Aeriel install

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Tue 24 Sep 2002 12:44
Aeriel install - CM
Some very kind person snapped off SWMBO's aeriel on her Golf MkIII. I am now thinking of putting in one that goes up and down automatically.

How easy are these to install or should a pro do it? My local car hifi people said that it would be about £140 + VAT fitted and the local VW dealer said £20 + half an hour labour totalling about £50! Does it really take 1/2 hour and do I need all the tools to take out the radio to attach to the back of the radio etc...

thanks in advance
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Tue 24 Sep 2002 12:52
Aeriel install - Dorian
I had one on a Scirocco, and AFAIK to fit it required:

Remove the inner wheel arsh shroud to gain access to the inside of the wing.
Fit the electric aerial.
Route the power feed via a fuse to a permanently live connection.
Route the aerial cable and "radio on" cable to the radio.
Remove the radio and plug in the aerial, and find the output from the radio that is designed for an electric aerial (mine was a yellow wire).
Connect it up, and try it!

I guess the permanently live connection is required so that if the ignition is turned off with the radio on, the aerial still goes down.

Hope this helps.
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Tue 24 Sep 2002 13:38
Aeriel install - Bob the builder
Forget it ! Bend a coathanger into a diamond shape and stick it in. You (and your partner) will benefit in the following ways :
1) You'll save yourself £140 + VAT
2) The next time someone breaks/nicks it, you'll have about 75 instant spares in your wardrobe
3) You'll be helping to re-cycle the western world's coathanger "mountain" thus preserving the planet's vital resources
4) If you ever lock yourself out of your car you'll have a handy,convenient method of entry
5) Coathanger aerials look much cooler than the real thing.
Bt B
Remember - it's not how you vote that matters ...it's who does the counting.
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Tue 24 Sep 2002 21:22
Aeriel install - El Dingo
The coathanger aerial is sometimes known as a 'Kirk Aerial'. They are very efficient, especially when moulded into a diamond shape as BTB suggests.

El Dingo (Martin).
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