I bought a used 350Z today. The owner installed XM radio with a Pioneer head unit. XM only has 5 stations, I beleive you pay to get the rest, yes? Also, the regular local stations have lots of static in some areas. This has never happened in my other cars even in places I usually drive. Improper installation or antenna problem? Thanks for the help!

EDIT - Im having problems with lost connection/static with both the XM and the normal FM stations. Drove 20 miles up the highway playing an XM station, lost connection for a 30 seconds - 1 minute a few times. I deffinately need to get this to a shop around here and have them take a look at everything.

 

The antenna is amplified and it is probably not connected. You need to connect the blue antenna wire. Most people think since the Z doesn't have a power antenna that goes up and down that you don't need to connect it.

 

Wll I know there is an XM box on the top of my car with a wire running into it. Where do I find the blue wire to make sure it is connected? It will be hard for me to determine all that this guy has done. He did the XM as well as replaced the factory 10" sub and added an amp.

 

The blue wire is for the factory antenna for the local stations. It is behind the radio in the wiring harness. Most people leave it unplugged because it isn't an antenna that goes up and down so they think it isn't a powered antenna.

As far as your XM not working well, not really sure what to tell you.

 

I needed to purchase the XM package, gotta pay monthly for it. Just bought a 3 year package and I have no static or lost stations with it, works fine as of tonight when I ordered. I am going to have Nissan or a local shop check the blue wire and make sure the antenna is functioning properly.

 

If you have a pioneer headunit, take it to a local shop, the dealer most likely wont know what to hook up since its an aftermarket head unit.

 

Point taken. Sat I'll head to a shop I hear does some good work.

 

Just slide the CD player out and make sure the wire is connected. I can't see paying someone more than $2 to do this.

 

Im having problems with lost connection/static with both the XM and the normal FM stations. Drove 20 miles up the highway playing an XM station, lost connection for a 30 seconds - 1 minute a few times. I deffinately need to get this to a shop around here and have them take a look at everything.

 

You should also check and see if the car has the stock antenna on it, or a shortened s2000-style antenna. Alot of the aftermarket antennas that look nicer, have really crappy reception. In case you don't know what to look for, the stock antenna looks like a wide cylinder on the bottom with a thinner cylinder sticking out and is probably at least a foot tall. The aftermarket antennas are usually 8" or less, and have no smaller antenna protuding out of it.

 

if you have an aftermarket antenna, and need a stock one, it should be easy to find in your area. but if you can't find one, i have mine.

 

I beleive I have the stock one. I'll take a picture if I need to to be certain. I am taking it to a local shop Sat morning, hopefully they can figure out what's wrong.