Non-audio guy here (although I am technical), so I ask for leniency if I'm in the wrong place.
I was just given a 2003 Pontiac Vibe w/stock audio. I wanted to take the JVC stereo from my truck and put it in the Vibe since the JVC has aux input. Well, I started taking everything apart in the car, but didn't disconnect the battery. Long story short, the adapter kit from the truck wouldn't fit and I put everything back together until I can get another kit. I didn't test anything after reassembly. Let me say that everything did work before I started doing any of this.
The next day the radio won't pick up any station. No biggie; I figured the antenna cable came loose. It was reluctant to unplug when I was messing around and thought I didn't get it back in enough.
Well I pulled it all apart today (battery dc'd this time) and the antenna cable felt fine. Pulled it out and reseated it. Put everything back together and still won't pick up a station. It does come on and plays CD's just fine. The "security" light flashes while the car is off. I read that this model doesn't actually have the security feature, so it's not locked out. The display doesn't display LOC either. I did try starting the security reset procedure just in case, but it didn't work.
I didn't do anything to the stock wiring, other than disconnecting everything from the back of the trim piece and radio. I read somewhere else that you can put the key in the ON position for 15 minutes and it may reset everything... but that didn't work. I tried disconnecting the battery (both terminals) for a couple of minutes, but this didn't work either.
Am I missing something? Is this fixable? Did I ruin the radio? It's no big deal, although I did want to put it in my work truck. But if this is something simple to fix I would like to be able to listen to something while in the car other than CD's, which I never carry.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
03 Vibe radio won't tune (Solved)
03 Vibe radio won't tune (Solved)
Last edited by Calvus on Mon Sep 03, 2012 7:47 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: 03 Vibe radio won't tune
Too far from the diagrams to check and too long since I pulled a radio to remember ...
Are there two connectors + the antenna cable? One may only have one wire and that one wire may be power for the antenna amplifier in the antenna base and maybe you forgot to hook up that second connector
Or maybe I have it wrong.
One thing I am sure of though: Welcome to genvibe!
Are there two connectors + the antenna cable? One may only have one wire and that one wire may be power for the antenna amplifier in the antenna base and maybe you forgot to hook up that second connector
Or maybe I have it wrong.
One thing I am sure of though: Welcome to genvibe!
Re: 03 Vibe radio won't tune
Thanks joatmon, and thanks for the reply!
Yes, there is a second place to plug in a connector on the back of the radio, but when I removed the radio nothing was plugged into it. Maybe there was and was knocked loose/out of sight when I removed the radio? This 2nd connection is a little smaller than the main harness I unplugged. I never did see this 2nd connector though. I'll have to take everything back apart to see. Once I do I'll report back here.
Yes, there is a second place to plug in a connector on the back of the radio, but when I removed the radio nothing was plugged into it. Maybe there was and was knocked loose/out of sight when I removed the radio? This 2nd connection is a little smaller than the main harness I unplugged. I never did see this 2nd connector though. I'll have to take everything back apart to see. Once I do I'll report back here.
Re: 03 Vibe radio won't tune
I was wrong. On cars with the Moon&Tunes package, the second connector does get a single wire, but that is used to control the external amp, and shouldn't affect radio reception. The wire for the antenna amp is in the same connector as all the others.
Pulling the radio with the battery still connected should not be an issue, I've done it several times.
cohocarl talks about the antenna amp power wire in viewtopic.php?t=4717" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; He talks about a disconnect in the wire, might be worth checking. Also check that the antenna connector is pushed in all the way. Was it difficult to remove the antenna wire the first time?
just to be clear, the thread title is that the radio won't tune. Does that mean that you can still change the frequency but you get no reception?
Pulling the radio with the battery still connected should not be an issue, I've done it several times.
cohocarl talks about the antenna amp power wire in viewtopic.php?t=4717" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; He talks about a disconnect in the wire, might be worth checking. Also check that the antenna connector is pushed in all the way. Was it difficult to remove the antenna wire the first time?
just to be clear, the thread title is that the radio won't tune. Does that mean that you can still change the frequency but you get no reception?
Re: 03 Vibe radio won't tune
YES! The antenna connector was extremely hard to unplug the first time. I thought it was hard-wired in at first, but after thinking it through that didn't make sense. After several more tries it finally came loose.
And you're correct on your last question as well. The radio will change frequency but does not get any reception. In case anyone asks, yes, I am trying known frequencies that broadcast. I've tried scanning and it just goes from the low end (88 something I think) all the way to 108.
And you're correct on your last question as well. The radio will change frequency but does not get any reception. In case anyone asks, yes, I am trying known frequencies that broadcast. I've tried scanning and it just goes from the low end (88 something I think) all the way to 108.
Re: 03 Vibe radio won't tune
Well, I wish I could report what I did, BUT IT WORKS!!! I read you're link and it made since. I had wondered what that line was for. I took it all apart, checked the antenna again, checked the blue/white cable on the harness, and then tested but got nothing. Unplugged/replugged everything again and nothing. So I decided to just give up and put it all back together. I started the car and turned on the radio and it was playing a Phil Collins song on an oldies station. Half of the clock on the display doesn't light up like it used to, but that's a small price to pay.
Thanks for your help, joatmon.
Thanks for your help, joatmon.
Re: 03 Vibe radio won't tune
Question, is the box under the drivers seat an amp? I saw that while crawling in the floorboard trying to get to the fuse box.
Re: 03 Vibe radio won't tune (Solved)
Glad you got it resolved. I was afraid it might be something to do with the antenna wire itself, maybe a connector damage.
The box under the driver's seat is the inverter, used to convert 12V DC to the 110VAC for the outlet in the dash. If you had a factory audio amp, it would be under the front passenger seat.
The box under the driver's seat is the inverter, used to convert 12V DC to the 110VAC for the outlet in the dash. If you had a factory audio amp, it would be under the front passenger seat.