[AZelementman]

My wife's 2008 E just started having radio issues. While all other stations work fine, her XM comes in and out, mostly out. She's called XM and everything is working from their end. She can get a few seconds of XM and then it goes dead for several seconds. I've pulled the radio and everything seems tight on the back (but I don't see a traditional antenna jack plugged in???) I've also heard occasional rattling coming from the driver's side under the dash. Felt up there and felt nothing loose. Any ideas? Is there a connection I should look at?

Thanks!!!!!

Steve

 

[slimerdogs]

There is another cable for the XM and I have a remote unit that I use in my E and been having the same problem. Bought a higher gain antenna and it has helped but it still goes out sometimes. Check the antenna base for anything broken or loose as the base is the XM antenna. AS for the other reply. Some people live in remote areas and don't get a good radio signal so they use this. I almost got rid of it just for that same reason as you stated but they have a lifetime deal that costs the same as a 3 year purchase so I did that this time. I will have it until ether I die or they go under.

 

[AZelementman]

Slimerdogs,

Thanks for the helpful answer. Can you give me a few suggestions as to where to look? Are there panels to remove or specific places to check?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[slimerdogs]

Its the black base for the regular antenna. Mine doesn't have it so I wouldn't know on how to remove it. Heard that the headliner has to come down to get to the screws for the antenna. Thats if the antenna is the problem. Don't know if the antenna plug is the same as mine but if you feel its the antenna thats the culprit and there is the same plug in the back of the radio you might be able to get a external antenna like mine and plug it in and stick the antenna on the roof to check it out. Looks like a little b&C connector.
http://cgi.ebay.com/XM-Skyfi-Myfi-3...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item20aebe0c54

 

[AZelementman]

XM Radio - Antenna issues?

Please help! My wife's 2008 E does not pick up XM radio. It did for about a year, but then it just stopped. I traded out radios with my 2006 E and her radio worked fine in my E but my radio had no XM in hers. So, the problem seems to be one of XM reception in her E. Can anyone help? Does anyone know where the XM antenna runs through the car? Could there be a short? Is there a hidden fuse? Actually, her XM works for a few seconds every so often, but mostly just says "NO SIGNAL". Very frustrating. She is paying $7 per month for a service she can't use. We've called XM and they say their signal is strong. Thanks, Steve

 

[Pilotowner]

XM Radio - antenna issues

Hi E owners. I am a Pilot owner (2006) and am having the same issues with my XM as AZelementman. So I joined your forum to tell of my XM problem.

My XM (factory installed) worked fine for 4 years. Tuesday it was fine and suddenly went to "No Signal." It works off and on. It will come in for a few minutes, and then cut back out. Sometimes it will display the station name, then say it is loading, and then back to No Signal. I can find no reports of XM having lost a satellite like back in 2007, so I assume it may be the antenna. Like AZelementman, I need any help you folks can offer. Thank you.

 

[spdrcr5]

As slimerdogs has already mentioned, the antennae cable runs on top of the headliner so it can enter the antennae on the roof. Pull down the headliner and check the cable connection there. It could be loose, corroded or something else entirely.

I know you stated you remove the radio and all cables are well connected. Check the rest of the cable up to and including the antennae itself on the roof, but you need to access this by taking down the back corner of the headliner.

Take pics if you find something and report back if you were able to resolve it.

 

[Yoda E SC]

the sat radio tuner is in the right side of the cargo area behind the side panel. there is a connection in the roof / d-pillar area where the connectors plug together that you can check, but i would lean towards a bad antenna. replace it with a regular aftermarket xm antenna and you should be fine. not sure what the factory xm one runs, but you have to drop the rear of the headliner to replace it. connector b in both pictures is the sat antenna

 

[Pilotowner]

XM Radio - antenna issues

If anyone is still following this thread, I found the solution to my XM antenna problem. The antenna went bad after 4 years of use. I don't know why and Honda repair people do not know why. I just bought a new antenna and installed it. For my Pilot (I know, I am not an Element owner, but had the same XM problem as one of you) the new antenna cost about $55.00 from Honda (check different dealers, as I have 3 in the Louisville, KY area and the price ranged from $55 to $80 for the same antenna). I lost the mounting nut so it was an extra $7.00 for the nut. On the pilot, the antenna has about a 10 inch cable that plugs in to the harness right under the headliner at the middle of the roof right behind the rear hatch gasket. I put the new antenna in and my XM is back to full strength. Before, it was showing "NO SIGNAL" and would come in on an intermittant basis. I hope this helps anyone else having this problem. Thank you to all you that posted as it helped me with my problem.- Pilotowner.

 

[Yoda E SC]

If anyone is still following this thread, I found the solution to my XM antenna problem. The antenna went bad after 4 years of use. I don't know why and Honda repair people do not know why. I just bought a new antenna and installed it. For my Pilot (I know, I am not an Element owner, but had the same XM problem as one of you) the new antenna cost about $55.00 from Honda (check different dealers, as I have 3 in the Louisville, KY area and the price ranged from $55 to $80 for the same antenna). I lost the mounting nut so it was an extra $7.00 for the nut. On the pilot, the antenna has about a 10 inch cable that plugs in to the harness right under the headliner at the middle of the roof right behind the rear hatch gasket. I put the new antenna in and my XM is back to full strength. Before, it was showing "NO SIGNAL" and would come in on an intermittant basis. I hope this helps anyone else having this problem. Thank you to all you that posted as it helped me with my problem.- Pilotowner.

that is what i like to see, honda people helping honda people ;-) thanks for taking the time to post your solution. the antennas are by far the most common problem with either brand of sat radio, glad to see you bit the bullet and tried it, and that it worked for you.

 

[AZelementman]

Yoda and Pilotowner,

I want to thank you both for the ideas, and Yoda for the pictures!!!! WOW!!! Those should be a great help. I've been pulled in several directions since my first posts, but have not yet fixed my wife's XM. Pilotowner just gave me the idea to exchange antennas with my E. I'll do that right now. If that doesn't work, I'll dig in a little tomorrow using Yoda's pictures. Thanks guys!!!!!

Steve

PS - We just bought my 20 year old his first car - a 2007 E. We are now a 3 E family!!!!!!

 

[AZelementman]

Hey Pilotowner,

If you're still there.... by "antenna" do you mean that 6 or 8 inch black stubby thing that screws in at the top/rear of the car? If so, I just switched mine with my wife's an nothing happened. :-( I'll try some of Yoda's ideas tomorrow.

Thanks all,

Steve

 

[Yoda E SC]

you cant just "switch" the xm antenna part with out some work. it is the base that is bolted to the roof, not the mast the screws in. you would have to remove the rear trim paneling and drop part of the headliner to swap those over and i dont know that you want to do that and then have to again when you get the new antenna. ;-)

 

[ramblerdan]

AZelementman, please fill in your profile.

 

[its_elemental]

i assume that the XM antenna is #4 in this picture?

 

[Yoda E SC]

that is correct

 

[AZelementman]

Hello again and thank yyou to all who have offered help!!!!

I tried to switch out my 2006 XM box for the 2008 box and ran into some complications. The main issue concerning a switch is that the antenna plugs differ. My 06 is a two plug and the 08 is one plug. See pictures. The main plug (runs from box to front of car) is the same, so if I could get a substitute box and antenna I could plug them in and see if that is the problem. I am able to get to the screw that holds my 06 roof mount (circled in picture) but am unable to get to my wife's 08 mount because of a rear air bag!!!! What a place for an air bag??? I tug on it gently and it would not release. I'm afraid to pull too hard as I don't want the bag to go off in my face.

So, here is where I am now...

PS - I tried my remote XM antenna but he plugs are too dissimilar

1) Have access to my 06 box and roof mount.
2) have access to the 08 box but it is not interchangeable with my 06 box due to the antenna plug.
3) I could pull my 06 box and roof mount and try plugging the whole assembly into the 08.
4) Any other ideas?

Thanks all,

Steve

 

[Yoda E SC]

try a new antenna. time is money and with all the time i know you have spent so far doing what you have it has equalled more than the 50-60 bucks a new antenna would be since they are the most common issue/problem. ;-)

 

[AZelementman]

Thanks Yoda,

Just to be sure, you are saying buy the roof mount part and plug that into the rear box. If that fixes it, put it all back together, install the new part, and be done. If not, look further?

Any idea how to get past the rear air bag issue if the roof part is the problem?

My time is relatively inexpensive. I am semi-retired.

Thanks again,

Steve0

 

[Yoda E SC]

im not sure what that bolt is in your picture but the antenna bas has a nut on it, not a bolt going into it. there is a stud that comes from it thru the roof and the nut tightens on that if i remember correctly.