I have TL antenna connected to a Alpine HU and had it installed by Autobarn couple of years ago.

Everything was working fine until recently I noticed that the antenna does not go down anymore when Tape/CD is selected on the HU.

It does go down if the car is turned off or if the HU is turned off.

Can I take it back to Autobarn or is it the HU/Antenna which is faulty?

Sounds like the same wiring problem I had with a Pioneer H/Unit in the TW, as there is no electric antenna control wire on the Pioneer, it was connected to the Amp turn on wire instead, which meant, whenever the unit was on, regardless of the input, the antenna went up.
To get around it, I split the Amp turn wire, ran one length directly to the amp to turn it on, the other length ran to a switch, then on the the antenna motor.

However, In your case, it depends on the wiring out of the Alpine, It will have an Amp Trigger wire, but I don't know wether it has an Antenna control Wire.

You'll have to get out the installation sheet on the Alpine,
if there is an antenna control wire, it would seem it is not connected, but connected to the Amp control wire.
If there is not, connecting it to the Amp turn on would be the next best thing.
So it depends entirely on the control wires from your Head Unit.

It is unlikely that your unit is faulty.
You could take it back, depending on there install warranty, or how nice the fellas are, but it won't hurt to ask.
If it does have a antenna control wire, and they won't fix it. I've pretty much done a walkthrough to get the unit out, its pretty easy, then just tell you which wires to join.
And if you really have a tape player, its time to upgrade. lol

Hi, thanks for the reply.

In my case, it was working fine until recently which means the Alpine HU does have the connection for the "Antenna Control wire".

The fact that it stopped working suggests either a faulty HU or the wire has come loose (But then would it still work on power up and down?)

If it is the HU, then it is certainly time to upgrade regardless of the tape or not :D

Will dig up the receipt and see what they mention about the warranty.


Sounds like the same wiring problem I had with a Pioneer H/Unit in the TW, as there is no electric antenna control wire on the Pioneer, it was connected to the Amp turn on wire instead, which meant, whenever the unit was on, regardless of the input, the antenna went up.
To get around it, I split the Amp turn wire, ran one length directly to the amp to turn it on, the other length ran to a switch, then on the the antenna motor.

However, In your case, it depends on the wiring out of the Alpine, It will have an Amp Trigger wire, but I don't know wether it has an Antenna control Wire.

You'll have to get out the installation sheet on the Alpine,
if there is an antenna control wire, it would seem it is not connected, but connected to the Amp control wire.
If there is not, connecting it to the Amp turn on would be the next best thing.
So it depends entirely on the control wires from your Head Unit.

It is unlikely that your unit is faulty.
You could take it back, depending on there install warranty, or how nice the fellas are, but it won't hurt to ask.
If it does have a antenna control wire, and they won't fix it. I've pretty much done a walkthrough to get the unit out, its pretty easy, then just tell you which wires to join.
And if you really have a tape player, its time to upgrade. lol

it was working fine until recently
Always handy to know, earlier.

Which deck is it, btw.

Some installers had a five year warranty, if you got their gear, and they installed it.
That migjt be a bit rare now though.

Always handy to know, earlier.

I had mentioned this in my original post, looks like you missed it.


Which deck is it, btw.

It is the Alpine TDA-7558E


Some installers had a five year warranty, if you got their gear, and they installed it.
That migjt be a bit rare now though.

Strathfield car radio offer (Or at least used to) lifetime warranty on all their installs. I got my deck installed from them. I'm hoping Autobarn is similar?

Regardless if the HU is stuffed, might be time to look at new ones as you suggested. Depending on the budget, maybe the double DIN with GPS etc.?

Could be the amp turn on wire(usually blue) is interfering with the antenna power cable.

being a TDA-7558E i don't think they have an antenna control wire, maybe you just noticed now that it doesnt go down on tape/CD, therefore it might have always been that way? and you said it was fitted a couple of years ago, that headunit is at least 10-11 years old now from memory :P im guessing you already had it and just had them install it? either way the antenna control wire will be BLUE and the amp turn on wire will be BLUE/WHITE trace.

You are right, the unit is from my previous car which I transferred to the Magna.

The electric antenna install was done couple of years ago as TF do not have electric antennas.

Yes the HU does have the antenna control wire as the antenna definitely used to go down when CD/Tape was selected.

I still have not fixed this! :hmm:

I was thinking maybe its time for a upgrade as the rear right speaker is not working anymore as well. Have not checked if its a wire come loose at the speaker end or the unit end or is the unit faulty?




being a TDA-7558E i don't think they have an antenna control wire, maybe you just noticed now that it doesnt go down on tape/CD, therefore it might have always been that way? and you said it was fitted a couple of years ago, that headunit is at least 10-11 years old now from memory :P im guessing you already had it and just had them install it? either way the antenna control wire will be BLUE and the amp turn on wire will be BLUE/WHITE trace.

Forget this... have just read the post properly !