1994-2002 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Tom,
I have installed the Delphi SkyFi XM radio in my ‘99 9-3. Here is a write up on how I did mine.
I placed the antenna on the parcel shelf. I did this for 2 reasons, in this location it is protected from the weather and vandals, and this location reduces the possibility of the antenna damaging the paint job on the car. I am very satisfied the reception I get with this set up. As a test I did mount the antenna on the roof, and I really didn’t notice any significant improvement over the parcel shelf mount. One lucky coincidence is that the SAAB parcel shelf has a metal rod running through the middle of it and the magnet of the Delphi antenna holds the antenna in place without the need of any type of adhesive or tape.
I routed the antenna wire under the carpet on the drivers side from the wheel well down along the lower door jams and under the carpet in the drivers foot well up into the console by the cigarette lighter.
While I was routing the antenna wire I also ran a wire from the switched side of the power antenna on the car up to the front console. This may seem strange at first, but I wanted a switched power source that would control the Delphi with the radio. Since SAAB doesn’t have an “accessory” position on the ignition, and the radio can be turned on w/o the key in the ignition, the power antenna was the only circuit I could think of to use. I know that the back of the head unit has a switched circuit, but I felt that since I was right by the antenna it would be simpler to splice a wire at that location than to find a DIN connector and make something for the back of the head unit. (I’ll come back to this power source later)
Moving to the front console, I took a hacksaw blade and cut out the entire ash tray and cigarette lighter group to allow mounting space for the Delphi (and I’ve never regretted it). If you need access to a cigarette lighter, it would be a simple job to remove the foot well panel on the passenger side and drill a hole to mount the original cigarette lighter so that it faces towards the passengers shins. I plan to do this someday, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
Next comes the mounting of the Delphi FM modulator. First thing that I found is that you need to buy 2 adapters and Circuit City to convert the European style antenna leads to the American style. Second thing I found out was that the Delphi FM modulator runs HOT !! I first mounted it in the center console, and later moved it outside the console in the drivers foot well. It still over heated, so I drilled holes in the cover, still over heated so I mounted a cooling fan on it. That fixed the problem. Since that time I have complained to Delphi and received a replacement unit that still runs hot, but doesn’t shut itself off.
Now back to the power source that I chose. I hooked up the power from the Saab antenna switched on the Saab radio, and the Delphi turned on, then turned itself off after 2 seconds. Huh ?? tried several times, always with the same result. Finally I tried a different power circuit and everything was OK. I tested the voltage from the power antenna circuit with my digital volt meter, and it measured exactly the same as the circuit that worked. I will never understand this one (any EE’s out there got an idea ?). Anyway, I ran down to Radio Shack and bought a relay. I wired the relay so that the power antenna circuit closed the relay and provided “clean” power from the known good power source and everything works ok now.
Finally, the Delphi does not turn itself on when the car is turned on (this is the Delphi design). I found a brilliant device available at http://www.powerdude.com that sends an IR signal to turn on the Delphi when the car is started. I highly recommend this accessory.
posted by 67.29.192...
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