All 3.2s have windshield antennas?

[a63vette]

Guys, I have seen a couple of 3.2s (87+) with fender mounted antennas. Was this stock? Or did the prior owners just decide to "upgrade" from the windshield unit?

Thanks,
J

[masraum]

Hmm, are you absolutely positive they were '87+ cars? It's my understanding that the windshield antenna should have been a universal change in '85, so only '84 Carrera's should have the fender mounted antenna.
Could it just have been '84's with headlights that were updated?

[pwd72s]

A friend had an '87, until he wimped out & went Rice (Lexus) on us. But he got tired of the lousy radio reception with the windshield wires thing, paid to have an external antenna mounted. Maybe you saw one with a similar alteration?

[rcilurso]

My 87 has the windshield ant. Just a note, I got crappy reception till i re-connected the ant booster under the passenger floorboard. Works pretty well now.

[old_skul]

My '86 has the windshield antenna as well. Per my understanding they were switched mid-'85.

RJ, where exactly is that booster? Is it under the hood or the floorboard?

[GIBSON]

I don't know where the booster is but mine must be working. My 86 gets great reception. Changed in mid 85 if memory serves.
Bruce Herrmann

[JDaniel]

Nope, 87's should have a windshield ant.
My PO must have replaced the windshield at some point and been too cheap to spring for the OE antenna one, 'cause I have a cheapo platic one mounted on the passenger fender. I hate the ugly thing, but have been unable to figure out how to get rid of it. The hole is in such a position that the previous models' antennas will not fit!

[masraum]

The antenna amplifier should be at the far back passenger's side corner of the trunk behind the hood shock. In the picture 1 is the central locking module and 2 is the antenna amplifier. Picture courtesy of the Bentley manual.

[DJB]

I have spent a lot of time on issue about 3 months ago with very poor radio reception.

The amplifier is located as stated above but you need to ensure that the antenna lead to the windscreen and the power from the radio to the unit are connected and working.

The antenna is a visible vertical strip (black line) within the screen in the centre of the windscreen. If your screen has been replaced by an aftermarket unit it may not have the antenna in the replacement screen.

I found the reception from the standard antenna to be poor so replaced it with a genuine powered antenna. Yes I cut a hole in the guard and mounted the unit. It works great - reception is great on both AM and FM and looks OK too.

Good luck.

[Ilan]

While the antenna amp is under the passanger fender as shown, the trick to hooking it up is to find the thin black wire that usually accompany's the actual antenna cable, at or near the point of connection to the radio. The PO of my car had a new expensive receiver put in, and like many others on this board, the installers didn't know what to do with the little black cable. Symptoms were less FM stations coming in clear, and no AM reception. So after finding the little cable, I hooked it up to the "remote" output of the radio, which provides 12volt power when the receiver is turned on, and the reception I now get with the windshield antenna with the powered amp is fantastic.

[svlTarga]

I have an '88 with a fender mounted antenna. I talked to the PO about this and his wrench gave the option of a new window (that might not fix his problem) or an '85 antenna. The '85 antenna being the option he took.

[rcilurso]

Hmm, that's really strange but my booster was under the wood of the passenger side floor. I installed a new head unit and got crappy reception till I hooked the wire back into that box. I don't have anything in that area in the hood. This car continues to baffle me. The thing I was messing with was kind of an open box and looked almost like the windings of an electro magnet inside.

[mogavero]

Looks like this thread is from a couple months ago but I was searching for an answer for the antenna placement on my '85 targa. My antenna is not in the windshield and I couldn't resolve from looking at this thread if the antenna in the windshield was an option or if someone put it in afterwards. The sequential number (last 4 of vin) is 1869 out of 1942 so it is a late '85.

[Bags]

I have an 87 with the windshield antenna. I recently changed the stock radio for a Nakamichi CD unit. Terrible reception on FM and NO AM reception. I lucked onto this post and the information on that "little black wire" was brilliant. Now the reception is GREAT!!! That's what I love about this site, so many experts and such great information.
Thanks

[Yan2947]

Thanks Ilan, I know this post is old but your response solved my poor FM reception. I had installed a new radio a few years ago and also had my front windshield replaced. I wasn't sure what the problem was from. I noticed my "thin black wire" that was coming with the main antenna wire/plug was connect to a light blue "ant" wire from my new harness off of my radio. I realized after reading your post that I needed the "power ant" connection. I needed to give power to the antenna booster that is looked on the passenger side in the front luggage compartment as described:

antenna amplifier should be at the far back passenger's side corner of the trunk behind the hood shock. In the picture 1 is the central locking module and 2 is the antenna amplifier. Picture courtesy of the Bentley manual.

Well, once I connected the "power ant" connection (darker blue) from my radio, reception was wonderful. Thank you! These posts are always great!

[calidude]

Good thread as the small black wire to power up the antenna on my car is now connected to switched power under the dash, however the wire under the hood that is supposed to be connected to the windshield isn’t and not seeing where it would be connected. Anyone else run into this or am I in replacement windshield territory?

[NY65912]

I have an early production '85 and has an antenna in the windshield. One day while doing some under dash and under hood investigating I found the little wire from the signal amplifier and reconnected it. Better reception immediately.

[FrankM_]

Mine is a 911 built late 84, model year 85 and has the windshield antenna with the antenna amplifier in the frunk (passenger side, al the way in the back corner of the frunk. Hard to get to to connect/disconnect the cable.
As far as I know, the changes MY85 had vs the 84 (first year of the 3.2 Carrera) are the following:
- 4 spoke steering wheel
- Central Locking option (std on Turbo)
- Antenna in windshield
- Improved shifter
- Boge gas shocks standard (Bilstein on Sport Option) - I have the Bilsteins
- Electric drivers seat

[198491132]

Good Day, my 84 has a fender mount with motor. I am looking to find a replacement motor if anyone has one from an upgrade they want to get rid of.
Thanks, Dave