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I'm new...do YOU have an antenna?

Discussion in 'Newbie Forum' started by bayareapriusdriver, Mar 2, 2008.

  1. bayareapriusdriver

    bayareapriusdriver New Member

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    Hi! I'm 5 days in on my new Prius purchase. Interesting car. Not sure how I feel about it yet. Don't want to bum anybody out, just tellin' it like it is. I'm a realist. And an optimist. Can you be both???

    Anyway, beside some "scratchy" brakes that I've been discussing with another afflicted Prius chat member, and a grease stain on my carpet (thanks to the mechanic who checked out the scratchy brakes), I'm pretty happy so far. NOT the drive I'm used to, but hey, we're saving the world, right?! Global warming be gone!

    OK, on to more serious topics -- my FM reception is crap. And I noticed today that while there is the bulky antenna piece on top of the car (satellite???), there is no long skinny antenna screwed into it (I can see the hole with the threads). I got Package #5, with satellite radio capability, but...shouldn't there be a regular antenna up there??? I'll deal with it on Monday, but any input would be just plain fun. :)
     
    #1 bayareapriusdriver, Mar 2, 2008
  2. efusco

    efusco Moderator Emeritus
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    yep, there's a whip that should screw into the hole in the top of the black bulky thing. If you bought the car new it should've been on there. There's a chance it's still stashed somewhere in the car...check under the hidden floorboard in the hatch.

    If the dealer won't provide one you can get a replacement any number of places...ebay, auto parts stores, etc.
     
    #2 efusco, Mar 2, 2008
  3. Bill Merchant

    Bill Merchant absit invidia

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    Welcome to PriusChat, bayareapriusdriver! You should have an 15" (approx) whip up there. Sat antennas are usually little flat black biscuit shaped things. If the black thing with the brass screw hole in it is sort of pointy and conical, that's not the sat antenna, just the base of the regular AM/FM antenna. Scratchy brakes (usually below 7 mph) may be caused by rust on the front rotors. Someplace where it's safe and you're doing over 20 mph, flip the selector into N and gently step on the brakes. There is no regenerative braking (the usual way of slowing your Prius) so the brake pads will scrub the rotors clean in no time. You can flip it back into D and keep driving, no need to stop.
     
    #3 Bill Merchant, Mar 2, 2008
  4. jammin012

    jammin012 The man behind The Man

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    forget about the whip, get a sharkfin :eyebrows:
     

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    #4 jammin012, Mar 2, 2008
  5. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    I like the whip. You get better reception than the fin. We live in an area of poor reception, so the extra gain is worth having the whip. That might not be the case for city dwellers.

    Tom
     
    #5 qbee42, Mar 2, 2008
  6. bayareapriusdriver

    bayareapriusdriver New Member

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    Thanks for the welcome and all the helpful responses!

    I'm gonna 'whip' my Toyota dealer if they try to cheat me out of my radio antenna. I did check in the hidden compartment in back, I'll check around some more before I raise heck on Monday.

    And, thanks for the tip on the brakes.
     
    #6 bayareapriusdriver, Mar 2, 2008
  7. Boo

    Boo Boola Boola Member

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    Not a good sign forgetting to screw in the antenna. I wonder what else this dealer forgot or omitted to do when prepping the car for delivery. In this regard, two things come immediately to mind:

    If I were you I would check the rear storage area for the spare tire, jack, wrench and the thing that's most likely to gone missing because it's used sometimes when shipping the Prius -- the eyelet that screws into the front bumper's round tow hole.

    Also, if the wheel alignment seems off to you, or if you have to turn the steering wheel to the right (or less commonly, the left) in order to go straight, you should demand that the dealer align the wheels to spec and ask for the wheel alignment print out. The warranty booklet expressly warrants the front alignment for 12 months/20,000 miles.
     
    #7 Boo, Mar 2, 2008
  8. Godiva

    Godiva AmeriKan Citizen

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    I'd also check in the center console for the tray and the upper glove compartment for the shelf.
     
    #8 Godiva, Mar 2, 2008
  9. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    #9 richard schumacher, Mar 2, 2008
  10. cairo94507

    cairo94507 Active Member

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    Is it possible someone took the one on the roof after you got the car?
     
    #10 cairo94507, Mar 3, 2008
  11. Steamboatsig

    Steamboatsig Member

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    You should go into your wife's closet and steal a metal clothes hanger. Jam it into the hole with the threads. That should work. If your AM reception is still sketchy, then wrap it in aluminum foil. Yep, that should do the trick.
     
    #11 Steamboatsig, Mar 3, 2008
  12. pewd

    pewd Clarinet Dude

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    way too much verbage for a simple issue.

    go back to the dealer, say, hey, you forgot my antenna.
    any respectable dealer will put one on for you in a few minutes; trip over themselves apologizing, and be done with it.

    or worst case, order the part for you and install it when it comes in.

    shouldn't be an issue.
     
    #12 pewd, Mar 4, 2008
  13. beuttler@charter.net

    [email protected] New Member

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    Speaking of antennas, does anyone know if Toyota will be incorporating the antenna into the front windshield? I sometimes place things on the roof and this is a concern for me with the antenna-on-roof system of the current Prius. Would love to be able to have the roof clear....
     
    #13 [email protected], May 18, 2008
  14. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

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    Check the cargo bins on the driver and pax doors; the sales agent 'whipped"
    my antenna out of the pax side bin when we went for the pre-signing test
    drive.

    +1 on using this doc for a list of things to check for; Prius Pick-up Checklist
     
    #14 Rokeby, May 18, 2008
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