Southpark Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 Hi, I hope someone can help me out here. Just installed the F90BT (2.0 firmware) in my 06 Subaru Impreza WRX, and did the hardwire mod to allow nav functions while driving, and grounded my parking brake wire. Everything works fine, with the exception of my radio. When I first turn on the car, all I get is static on FM (if that's the last source I had on). This is for ALL channels on the FM band, with the occasional garbled talk/music from particularly strong stations. In order for me to get FM working, I have to switch my source from FM to AM, then back. Sometimes I have to do this multiple times. The same is true if I'm trying to listen to AM. Once I get reception, both AM and FM works. All other sources work fine. Previously, I had an AVIC-N1 installed, and had no issues with radio reception. I even disconnected the F90BT and plugged in the stock radio to make sure everything was fine, which it was. I have all wires crimped using butt connectors and a crimping tool. I don't believe that the connectors are an issue, because I never have a problem once i GET the radio working, only when I first start the car. I also changed the setting for the power antenna within the F90BT. No joy there either. I suspect that for whatever reason, the headunit is not supplying power to the antenna amp initially. Than when I switch sources from FM to AM and back, it finally supplies juice to it. I don't have a voltmeter, but perhaps will go pick one up to see if what I suspect is true. I've also left it on FM for 10 minutes, without it picking up reception. I have the solid blue wire connected to the "power antenna" lead for the harness, and the blue/white wire connected to my amp lead-in. Should I connect the power antenna wire to the blue/white instead? Or maybe to the ACC wire? Any help would be appreciated. -James Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terron Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 Hi, I hope someone can help me out here. Just installed the F90BT (2.0 firmware) in my 06 Subaru Impreza WRX, and did the hardwire mod to allow nav functions while driving, and grounded my parking brake wire. Everything works fine, with the exception of my radio. When I first turn on the car, all I get is static on FM (if that's the last source I had on). This is for ALL channels on the FM band, with the occasional garbled talk/music from particularly strong stations. In order for me to get FM working, I have to switch my source from FM to AM, then back. Sometimes I have to do this multiple times. The same is true if I'm trying to listen to AM. Once I get reception, both AM and FM works. All other sources work fine. Previously, I had an AVIC-N1 installed, and had no issues with radio reception. I even disconnected the F90BT and plugged in the stock radio to make sure everything was fine, which it was. I have all wires crimped using butt connectors and a crimping tool. I don't believe that the connectors are an issue, because I never have a problem once i GET the radio working, only when I first start the car. I also changed the setting for the power antenna within the F90BT. No joy there either. I suspect that for whatever reason, the headunit is not supplying power to the antenna amp initially. Than when I switch sources from FM to AM and back, it finally supplies juice to it. I don't have a voltmeter, but perhaps will go pick one up to see if what I suspect is true. I've also left it on FM for 10 minutes, without it picking up reception. I have the solid blue wire connected to the "power antenna" lead for the harness, and the blue/white wire connected to my amp lead-in. Should I connect the power antenna wire to the blue/white instead? Or maybe to the ACC wire? Any help would be appreciated. -James you definitely should pick up a voltmeter in the meantime; your antenna harnass has a blue wire coming off it; that goes to the AVIC wire labeled "antenna control" you can use your tounge instead of a voltmeter it could be the case that your antenna amp may be pulling too much current through the unit. if that is the case, you can try moving the antenna harnass's blue wire to either the accessory wire or the wire labeled "system remote control" If it killed the antenna control wire though, it will probably kill system remote control. voltmeter! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southpark Posted December 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 Well, looks like the unit is defective. Along with the AM/FM issue, now the VR button freezes the unit, and mutes all sound. Takes a reset or a power cycle to get music back. Called Pioneer, talked to their customer service, and they recommended exchanging the unit. Hopefully the next unit will be in working order! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mhejl Posted December 26, 2008 Report Share Posted December 26, 2008 Subarus also require an antenna adapter - at least the '05 Legacy I just did an install in. Are you sure the antenna (not just the power motor) is even connected? You certainly do not use butt connectors, solder, etc. on the coax antenna feed. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southpark Posted December 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Yup. everything is as should be. I've done about 15 stereo installs, including an AVIC-N1, which I had installed in this car prior to the F90BT, with no issues there. I've also replaced the stereo with the stock one, and reception is fine with that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southpark Posted December 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Also, if the antenna itself was not connected, I wouldn't be able to get strong reception at all, which will happen when I switch sources often enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southpark Posted December 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Another funny thing...MSN Direct works fine. It pulls down update information for gas, weather, traffic, and movie times. That also comes through the antenna as well, right? If I go to the MSN Direct screen, it shows full antenna strength. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terron Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 Another funny thing...MSN Direct works fine. It pulls down update information for gas, weather, traffic, and movie times. That also comes through the antenna as well, right? If I go to the MSN Direct screen, it shows full antenna strength. You didn't buy the HD tuner did you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southpark Posted December 27, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 No, no HD tuner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terron Posted December 27, 2008 Report Share Posted December 27, 2008 No, no HD tuner. thats leaving me scratching my head.. if you can get MSN updates but aren't getting any AM/FM.. beats me Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Southpark Posted January 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 Well, got my new unit last Friday. Wanted a few days to test it out to make sure things are ok...and they are! AM/FM and all other sources are now working correctly...so my first unit was defective. Thanks again everybody for your help and suggestions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
enewkirk1 Posted January 16, 2009 Report Share Posted January 16, 2009 My AM stations are really weak (yes I listen to AM) and I hear all sorts of noise through AM, ie. clicking sound when turn signals are on, whine when heater is on, etc.... Anyone have this problem? FM works fine and is loud and clear and I have no HD tuner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbyduracel Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I had my f90BT installed yesterday by a circuit city installer who does "cash only, bypass ready" in the bay. He seems knowledgeable and it was cheaper, so I threw the dice. All seemed well, but in fact the FM/AM/MSN functions will not work, and the bypass does not seem to be complete either. I do, in fact, get the parking brake ground warning upon startup. I just don't get the bypass. Would this mean perhaps he did ground the wire, but forgot about the harness (making it a candidate for the software bypass) and I wonder if it's about time to slide the unit out of the dash to see if he just plain forgot to plug in the antennae. Yesterday was a HORRIBLE day for CCity employees, with the news of shutdown and all. geez... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
enewkirk1 Posted January 17, 2009 Report Share Posted January 17, 2009 I had my f90BT installed yesterday by a circuit city installer who does "cash only, bypass ready" in the bay. He seems knowledgeable and it was cheaper, so I threw the dice. All seemed well, but in fact the FM/AM/MSN functions will not work, and the bypass does not seem to be complete either. I do, in fact, get the parking brake ground warning upon startup. I just don't get the bypass. Would this mean perhaps he did ground the wire, but forgot about the harness (making it a candidate for the software bypass) and I wonder if it's about time to slide the unit out of the dash to see if he just plain forgot to plug in the antennae. Yesterday was a HORRIBLE day for CCity employees, with the news of shutdown and all. geez... He did the bypass incorrectly, bottom line. Your Avic wont even power up without the antenna plugged in. You can do the bypass yourself, there are plenty of people and pictures here to help you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
bobbyduracel Posted January 18, 2009 Report Share Posted January 18, 2009 Believe me, I just returned from BestBuy with my SD card and reader, and backed up the whole "my flash" folder on the AVIC. It has begun! I really hope he just grounded the parking wire and forgot the other pin change. That would explain the warning and the lack of bypass, although it may mean he moved the wrong wire (and killed my AM/FM)???? crap. Time to pull it out of the dash. I had hoped to avoid this. I've been reading around, trying to answer my own questions with the wealth of knowledge on the site (and the generous sharing of the "elders") but I've still been hung up on one STUPID thing. I have OS X. No "notepad". I tried zipeg to view/explore without unextracting, but cannot see anything inside of the files when I click them. This is what I see: [/img] SafariScreenSnapz002.pdf Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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