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I have 98, and I pulled the #9 fuse and had no sound from head unit, It turns out that the fuse not only controls the antenna, but the power to the head unit amp as well. And I thought it would be so simple. The diagram on the outside of the fuse box states that as well. Of course I didn't see that until I removed the fuse. Oh well, found a nice mouse nest under the spare tire, on top of the toolkit, so it wasn't a waste. yikes!
The premium Power Amp became separately fused from 1999 (Fuse #18 - 30 amp).
Your 1998 will be one of the last models where it was combined with Antenna Motor (Fuse #9 - 10 amp).
there is a radio tower following me in my rear view
Originally Posted by oldjaglover
How do you tell the difference?
I think you can tell by seeing the Harmon Kardon name on the speakers by the windows on both doors. If you see harmon kardon any where, you have the premium system. I replaced the CD head unit with a Pioneer system with USB so I could plug my Ipod into it. But they installed the Pioneer into the harmon kardon system, utilizing the amp. Replaced the rear speakers as well. Sounds good, but I would like to get rid of that flagpole following me around. I might have to get jiggy with it and do this switch mod. I also tried to unhook any power leads to the antenna itself, but I need to pull the carpet away to really get at it. Seems to me that would work, but it probably would trip a message in the message center.
I've installed a switch (under the pop-up covered lighter/ashtray) but still would like to use the antenna for the radio occasionally without the dorky excessive extension height.
Has anyone ever tried superglueing or by other means restricting the number of sections that CAN extend to a more aesthetically pleasing restricted altitude? How is the stop of the antenna extension accomplished, some kind of motor torque sensing?
I understand this would not have optimum wavelength performance but I’m just trying to get news, weather and sports in an urban area.
I've installed a switch (under the pop-up covered lighter/ashtray) but still would like to use the antenna for the radio occasionally without the dorky excessive extension height.
Has anyone ever tried superglueing or by other means restricting the number of sections that CAN extend to a more aesthetically pleasing restricted altitude? How is the stop of the antenna extension accomplished, some kind of motor torque sensing?
I understand this would not have optimum wavelength performance but I’m just trying to get news, weather and sports in an urban area.
I have not looked inside the XK8 system, but generally ...
There is a plastic or nylon rope of sorts with teeth in it that is connected to a spool on the motor end, and the top-most antenna section on the other end. By cutting this rope to a shorter length at the spool end, you can make the antenna shorter. A form of shrinkage, but let's not go there.
The motor will run for a second or two longer than needed for the shorter antenna, with a clutch slipping harmlessly during this time.
[edit] Don't sweat the wavelength thing. Not much of a factor here.
Good luck.
Last edited by Dennis07; Nov 19, 2012 at 07:34 AM.
Dennis, thought about chopping some off the nylon toothed core, but won't it simply go beyond the end and then not be able to grab it for the return trip?
Dennis, thought about chopping some off the nylon toothed core, but won't it simply go beyond the end and then not be able to grab it for the return trip?
It's been a long while since I had one of these apart but ...
Isn't there something in there now to limit the travel ... maybe the end of the rope being attached to the spool, or some sort of collar at the end of the rope?
I know we made this work on a car or two back in the day.
[edit] I'm sorry, but now it's clear there has to be more to this. No good as I described it. I'll try to remember ...
Last edited by Dennis07; Nov 20, 2012 at 07:58 AM.
The shortened cable was something forced upon us (breakage) and we dealt with it by nipping a section of teeth off of the gear that drives the cable. Yes, we were cheap, i.e. broke.
The upshot of this is that each turn of the gear moves the cable along a shorter distance, and so the antenna extends less than it had before.
It's the removed teeth on the gear that causes the antenna to extend less, not the shorter cable. But then ... this was turned into a feature ... an antenna could be adjusted to any height by removing the appropriate number of teeth from the gear driving the cable.
[QUOTE=Paul Pavlik;139447]With the demise of the Classical Music FM station in Milwaukee, I have to rely on my CD's for entertainment, Hence, I installed a Antenna On/Off Switch.
And it works like a charm! Thanks for all of your directions and diagrams which made the job a snap earlier this afternoon. Easy peasy!
I have 98, and I pulled the #9 fuse and had no sound from head unit, It turns out that the fuse not only controls the antenna, but the power to the head unit amp as well. And I thought it would be so simple. The diagram on the outside of the fuse box states that as well. Of course I didn't see that until I removed the fuse. Oh well, found a nice mouse nest under the spare tire, on top of the toolkit, so it wasn't a waste. yikes!
You must have the premium sound system (Graham)
I ended up just unplugging the electrical plug to the mast in the boot. Done deal, I just use a ipod anyway. A 2 second free fix.
Last edited by nofearzz; Apr 5, 2013 at 12:05 AM.
Reason: whoops! I forgot I already posted this!!
I stumbled across this documentary this morning, and just had to share it. You Love your Jag .. you're gonna love this movie. It does not cover our XK's, but you can surely see the lineage as Jaguar participated in world class racing for decades. A touch over an hour .. copyrighted in 2003 .. block out an hour and kick back and enjoy
Alternatively just pull the number 9 fuse in the trunk fuse panel, it's a 10amp, I never use the radio anyway and hated that bloody thing deploying everytime a play a cd!
note: this a updated post with revised image hosting.
With the demise of the Classical Music FM station in Milwaukee, I have to rely on my CD's for entertainment, Hence, I installed a Antenna On/Off Switch.
I mounted a Subminiture Toggle Switch in the panel beneath the front of the Armrest:
I removed the 4 screws holding the compartment under the Armrest and cut the Green\Black-Tracer wire connected to the large white Harness Connector. Then, I used crimp connectors to connect the leads from the Switch to the harness:
The diagram:
The nice thing about this mod is that you don't have to remove the Console.
You can also put a LED toggle on that 'vacant' switch cover by you're lower left knee. The one shown here is 'not' an LED type. The one I speak of fits that opening perfectly. I've got a pdf of a process that will work, including part numbers for this install that is shown here. Just PM me or send me an email where I can email it to you.
Hi, I haven't been active for quite some time for various reasons; but I'd like to start "enhancing" my car. I like how you put the antenna over-ride switch within easy reach without opening the arm rest. The later seems to be a VERY quick and easy mod whereas your approach I think is going to be more involved. I have never popped off the dash panels but I assume you found the antenna lead coming out of the radio and ran pigtails over to your new switch by the Valet sw? How hard to remove dash panels with out breaking little **** and tabs? I guess I don't have to worry about the circuit split for Premium sound system Paul talks about since mine is a 2000?
Last edited by Fla Steve; Jan 9, 2018 at 07:18 PM.
Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but someone may still be looking to do this (me) .
I saw a video online that talks about the Grey connector with Pin 7, Green wire with Black stripe. I have a 2003 XKR, so should I use the White connector shown in the picture below (picture from earlier in thread), or the Grey talked about in the video?
No apologies needed! From what I can tell from the '98 wiring diagram I have, the LGB wire (green w/black stripe) on both connectors is actually the same wire coming out of the white connector (pin 14 of IC2) and going into the gray one (pin 7 of RH1). I cut from the white connector same as pictured. If the same isn't true for your '03 you could reconnect and try the other but you should be fine with the white connector which is easier to access. For fun you could unplug both and put a continuity tester to test.
Last edited by brobin; Jun 26, 2018 at 04:45 PM.
Reason: detail
there is a radio tower following me in my rear view
No antenna_Just Ipod
