice than the shark fin. From what I am hearing the shark fin is all show.

Re: can I remove that stubby antenna from my 09 vibe? (Vibe2.0)

Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 10:58 pm
by jake75
I'm keeping my antennas in case ET phones home.