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Satellite antenna installation with TOY-SC1

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by kroser, Dec 29, 2008.

  1. kroser

    kroser New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
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    Location:
    Florham Park, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    I plan on installing my satellite radio antenna per the instructions at TOYOTA PRIUS 2006 - SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO TUNER Part Number ... but I have some questions for those that have done it before.

    Step 2c in antenna installation says:

    (c) Pull back the rubber door seal and install the
    Edge Guard provided in the kit over the door
    opening as shown. (Fig. 3-3)

    If I pull the seal away I see a small triangular notch cut in the metal through which I believe the cable should route. What can I use as the "Edge Guard" since none comes with the TOY-SC1 kit? Should I just place something between the antenna coax and the metal of the car as it runs under the gasket? I was thinking of cutting something out of a plastic milk bottle for this.

    Step 2d says:

    (d) Route the antenna wire diagonally over the
    Edge Guard and then place a piece of foam
    tape over the antenna wire as shown.

    Where can I buy "foam tape" for this step.

    Step 2e says:

    (e) Clean surface with approved cleaner and
    place a piece of foam tape over the antenna
    wire in the top of the door opening as shown.

    Again, what can I use as the "foam tape"?

    Thanks!
     
    #1 kroser, Dec 29, 2008
  2. rigormortis

    rigormortis Active Member

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    Location:
    san jose, ca
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    you buy foam tape at grocery stores, cost a couple bucks for a small roll. it is a plastic
    foam that is double sticky (sticks on both sides), it usually has a green colored wrapper
    on it.
     
    #2 rigormortis, Dec 29, 2008
  3. lesturner

    lesturner Taming the Dragon - Tennessee

    Joined:
    May 17, 2007
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    Location:
    Bremen, IN, USA
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    Foam weatherstripping works great for this stuff... Most hardware/building supply stores have it. It is used to seal doors and window here in 'cold country'.

    Radio Shack used to sell "Alligator Grommet". This is a small plastic U-shaped strip designed to put over the edge of sheet metal to keep it from cutting wires and such.

    Advice about the antenna.... I installed XM in my Prius and ended up moving the antenna outside the car behind the radio antenna (instead of the dash). It made a dramatic improvement in reception....
     
    #3 lesturner, Dec 29, 2008
  4. Syclone

    Syclone Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2006
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    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    Five
    If you want to be "really cool" , buy a sharkfin antenna and install the satellite antenna under the sharkfin, routing the cable up thru the mounting hole for the antenna.

    There is a lot of documentation on PriusChat and other sites for the installation.

    You will take a hit on AM/FM reception, but you'll probably be listening to satellite stuff most of the time, anyway.
     
    #4 Syclone, Dec 29, 2008
  5. kroser

    kroser New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
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    Location:
    Florham Park, NJ
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Thanks everyone for your suggestions, but I still don't feel I have a good suggestion for the foam tape. One poster suggested the double-stick mounting tape commonly available at stationery stores, but I don't want to use a double-stick tape as it will likely be a magnet for dirt and other debris on the outward facing sticky side.

    The other suggestion was weather seal foam tape. The tape I've found is much thicker than that I see in the photos of other satellite antenna installations. What is normally pictured is a black single-sided foam tape that appears to be no thicker than 1/16". Does anyone know where to get that?
     
    #5 kroser, Dec 30, 2008
  6. pdhenry

    pdhenry It's HEEERE!

    Joined:
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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    I think I just ran duct tape over the metal edge and passed the antenna wire sort of diagonally over the edge where the tape was. Where the antenna passes under the hatchback (before it gets to the weatherseal) I just used a half-inch piece of duct tape there as well. So far so good - I did the install this summer and no worries.
     
    #6 pdhenry, Dec 30, 2008
  7. butchbs1985

    butchbs1985 Taking things apart is fun!

    Joined:
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    Location:
    ChicagoLand
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius v wagon
    Model:
    Three
    I used heavy electrical tape (not sure if there's a term for it). It's about as thick as two pieces of regular electrical tape and is more rubbery. I also did not mount the antenna how they do it in the instructions. I loosened the headliner in the back so that I could remove the stock antenna. I then ran the wire out the hole for the factory antenna and cut a small (emphasis) notch in the seal between the actual antenna and roof. I mounted the XM antenna immediately behind the radio one and put some liquid gasket in the notch to seal it (probably not necessary but just in case). Looks great and since there's no pigtail, the antenna doesn't move like it does on my other car where the wind or car wash can push the darn thing all over. Scratched my paint once when that happened.
     
    #7 butchbs1985, Dec 30, 2008
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