2008 XM Radio Reception Problems

bgreens · 07-02-2009, 05:41 PM

I have had poor reception with my XM radio when traveling North and East but no problem when traveling West and South. The problem is the XM antenna is placed inside the car at the right side of the windshield. Since the signal comes from the south west, going north and east blocks the signal. If you read the XM guide it tells you NOT to place the antenna inside the car. I wrote to Toyota and they told me their technicians thought this was the best place for the antenna and they would not make any concessions. I would like to know if anyone else is having this problem. If so we could have a class action against Toyota to find a fix for this problem or refund the price of the XM option.

stream · 07-02-2009, 05:58 PM

I thought the satellite antenna is in the antenna assembly on the roof. Where did you hear about that location?

That aside, I've had random reception problems, where when I leave my house, the reception goes in and out every second or so. I called XM, and they were no help.

Once the 90 day trial is up, I don't plan on renewing.

DaveinOlyWA · 07-02-2009, 07:59 PM

the antenna is on the back hatch. if you really want sucky reception, park somewhere and open the hatch with the Sat radio on, it will drop that signal like a hot potato

stream · 07-02-2009, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveinOlyWA

the antenna is on the back hatch. if you really want sucky reception, park somewhere and open the hatch with the Sat radio on, it will drop that signal like a hot potato

Where on the back hatch? As I said above, I thought it was part of the antenna assembly on the roof.

nascrlvr · 07-03-2009, 01:29 PM

bgreens.....my antenna is like yours....mounted inside on the right side of the car. I have had my car back once about that and they moved the antenna about an inch or so close to the center....not a big help. She's going on for an oil change soon and I will have them address the problem again. I had an aftermarket XM in my previous car and had an antenna on the trunk. I didn't have as many problems with that one. So I don't understand...............

bgreens · 07-03-2009, 05:30 PM

On your 2010 it is on the roof with the other antenna. You should not have the same problem (I hope).

Quote:

Originally Posted by stream

I thought the satellite antenna is in the antenna assembly on the roof. Where did you hear about that location?

That aside, I've had random reception problems, where when I leave my house, the reception goes in and out every second or so. I called XM, and they were no help.

Once the 90 day trial is up, I don't plan on renewing.

uwnow · 07-07-2009, 03:53 PM

I'm having the same problem on my 2008. My antenna is mounted inside on the right-side. XM says the antenna should be mounted outside. As far as the 2010 antenna placement, the pictures I saw on the Toyota/Prius/2010 site shows the antenna inside.

math13 · 07-07-2009, 04:26 PM

I had the antenna on the dash inside (right) as well. I had the dealer move it to the outside yesterday. It's a different car. I hated xm, now I love it.

DaveinOlyWA · 07-07-2009, 10:55 PM

hmmm ok. well "i thought" the antenna was mounted to the front windshield. isnt is a flat wire kind?

nascrlvr · 07-08-2009, 08:24 AM

math....where in Louisiana are you? I am in Baton Rouge and bought my car from AllStar Toyota. Did your dealer give you any problem putting it on the outside? Where exactly outside is it? Does it affect the warranty in any way? Thanks for answering my questions......

07-02-2009, 05:41 PM	#1
bgreens Barry Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Fort Myers, Florida Posts: 6 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: N/A Package: #4 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	2008 XM Radio Reception Problems I have had poor reception with my XM radio when traveling North and East but no problem when traveling West and South. The problem is the XM antenna is placed inside the car at the right side of the windshield. Since the signal comes from the south west, going north and east blocks the signal. If you read the XM guide it tells you NOT to place the antenna inside the car. I wrote to Toyota and they told me their technicians thought this was the best place for the antenna and they would not make any concessions. I would like to know if anyone else is having this problem. If so we could have a class action against Toyota to find a fix for this problem or refund the price of the XM option.

07-02-2009, 05:58 PM	#2
stream Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 920 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: V Package: Navigation Thanks: 58 Thanked 188 Times in 114 Posts Friends: 2	Re: 2008 XM Radio Reception Problems I thought the satellite antenna is in the antenna assembly on the roof. Where did you hear about that location? That aside, I've had random reception problems, where when I leave my house, the reception goes in and out every second or so. I called XM, and they were no help. Once the 90 day trial is up, I don't plan on renewing.

07-02-2009, 07:59 PM	#3
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,382 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 122 Times in 104 Posts Friends: 10	Re: 2008 XM Radio Reception Problems the antenna is on the back hatch. if you really want sucky reception, park somewhere and open the hatch with the Sat radio on, it will drop that signal like a hot potato

07-03-2009, 01:29 PM	#5
nascrlvr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: southeastern US Posts: 1,045 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Thanks: 68 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Friends: 4	Re: 2008 XM Radio Reception Problems bgreens.....my antenna is like yours....mounted inside on the right side of the car. I have had my car back once about that and they moved the antenna about an inch or so close to the center....not a big help. She's going on for an oil change soon and I will have them address the problem again. I had an aftermarket XM in my previous car and had an antenna on the trunk. I didn't have as many problems with that one. So I don't understand...............

07-07-2009, 03:53 PM	#7
uwnow Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 1 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2008 XM Radio Reception Problems I'm having the same problem on my 2008. My antenna is mounted inside on the right-side. XM says the antenna should be mounted outside. As far as the 2010 antenna placement, the pictures I saw on the Toyota/Prius/2010 site shows the antenna inside.

07-07-2009, 04:26 PM	#8
math13 math13 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #6 Touring Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Re: 2008 XM Radio Reception Problems I had the antenna on the dash inside (right) as well. I had the dealer move it to the outside yesterday. It's a different car. I hated xm, now I love it.

07-07-2009, 10:55 PM	#9
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,382 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 122 Times in 104 Posts Friends: 10	Re: 2008 XM Radio Reception Problems hmmm ok. well "i thought" the antenna was mounted to the front windshield. isnt is a flat wire kind?

07-08-2009, 08:24 AM	#10
nascrlvr Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: southeastern US Posts: 1,045 My Car: 2009 Prius Model: N/A Package: #3 Thanks: 68 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts Friends: 4	Re: 2008 XM Radio Reception Problems math....where in Louisiana are you? I am in Baton Rouge and bought my car from AllStar Toyota. Did your dealer give you any problem putting it on the outside? Where exactly outside is it? Does it affect the warranty in any way? Thanks for answering my questions......

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