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Windsheild - Antenna Question

906 Views 8 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  focus805, 
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We just got back from an epic camping road trip in our 2021 Metris Weekender and unfortunately got hit by a rock which cracked our windshield. I have just picked it up from the glass installer for a new windshield and the FM radio reception has been considerably degraded.

As I understand it the FM antennas are in the windshield - the small wires on the right and left sides. It seems to me the only two things that could have resulted in the degraded performance are:

1. The installer forgot to, or improperly hooked up these wires.
2. The replacement windshield has a lousier antenna than the original.

Does anyone on the forum has any advice or suggestions?

Thanks!
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P
The other potential reason is that this windshield didn't have the antenna.

I'd take it back to the glass shop. I'm wagering they just didn't want to pull the pillar trim and attach the antenna.
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pounce said:
The other potential reason is that this windshield didn't have the antenna.

I'd take it back to the glass shop. I'm wagering they just didn't want to pull the pillar trim and attach the antenna.
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Pounce, Thank-you for this information. The new windshield does seem to have the wires embedded in the same place on both the passenger and driver's sides. Can you tell me, does the pillar trim need to be pulled on each side (drivers and passenger) to attach the antennas?
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Should be the drivers side. I don't think your van would have a wiring harness on the passenger side.
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pounce said:
Should be the drivers side. I don't think your van would have a wiring harness on the passenger side.
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Thanks!
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Is it possible to add an external antenna mounted to the hood or something?
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Same thing happened to me after a windshield replacement. The installer cut off the antenna wire for the new windshield not realizing what it was for. Reception was horrible and it took me some time and pulling off the pillar trim to figure out what had happened.

The glass shop then replaced the windshield again (for free) making sure to connect the antenna and the reception improved back to how it had originally been.
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Update - The glass shop replaced the non-OEM front glass with Mercedes glass and now the radio works great. The tech said that they noticed that the embedded glass wires were a different color and the connectors seemed beefier on the Mercedes glass.

So take note to demand the OEM glass on windows replacement or be prepared for the potential to lose your radio reception.
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focus805
And make sure to buy the OEM glass coverage (or deductible waiver) from your auto insurer. I have OEM body panel coverage too --
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