Vauxhall Astra 05 / New Sony Stereo / Signal Issues

[thomasthetaff]

Hi all,


I’ve had a search around various forums and the web but can’t seem to find a solution to the problem I am encountering.


I recently bought an Astra 05 plate. The stereo which come as standard with the Astra (CD30) had an issue (probably due to too many code entries with the previous owner and therefore locking) and kept on showing “Display Safe” rather than the radio station or CD track number. After realising this was going to be difficult and perhaps costly to sort out (finding the right garage, getting the stereo code, re-programming via Tech2 etc) I decided to get a new car stereo which had some more advanced features.


I bought a Sony BT3900U and the necessary Sony Steering Wheel Stalk Adaptor for a Vauxhall Astra. I also had to buy an adaptor to change this area connector to the larger aerial type (see photos).


I’ve got the stereo up and running and works really well with CDs and my iPod with a good clear sound.


However, there are two slight niggles, the first being of particular concern!


1. The radio signal is pretty bad. With the standard manufacturer stereo I used to have some areas where I couldn’t pick up a signal but in general the signal was good. On the new Sony stereo the AM band signal is a bit of a joke, the FM a bit better but still not as good as the standard Astra CD30. My car has one of those ‘bee sting’ aerials situated on the rear of the car.

a. I have read some information about connecting power to the aerial, but I can’t see how I would do this with the Sony stereo.

b. I have also read about signal boosters, do they work and will I have the same issue connecting the power?

c. I’m sure I read somewhere that not having a good earth connection could cause interference, but I’m not sure how this would be the case as the previous radio had reasonably good reception and I haven’t done any ‘real’ wiring apart from plugging in the ISO adapter cables.


Does anyone know the solution to improve my radio signal?




2. Another issue is to do with the radio power. I originally had the red connection going into red and yellow into yellow (as seen in the photos I took). This originally worked absolutely fine and switched on with the car ignition and off when I took out the key. However shortly after I took the photos I replacing the stereo unit and I couldn’t get the stereo to switch on! So, I connected both red and yellow into the yellow double cable socket and now it stays on. I have modified the on board radio setting to turn off after 30 seconds of inactivity, but I would prefer to have it simply switch off with the ignition.

Can anyone help here?


Many thanks!!!
Phil.




Front of the stereo, if anyone wants to see how it looks (!):


Wires:


The type of original antenna wire:

[Johnjourno]

Some factory head units have a built in signal amplifier, I'm pretty sure my Polo does as I had the same problem. you can buy aerial amplifiers, works like the ones you get at home for freeview etc. I don't really listen to the radio so I haven't bothered. eBay will have some on, they just connect to an earth and a 12v feed IIRC.

[Johnjourno]

Missed off the wiring. I think with all Vauxhalls, the memory and switch live are the other way round, so...

Car Yellow - Red Head Unit
Car Red - Yellow Head Unit

[Paul]

Worth asking Sony see if they can be of help

[gixerboyuk]

So it could be the aerial then? Is the power to that supplied by the head unit or independant? And who listens to AM anyway? lmao

[Johnjourno]

It can be ran off the aux power cable from the head unit or independent from your fuse box, but as its inline to the aerial it's neater to just wire it from the head unit, you only need it when the head unit is on anyway

[gixerboyuk]

So is it powered from the original head unit wiring or independently from the the fuse box?
As the adaptor cables the OP has bought should either supply it or it's fed from another supply.
Either that or the aerial unit is duff. Not unusual if it's a similar set up to the Vectra, they leaked and fubar'd the earth up.

[Paul]

Football is on AM

[Johnjourno]

The original unit will have a built in pre amp, inside the unit, not visable, like a freeview ready tv, and the new unit won't have one built in, and can be purchased seperately, and wired to the Aux cable from your new Sony head unit

12V Amplified Car Aerial Booster Adapter FM, AM Antenna | eBay

12V AM FM Amplified Car aerial Antenna Adaptor Booster | eBay

[Johnjourno]

I may be wrong, after researching online, found you have a connector called 'fakra' and need one of these,

PC5-100 BMW 1 3 5 6 7 Series Mini Fakra Aerial Adaptor | eBay

I can't tell properly in your picture if that is already fitted, and if so, unplug it and inspect the middle pin for damage, as they are prone to snapping being so delicate

If that is fine then you may need a signal amplifier still, and this is more like it

PC5-137 Volkswagen Golf Amplified Fakra Aerial Adaptor | eBay

[thomasthetaff]

Thanks everyone for your help!

Absolutely spot on: Radio 5 Live is on MW!!!

I bought a "PC5-137 Vauxhall Astra Aerial DIN Adaptor" from eBay in the end for £3.64 from 'Motorguard", it arrived very quickly and works perfectly. Crystal clear signals now (even able to pick up a signal where I used to hit complete black spots like Port Talbot. I did buy the wrong type of connector originally and it's now sitting as a spare in my tool box!)

I'll give the power cable switch a go: although I'm used to it not switching off now and is quite handy when you are on a phone call.....

Cheers,
Phil.

[Johnjourno]

Glad to be of help, and I almost guarantee the power cable swap will fix the radio isssue

[Kelers]

Thanks everyone for your help!

Absolutely spot on: Radio 5 Live is on MW!!!

I bought a "PC5-137 Vauxhall Astra Aerial DIN Adaptor" from eBay in the end for £3.64 from 'Motorguard", it arrived very quickly and works perfectly. Crystal clear signals now (even able to pick up a signal where I used to hit complete black spots like Port Talbot. I did buy the wrong type of connector originally and it's now sitting as a spare in my tool box!)

I'll give the power cable switch a go: although I'm used to it not switching off now and is quite handy when you are on a phone call.....

Cheers,
Phil.

I have exactly the same setup but even with the aerial booster I'm luck if I can get radio 1, I'm not convinced I have the blue cable in the correct place. There is a blue cable runs from the head unit ISO through the CTS harness I bought which goes into the cars ISO to which I connected the blue cable so it runs right through what am I doing wrong?

Phil if you could come back to me mate as I have the same parts car and stereo so setup should be exactly the same.