Radio reception bad in 348ts! | FerrariChat

Radio reception bad in 348ts!

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Slyther90, Mar 19, 2005.

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  1. Slyther90

    Slyther90 Rookie

    Mar 19, 2005
    6
    Northwest of Chicago
    Full Name:
    Don L
    Just bought a 90 348 and having a hard time with the radio reception. Very strong signal in my area very bad reception. Where is the antenna located for this car? Is it hard to swap out radios?

    Thanks
     
  2. planejunke

    planejunke Rookie

    Feb 9, 2005
    10
    la
    Full Name:
    zman
    having the same problem in my 328. Bought a new radio cd player and had it installed after I could not get any reception in my old radio and the radio shop told me it had a fried tune only to find out that reception on my new alpine is not perfect either, but better than the first radio. It must be a grounding problem. Will investigate further.
     
  3. ernie

    ernie Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 19, 2001
    22,614
    The Brickyard
    Full Name:
    The Bad Guy
    Well if the antenna isn't on your roof, it will be in the windshield. I would have a look at the connections on the back of the radio before you go messing with the antenna.
     
  4. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Talk to resnow here on Fchat too. I believe all radios in 348's were dealer installed, as there was no factory option. resnow and I have consecutive VIN cars and mine has a roof mounted whip, while his has no antenna whatsoever. Obviously, he radio reception stinks.

    I think if you open up the padding/upholstry on the targa bar, you'll find an antenna connection wire just laying there, ready for a drill bil and whip antenna. On later cars (once the battery was moved in to the forward luggage compartment), the antenna connections are on the drivers-side rear quarter panel -- just near the tail lights. As ernie notes, some cars have an embedded windscreen antenna. My replacement SIGLA/Ferrari winscreen ($$$) on my car has the embedded wire, but I actually use the whip antenna on the targa bar. If your car is a 90, I'd guess the connection is stuffed into the upholstery under the targa bar.


    Just my 2 cents.

    ..... but if you want my 22-cents, I'd say "don't drill". It's not worth it.
     
  5. RF128706

    RF128706 Formula Junior

    Apr 8, 2004
    280
    #5 RF128706, Mar 20, 2005
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    If you can see a hair-thin wire embedded in the windshield then you've got the in-glass antenna. This is actually an amplified antenna which simply will not work if the amp is not connected.

    If somebody fitted an aftermarket head-unit but didn't connect power to the amp (or it's not working) then the reception will be a disaster.

    Similarly, if the screen's been changed for a (cheaper) non antenna screen, then you've no antenna at all.

    I've attached a sketch to show where the amplifier sits, item 21 in the call-out box.

    I would do as Ernie suggests & check the wiring first, & I totally agree with Jack Russel Racing -- DON'T DRILL THE CAR !!!! You WILL regret it.

    If you do need to fit your own aerial, then one option could be to go for an aftermarket adhesive "patch" antenna which you could discretely stick to the rear 1/4 or back window. Shop around in specialist electronics places, there are lots of options.

    Anyway, why not go for a Tubi ICE system ? All the music you'll ever need & no electrical wiring needed :).

    Let us know how you get on.

    RF.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  6. Ingenere

    Ingenere F1 Veteran
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Dec 11, 2001
    6,449
    On the Limit
    Full Name:
    Dino
    If you don't have a visable antenna on the car, or the wire on the windshield........you don't have an antenna installed.

    The cars are prewired for an antenna. The antenna connection can be found under the passenger side carpeting.

    When I installed my radio.....way back when........a friend of mine found a stick on wire antenna (windshield mount), made by Bosche. He found it in Hong Kong. I didn't want to drill my car, so this worked out well.
     
  7. Slyther90

    Slyther90 Rookie

    Mar 19, 2005
    6
    Northwest of Chicago
    Full Name:
    Don L
    I will have time next week to do more investigation. All the replys have substance and I appreciate them. I will reply after the week is done.
    Thanks,

    Don
     
  8. resnow

    resnow Formula Junior

    May 21, 2001
    653
    North Carolina
    Full Name:
    Bob Snow
    On my '90ts the antenna coax runs under the carpet on the passenger's side, up behind the passenger seat and into the targa where it simply ends. When I removed the interior overhead light, I found the end with a "connector" for the nonexistent antenna. As jackrusselracing says, my reception stinks but there's a much better sound from elsewhere anyway.
     
  9. dapper

    dapper Formula Junior

    Nov 10, 2003
    711
    Bristol, UK
    Full Name:
    Dave
    My UK 91TS has a Bosch stick on antenna, looks like a wire stuck to the inside of the windshield in a verical top to bottom line of what looks like silicon sealant, plugged into a small cylindrical Bosch widget at the top (amplifier?). I don't have any evidence to suggest but a hunch its probably an after-factory windshield that was modded because it didn't have the embedded wire?
     
  10. vanimal

    vanimal Formula Junior

    Mar 19, 2003
    380
    UK
    Full Name:
    Vaughan
    I have a 2000 260 modena, factory stereo and equally crap reception, I recon a 60's stereo would have better reception which is confusing as its a becker head unit which all Mercs run with no problem. Perhaps its their way ofr making you listen to the engine - which is the way it should be 95% of the time.
     
  11. rleander

    rleander Karting

    Sep 23, 2002
    115
    Winston-Salem NC
    My 91 348ts has a power activited antenna mounted in the rear passenger fender. Works well, course I never can get it loud enough to be heard over the tubi.
     

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