Hey guys, i installed a Sony XAV-AX100 head unit, and everything works great except for the radio. I can't hardly get a signal. It seems like the signal strength isn't enough because it'll fade in n out but mostly static. Any ideas?

 

Did you connect power to the antenna signal amplifier?

 

I can't remember at the moment I'll have to pull it out later this week to look. But i remember there was one wire we didnt connect, i believe it said something along the lines of 'power antenna' on the wire. And the way i understood what i found online was that wire is if you have an old power antenna that retracts down.

 

That's your problem right there. You need to connect power to that wire. I'll admit, it's a little misleading since that wire is usually reserved for cars with a power antenna, but the Z does not have a power antenna and that wire is used to power up the FM signal booster amplifier.

Hook it up to the remote wire on your aftermarket HU and you should be good to go.

 

Thanks! I'll wire that up and see if that works

 

So the only 2 wires that were left were power antenna and reverse in. Obviously that didnt work because you said remote wire. So does that mean i need to go out and buy a remote wire to plug into my head unit, then butt connect it to power antenna?

 

Everything op is saying is correct. The Z's antenna has a box that sits right below the antenna itself . It is wired to the antenna and needs to be powered at the headunit. One of the wires coming from the car side to the headunit is for that .I don't remember the color but if you did pull up the wiring diagram it tells you .You need to connect that to the power antenna wire you see there or
if I remember right the amp turn on wire works as well

 

The color is GN/WT which I think is green white for bose system
If your car had bose it will be pin 12 in the smaller white connector. All that wire needs is a 12v when headunit is on. You can technically take it from any 12v accessory source but it is recommended to do it as stated earlier

 

I figured your aftermarket HU would have a remote wire, but it may not. A remote wire is essentially a 12v+ wire that you connect from your HU to an aftermarket accessory (like an amp for a sub) to tell it to turn on when the HU powers on.

You should have a remote wire (it's typically blue or blue with a white stripe) because I can see RCA outputs on the back of your HU. Connect it to the green/white wire that is attached to the brown connector wrapped in foam with the antenna signal wire.

If you still don't have a good FM signal, then you may need an antenna adapter to plug into the back of your HU, but it looks like you've already got that. Can't tell for sure.

 

This is the FM signal booster wire...

 

Theres a jack for remote wire on the back left, youll see it, its blue. Could i buy a remote wire, hook it up there and attatch it to that signal boost wire?

i recall there being a 12v wire but for something else. I think the stock sub

 

All right. I broke down and googled your head unit.

The blue jack in the corner is for the wire if you want to add steering wheel controls. It is not the remote "turn on" wire.

The remote wire I have been referencing is blue with a white stripe. You simply need to run a wire from the remote output wire (blue/white) from your HU to the signal amplifier wire (green/white) behind your HU that I previously marked with a red arrow.

See diagram of your HU below:

 

Okay, I'll take a closer look but i swore I've already connected it. I stil have my user manual so ill read through that

 

If the FM signal amplifier wire is connected, I suppose it could be a bad signal amplifier itself or the antenna wire is not properly connected to your HU.