Location of Power Antenna relay LX450

[nocones]

I'm trying to troubleshoot a power antenna problem on my 97 LX450 and the FSM discusses the power antenna relay. Does anyone know where it is located and what it looks like? I can here it clicking under the PS dash area.

 

[619TOY]

You have both an antenna ECU in the passenger kick panel and a relay near the antenna itself. I cant tell from the diagram but it could be on the inner passenger fender well or hidden from view with the antenna itself. I'd start at the ECU.

 

[Beowulf]

nocones,
Describe your problem.
-B-

 

[nocones]

nocones,
Describe your problem.
-B-

Short version: My power antenna doesn't work with either the antenna buttons or when the stereo turns on.

Long version with idiotic mistakes included: I replaced my stereo with a new Sony. Prior to the stereo replacement the mast had been broken but I could hear the motor humming everytime I turned the engine on and off. The switch would also make the motor hum (but no antenna movement since the mast was broken.) After installing the new stereo I also tried to install a new mast. However, I couldn't install it because the switch no longer worked and I couldn't get the mast threaded into the motor. At that time I hadn't realized that in order for the antenna switch to work, the antenna lead on the aftermarket stereo needed to be hooked up to pin 8 (the violet wire) of the factory harness behind the stereo. (I bypassed and removed the factory amp during my stereo install).

Soooo...(this is where I started getting desperate to figure out the problem and making stupid mistakes)...without realizing that the power antenna lead needed to be hooked up I was trying to troubleshoot the antenna motor. I wanted to see if it even worked so I wired the battery directly to the antenna--mistake #2-- (with the antenna motor harness still connected to the rest of the system--mistake #3) to see if it would operate. Well, it did hum about a second and then a bit of smoke came out of the motor. After opening up the motor and realizing that I wasn't going to be able to get it back together with the little springs and such (and realizing that I had likely fried it anyway), I gave up and ordered a whole new antenna motor assembly for way too much $$$ (discounted of course, but still a lot!) from Cdan.

While waiting for it to arrive I researched on mud (what I should have done in the first place--mistake #1) and also talked to Crutcfield where I found out about the pin 8 violet wire that needed to be hooked up to the power antenna lead on the aftermarket stereo harness. So I did that wiring, installed the new antenna motor and the antenna still doesn't go up and down. But I do hear a relay clicking when I set the stereo to Tuner or when I push the antenna buttons. Unless there is something that I missed with the wiring, I figured I must have fried something else when I connected the battery directly to the antenna, such as the relay. I wanted to test the relay per the FSM to see if it working correctly.

The only other thing I can think of trying is to connect the amp power on lead from the new head unit to the pin 8 violet wire. Someone on mud said that that solved the problem for them. I already have this amp turn on lead wired to an amplified bazooka subwoofer but I could try connecting both of them to it??

So there you have it. I'm not sure were else to go from here.

 

[619TOY]

Step#1 - verify that you have power on both sides of these fuses:

1. 15A CIG in D. DASH FUSEBOX
2. 15A ECU-IG D. DASH FUSEBOX
3. 20 A RADIO UNDERHOOD FUSEBOX

Step#2 - get to auto antenna ECU in P. kick panel

Step#3 - verify that you have 12V when the radio is on, on the purple wire

Step#4 - verify that when you depress the power antenna buttons that you have ground switching to the blu and blu/wht at the ECU. Blu for up, blu/wht for down

Step#5 - verify that when you depress the antenna buttons that you have voltage between the blu/org and the blu/blk ( you must connect your meter leads to both of these wires (black to one wire, red to the other). When you depress one of the antenna buttons you should get voltage and the other direction should give voltage as well but the opposite polarity (usually indicated by a "-" before the voltage reading on the screen)

Let us know how far you get with these tests and the results. We can go from there.

EDIT: I have no way of telling you what voltage to look for as I have no idea what the ECU drops it to. It will be approx. 12V or less if the vehicle is not running.

 

[nocones]

Step#1 - verify that you have power on both sides of these fuses:

1. 15A CIG in D. DASH FUSEBOX
2. 15A ECU-IG D. DASH FUSEBOX
3. 20 A RADIO UNDERHOOD FUSEBOX

Step#2 - get to auto antenna ECU in P. kick panel

Step#3 - verify that you have 12V when the radio is on, on the purple wire

Step#4 - verify that when you depress the power antenna buttons that you have ground switching to the blu and blu/wht at the ECU. Blu for up, blu/wht for down

Step#5 - verify that when you depress the antenna buttons that you have voltage between the blu/org and the blu/blk ( you must connect your meter leads to both of these wires (black to one wire, red to the other). When you depress one of the antenna buttons you should get voltage and the other direction should give voltage as well but the opposite polarity (usually indicated by a "-" before the voltage reading on the screen)

Let us know how far you get with these tests and the results. We can go from there.

EDIT: I have no way of telling you what voltage to look for as I have no idea what the ECU drops it to. It will be approx. 12V or less if the vehicle is not running.

Alright, I found the antenna relay. It is right above the 4-wheel drive ECU in the PS kick panel and is a little black box that looks just like the 4-wheel drive ECU. It is also clearly labeled "Antenna Relay".

How do I go about doing step 4? Other than that everything checks out except step 5...no power at the Relay with either up or down button.

 

[619TOY]

How do I go about doing step 4? Other than that everything checks out except step 5...no power at the ECU with either up or down button.

1. Another test that you must perform is to verify the ground at the ECU. You do this by connecting your black lead to the wht/blk wire at the ECU, not to ground. Then connect your red lead to the blu/yel. You should read approx. 12V. If so, push the ant button while the radio is on. You should still read approx 12V.
2. Connect your red lead to a known good 12V source, such as the blu/yel wire.
3. One at a time, connect your black lead to the blu, push the up switch then connect to the blu/wht and push the down switch. Each time you push a button, your meter should read approx. 12V.

Assuming this checks out ok, it looks like you either have a bad ECU or possibly ant relay. From the diagram, it merely looks like the ant relay is a current measuring device and shouldn't keep the ECU from putting out voltage to the antenna.

If this doesn't check out, you either have a bad switch or no connection between the ECU and the switch or no ground into the switch. The source of the ground appears to be a blu plug in the same vicinity as the ECU. It has 12 positions.

This is also the source of the ground for the ECU itself. This connector or a wire connected to it is grounded to the body in this area as well.

Let me know the results of these tests.

 

[nocones]

Steve, Thanks so much for the updated info and for helping me out with this. Is it possible that the antenna relay and the antenna ECU are in the same box? I just noticed that the box I've been testing is labeled "Antenna Relay". I opened it up and it has a 2.5 inch square circuit board with all kinds of transistors, resistors, capacitors, chips, relays, etc. The plug going into it is 18 pins.

All your latest tips work just as you described that they are supposed to. The only thing that doesn't is your previous step 5:

Quote: Step#5 - verify that when you depress the antenna buttons that you have voltage between the blu/org and the blu/blk ( you must connect your meter leads to both of these wires (black to one wire, red to the other). When you depress one of the antenna buttons you should get voltage and the other direction should give voltage as well but the opposite polarity (usually indicated by a "-" before the voltage reading on the screen)

When I do this nothing happens.

I tried swapping out my switch with a known good switch and it didn't help. Sounds like I may need to try swapping out the Antenna Relay box/ECU and see if that works?

Do you know if the antenna relay is the same for the LX450 as it is for the 96-97 LC? My 95 LC has no relay box whatsoever in the PS kick panel.

 

[Beowulf]

Dan could probably answer that for you. I know there was a change to the automatic antenna but I believe it was a late 96 change. AFAIK, all '97 Land Cruisers have the same Antenna ECU that you have on your LX.

-B-

 

[619TOY]

If you performed all of these tests with no luck getting voltage out of the ECU, it is probably the culprit.

I have the wiring diagram for a 97 LX and it definately shows a relay near the antenna. It could even be mounted to the antenna. Like I said earlier though, I believe it is either for current sensing or possibly height sensing since it is connected with a sheilded cable.

You are at about the limit of what can be verified with a meter without having a known working setup to compare readings with.

I think you're at the point where you need to try a known good ECU and see what happens.

Sorry I couldn't be any more help.

 

[Leon Bezuidenhout]

hi

I have a similar problem. Just installed a new OE power antenna (previous owner had an aftermarket one installed), but antenna does not go up when radio turns on.

The buttons on the dash does make the antenna go up/down.

Can someone please explain to me where the power antenna ECU is located and how does it look, also size. I cant find it and wondering if previous owner removed it when he installed aftermarket antenna.

Thanks

 

[nocones]

hi

I have a similar problem. Just installed a new OE power antenna (previous owner had an aftermarket one installed), but antenna does not go up when radio turns on.

The buttons on the dash does make the antenna go up/down.

Can someone please explain to me where the power antenna ECU is located and how does it look, also size. I cant find it and wondering if previous owner removed it when he installed aftermarket antenna.

Thanks

I believe only 96 and 97 Land Cruisers and LX450s have the ECU and that only these years have the antenna that will go up and down when the radio is turned on. Before 96, the antenna was only controlled by the buttons. Without the ECU on a 96 or 97, even the antenna buttons won't work. If you have it, it is a black box about 3 inches by 3 inches by 0.75 inches thick located just under the passenger side kickpanel above the 4-wheel drive ECU (which looks nearly identical).

 

[nocones]

If you performed all of these tests with no luck getting voltage out of the ECU, it is probably the culprit.

I have the wiring diagram for a 97 LX and it definately shows a relay near the antenna. It could even be mounted to the antenna. Like I said earlier though, I believe it is either for current sensing or possibly height sensing since it is connected with a sheilded cable.

You are at about the limit of what can be verified with a meter without having a known working setup to compare readings with.

I think you're at the point where you need to try a known good ECU and see what happens.

Sorry I couldn't be any more help.

UPDATE:

I got a new power antenna ECU through a fellow mudder who was parting out his 97 LC and after installing it, all is well and works the way it should. Comparing the old ECU circuit board to the new one, what appears to be a fusible link had melted on my old one (when I hooked the battery directly to the antenna power leads). Had I known this, I could have just soldered a new wire between the two ends of the fusible link and been as good as new.

Thanks to all those who helped me work through this! Just another reason this is such a great forum.

 

[walleyefisher]

" At that time I hadn't realized that in order for the antenna switch to work, the antenna lead on the aftermarket stereo needed to be hooked up to pin 8 (the violet wire) of the factory harness behind the stereo. (I bypassed and removed the factory amp during my stereo install). "


Can someone please verify this? I have tested my motor and its fine and I tested my switch and its fine, but I do have an aftermarket radio and I'm not sure anyone hooked up the pwr antenna.

Currently my antenna does not work via the radio or the buttons.

 

[nocones]

Yes, there are some other posts here about this...That is how I found out about it. I also confirmed it with Crutchfield who helped me troubleshoot why the antenna wouldn't work with the radio or antenna buttons.

 

[walleyefisher]

Got it...It was a two part problem for me. 1. no power from stereo to ECU 2. Had disconnected the motor during earlier testing and forgot to reconnect it:whoops:

Next Question;

I hate the antenna going up at all when the stereo comes on. I want full control of raising and lowering it.

Any ideas?

 

[Beowulf]

Next Question;
I hate the antenna going up at all when the stereo comes on. I want full control of raising and lowering it.
Any ideas?

Your 97 should remember the last position you left it. So lower it to 1" (or wherever you want it) and it will retract when you turn off the ignition or the radio and it will extend to the last position when you turn the radio on.

-B-

 

[flyhne]

Your 97 should remember the last position you left it. So lower it to 1" (or wherever you want it) and it will retract when you turn off the ignition or the radio and it will extend to the last position when you turn the radio on.

-B-

I have a similar problem caused by a collision, with a snowplow on an icy highway, hood front passenger fender front bumper etc...
the body panel(frontPass door to fender was also damaged, (BTW there were tire marks about 3.5 feet on both passenger side doors, going sideways swerving on Highway at about 60, got her under control and drove over an embankment / ditch about 20' deep with a foot and a half of show, when adrenalin stopped flowing I noticed the engine was just idling quietly and my wife had stopped screaming, so I got her going inside the ditch for a couple of hundred feet and drove her back up, the snowplow driver, did not believe it could be done,
but the LX just did it, he and I were both very impressed, except by the look of my truck, fender body molding hubcaps and bumper parts sticking out all over) well enough of my venting.
Had all body work done nicely and all is well except:
the power antenna works, going up and down, when radio is turned on and off, as it should
however the up and down dash buttons are not working at all, would that be the ECU/Antenna at fault? we can hear the relay clicking when the buttons are pressed.

 

[Ties]

I have a problem with my antenna relay (#85914-60070). It seems that a duse has burned. Can anybody send me a picture of a good relay, so I can see the difference?

 

[Ties]

Can anybody help me out with a problem that I have with my antenna relay? It seems a fuse has burned.....
Would be great if anybody can send me a picture, so I can see how it originally used to be...