spokewrench

I noticed that when I un-plug my anntenna from the radio the power anntenna wlii not work, but when I plug it in it works again, this means that the power anntenna system is using the anntenna line for groundig, right?
I also notice when the anntenna goes up or down the eletric motor in the power anntenna unit in the speakers until it is all the way up or down and stops running. Could this thing be hooked up wrong? I bought the car with this already installed, the guy got it from corvette central. Any ideas?
Thanks SPOKE-

Magnet

Correct, The power antenna system uses the ground to operate the up/down motion of the antenna. I still don't understand why! The rest of your post seems unclear but I think that a good place to check to make sure you don't hear the antenna work through you speakers is to clean the ground connection by the external antenna(by muffler/frame) and inspect the relays behind the passenger side seat compartment where the jack normally is.
Hope this helps

spokewrench

The actual antenae wire is used as the ground? My question is, if I unplug the actual antenae wire, from the radio, the antena will not go up or down, when the radio is turned on or off,
which must mean the antena wire is being used as a type of ground.
Thanks SPOKE-

Dave84/76

Spoke, you are correct that the coax lead is providing the ground to the antenna motor. This is not the correct way. I would guess that you also have no AM. You should have a square plate on the underside of the fiberglass that the antenna goes through. This plate should be grounded to the frame of the car. Also, if the antenna is aftermarket, there probably is a relay strapped to the antenna that has a ground wire (usually black) that should be grounded to the frame.

Stoge

Darcy, I'm not flaming you, but you might want to resize your sig pic a tad.
Its making a few of us scroll great distances to read posts.

Desertdawg

I think he is in the running for the biggest sig contest... :D

Easy Mike

Spoke -- I am running a stock power antenna on my '80. I can hear the motor raise and lower the mast when the stereo is powered on/off, but I do not hear it through the rear speakers. The antenna is mounted to the backside of the inner fender panel and that puts it pretty close to the rear compartment. Are you saying you get some type of electrical interference through the speakers when the antenna motor is running?
:)

spokewrench

yes, but I didnt have a ground plate. I installed one and the noise is gone.Thanks SPOKE-

bdavies

I would tend to agree