Aerial wiring?

[mikedavis1]

I am fitting a new CD tuner to the griff and despite the unit I removed being the original pioneer type, I found the proverbial can of worms with the wiring behind the dash: (sticky tape and more scotchlocs than you can shake a stick at!) With a multi meter and the ‘bible’ I have sorted out most of the mess and it all seems to work:

However I have one cable that is connected to the positive wire of the arial plug which was originally wired direct to the battery live feed.

Any ideas if this may feed an aerial amplifier? – I can’t see where the actual aerial wire goes to and can’t immediately see where the aerial amplifier is (if fitted). Also if it does feed the aerial I would have thought it should be an ignition switched feed otherwise it would drain the battery? (which does happen)

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Mike

[gooner]

You don't say what year etc. your Griff (and I'm no expert anyway) is but an amplifier is common on many.

David Beer may be along in a while with all of the correct answers.

When I was trying to improve the reception on mine, 2 things made a noticeable difference. 1. I ran an earth lead direct from the shielding round the head unit to the -ve on the battery. 2. I checked the aerial connection into the head unit and found that the plug was not actually connected to the aerial lead - the grub screw for the connection was tightened down on the insulation instead. Obviously at radio frequencies some of the signal was getting through but it helped to connect it properly.

Both worth checking while you've got the wiring out.

gooner

[david beer]

The amp should be switched, it will only draw a few milli amps but every little saved on a TVR is good news.

[VSP90]

Can someone explain how the whole arial thing works and where on the car all the bits are? Reception on my 96 500 is diabolical! it would be nice if I could listen to the radio every now and then!!

[dnb]

I think it's different for them all!!

I found the aerial in mine quite by accident (also a MY96 500). It's above the fuel tank, behind that carpet bit. There is no amplifier in mine. Must have been removed by a previous owner, or never been there at all.

[griffter]

dnb said:

I think it's different for them all!! I found the aerial in mine quite by accident (also a MY96 500). It's above the fuel tank, behind that carpet bit. There is no amplifier in mine. Must have been removed by a previous owner, or never been there at all.

Are you sure that's for the stereo?

I found a tracker aerial in there, but the radio aerial runs up the side of the windscreen.

[mikedavis1]

Thanks Gooner and David,

I dont have an aerial in the boot as far as I can see - when people say it might be on the side of the windscreen does that mean inside the pillar ? and if yes any idea where the amp might be hidden ? (it's a '97 500).

David, Have read some good stuff on the Chim and general tvr areas about your replacement aerial kit - am I right in assuming it is fitted in the boot over the petrol tank? if so I'll give you a call and get one ordered I think - (I still praise your hot start kit every time I pull into a service station)

Mike