Protecting your automatic aerial

[Bigwill]

As uncool as it may sound, I sometimes like to play good music while travelling through the bush. Now the Gen 3's automatic aerial will always extend itself if the radio is switched on even though you may only use the CD. The aerial switch offers two options: Either fully extended or halfway extended. Neither of these options are acceptable when driving in bushy territory as you could damage the shaft which is very expensive to replace.
I disconnected one wire on the option switch and now I can chose between fully extended or no extention at all. I find this much more preferable and very useful.

[SimonB]

Interesting.. the Gen 2 offers all 3 options, from not extended to fully extended...

Mine is about to break off and will then be replaced by a whip aerial...

[Gerrit Loubser]

That sounds like a great mod, Bigwill. Could you perhaps provide more detail on the exact procedure to follow and what to disconnect?

Interesting.. the Gen 2 offers all 3 options, from not extended to fully extended...

That is interesting, Simon. Do you mean that your Gen 2 has a three position switch?

Both the Blister Fender Gen 2s that I had only had the two position switch that worked like the Gen 3. Perhaps a case of "product cost optimization" inlater years?

[MR2-Blue]

There is 2 interesting alternatives....

1. What is Bigwills solution (a drafted wiring diagram would help)...and
2. Does the Gen 2 switch fit into the Gen 3 dashboard... , because if 1. would work, you can have also 2. in case it fits..

Unfortunately, the antenna of my Gen 3 is already "gone" - it goes only in by 2/3 - not fully anymore.

[Bigwill]

Could you perhaps provide more detail on the exact procedure to follow and what to disconnect?

This is how I disabled the Gen 3 aerial option “halfway extended” by disconnecting only one wire that is the green wire with a red ribbon line on the side at the back of the aerial switch. Instead this position on the switch can now be used to ensure the aerial stays fully retracted when driving through thick bush with the radio on CD.

1. Using a small screwdriver unclip the small rectangular trim panel housing the aerial switch, the seat warmer switches and the skid control switch. This is best done by levering with the small screwdriver along the bottom edge of the trim panel once on each side about one centimeter from the corner of the panel.
2. With the panel removed identify a green wire with a red ribbon line along the side at the back of the aerial switch and disconnect this wire by cutting it a distance away from the switch so to allow for reconnection should you so desire in future. This wire can also be identified as the only wire in one side of the two column connection block to the aerial switch. The other side has four connections.
3. Tape up the loose wires to avoid any possible shorting although this is very unlikely.
4. Clip the trim panel back into position. Now your aerial switch will select full extension or no extension at all.

[LowRange]

Great, thanks for this one!

I have already replaced my aerial, and the new one already looks like the dog's hind leg.
This mod is now priority nr. 1.

Johan

[mitsenoj]

Thanx Bigwill - worked a treat - by far easiest Mod to date !

[4x4 Outthere]

Excellent tip I had to replace mine twice already

[parabola]

Thanks Bigwill for sharing this knowledge, this has been bugging me for months. I never listen to the radio anyway!

[Bigwill]

Another major advantage having done this mod is that when the aerial is fully retracted you will not have any disturbance from radio stations when using an FM transmitter to play your Ipot or MP3 player. I play music from my iPhone via an FM transmitter and have perfect music reproduction ALL THE TIME.