HOW TO: Install Sirius Starmate

[Paine]

Back Window

Quick an easy mount until I'm hard-wired in, mounted the unit in the back quarter window, plugged in the rear outlet and wire runs up and out the rear window to the roof mounted antenae... was suppose to be temporary, but since it is out of site and mind, it's still there....

Mind you I've had the radio since 1/9/06 and have the remote memory memorized since I don't read backwards through the rear view as well as who knows when.

 

[cdh1125]

What am I missing on the antenna thru the 3rd brake light? I'm not seeing an easy place to bring the end into the vehicle and the link to the instructions doesnt work anymore.

 

[Corwyyn]

What am I missing on the antenna thru the 3rd brake light? I'm not seeing an easy place to bring the end into the vehicle and the link to the instructions doesnt work anymore.

First remove the light (which you probably already figured out), then you'll see where the rear dome light housing protrudes thru a couple of openings. If you pull the dome light out there is enough room in one of those slots to feed the end of the antenna thru:

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Now pull down the plastic trim that holds the headliner in place:

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And you can feed the antenna coax out towards the front. At that point I just ran it along the tops of the plastic panels in the cargo area and windows then down inside the drivers side 'A' pillar. To remove the 'A' pillar cover you'll need a T20 torx driver; remove the two bolts inside the ends of the grab handle and pull the cover off.

 

[cdh1125]

OK thanks. I was simply looking for a hole to thread it thru didnt even think to take out the interior light. Now if my antenna adapters will show up I can finally get this installed.

 

[mikendebi]

Hey Robot... nice post.. I have one question..........

What is the audio cable hooked to on the other end?

How does it plug into the stereo? I dont think that part was explained?

Why is all that cable brought back to the center BIN???

Thanks

 

[mikendebi]

bump

Hey Robot... nice post.. I have one question..........

What is the audio cable hooked to on the other end?

How does it plug into the stereo? I dont think that part was explained?

Why is all that cable brought back to the center BIN???

Thanks

 

[cdh1125]

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8qd9wNUKOMP/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=581DFCHR
He used something like that to plug into the stereo's cd changer port.

I went a cheaper route for now, because I intend on replacing the factory radio at some point down the road. http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?search=fm+modulater&i=607FMDA25 You also need 2 antenna adapters if you go this route. And it all can be found cheaper on ebay.

 

[mikendebi]

Funny ya say that LOL I just bought all that at Circuit city when I was grabbing my SR-GM1
kit for my Chevy Avalanche.

I'll report back after I'm done installing it. Did you have to pull the stock radio out to find the antenna connection into the back?

Wierd you need two adapters LOL LAME!

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-8qd9wNUKOMP/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?I=581DFCHR
He used something like that to plug into the stereo's cd changer port.

I went a cheaper route for now, because I intend on replacing the factory radio at some point down the road. http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?search=fm+modulater&i=607FMDA25 You also need 2 antenna adapters if you go this route. And it all can be found cheaper on ebay.

 

[Corwyyn]

Mike, that is the same adapter I have in my KJ, works great! To install it you'll remove the kick panel in front of the passenger door, then you'll see a length of orange cable connecting to the black antenna cable. Just unplug the orange cable from the black one and install the adapter between them - no need to get into the back of the radio. Since my Sirius receiver is sitting on the far left side of my dash (between the speedometer hump and the door) I just ran the thin cable that connects to the Sirius radio along the front of the dash and used the handle from a plastic spoon to push it down between the dash and the bottom of the windshield. If you want I can get some pics tomorrow or Friday.

 

[Corwyyn]

Here are the promised pictures. I took these in my mothers' '05 so the RF modulator is not included, but once you get the antenna cable located and separated it should be clear what the connections are. On my '03 the section of the antenna cable that will plug into the RF modulator is orange and the other section is black. Not sure when they changed them to both black but it really doesn't matter, installation should be the same.

Pull up the trim at the bottom of the door (green outline) and remove the passenger side kick panel (yellow)

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Next remove the two screws indicated

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Then pull the plastic panel down. You'll see a long metal junction in the antenna cable

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You can separate these two sections. Plug the green half into the FM modulator and plug the wire with a similar end from the modulator into the yellow half

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Now run the thin connector wire up to your Sirius radio, replace all panels and screws and you're ready to go.

 

[bigfella]

ok I hate to bring up really old posts but this needs to be updated.

First, the new Sirius Radio's have a voltage step down in the cig-lighter plug so they go from 12V down to 5.2V. If you try and use 12V the radio just will not turn on so you need the voltage thing. There are a couple ways you can do this.

1) Take the end of the lighter plug apart and wire it inline.

2) Install a female power adapter under the dash somewhere.
http://www.tss-radio.com/cigarette-lighter-hardwire-adapter-p-4057.html

3) buy a install kit like this one:
http://www.tss-radio.com/sirius-vehicle-power-hardwire-kit-p-4438.html

I chose to do number 2 since I already had a spare adapter to hardwire in. The added benefit of this is it also allows you to reuse your wiring for other accessories you may change to later. i.e. say Sirius merges with XM, you want a new radio, and find out they changed the voltage requirements yet again!

Here is a couple pictures of my install. The wiring harness is right under this bracket so I chose to use double sided tape versus screws for my mount. I could have moved it somewhere else, but this was really really easy and will be very quick to get to if it needs changed in the future since the center panel just pops down.

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I also chose to use this littlefuse mini add-a-circuit thing because it can be put in place of a current fuse and holds the current fuse plus the new fuse for the additional item. This allowed me to use the Radio fuse so my Sirius now comes on and off with the car ignition switch. It's like it built in and now my wife does not even have to turn it back on, the satellite radio is just on.

http://www.littelfuse.com/data/en/Data_Sheets/FHM02FHA02.pdf

The only thing in the instructions that can be a little confusing is the ground wire location. The ground is located behind the drivers side kick panel as shown:

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[ObiHann]

if you cant find it at Pepboys, maybe you can get it here http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=071-580

Just a quick note that this is the wrong add-a-curciuit. If you go by this (like I did) you will be disapointed. The liberty uses mini fuses, and you need a mini fuse add a circuit. Also, to save labour, you can add a 3.5a fuse inside the add-a-circuit (they come with them) and avoid adding the extra fuse. Personally I'm running a 10a fuse on my add-a-circuit and will be powering my cb, gps, and satellite radio all from it, total they are still under 10a.