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Old 10-23-2008, 09:02 AM   #3
Burg Boxster
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: In the garage...
Posts: 1,702
All the AM radio hack links I find are dead.

However, it's easy to accomplish...

On the passenger side A-pillar, there is a grounding screw for the antenna. The hack involves....

- removing the screw
- sanding off the body paint down to bare metal
- reattaching the grounding screw

To access the grounding screw, you'll need to remove the visor (3 torx screws) and A-pillar trim (held on by one clip at the bottom after visor is removed). Here are pictures from Stefan's key remote extender hack to show you how to remove visor & A-pillar trim. NOTE - these pictures are all from the driver's side... same as on passenger side (where antenna grounding screw is - just reversed):

use a finger nail and pull down the flap on inner side of visor mount to windshield header and remove torx screw - T-20)


then remove the 2 outboard ones (T-30)


remove visor and pull a-pillar trim away from frame. It will only come out about 3-4 inches


the base of the a-pillar trim is held in w/ a clip. Using either a ruler or a long screwdriver, reach down in behind the trim piece and release the clip by pushing it outward toward the a-pillar


Once removed, you'll see a small (2-3" metal bracket w/ a gold screw attached to the a-pillar (there will also be a long black plastic box connected to it w/ a black wire leading to/from it).

Unscrew bracket from a-pillar (10mm IIRC). Use some sandpaper (200-400 grit) and remove all the body paint down to bare metal where this screw and bracket attached to a-pillar.

Reassemble and you'll be be good to go. Again, the pictures showing trim removal are from the driver's side. You'll be working on the passenger side (in a LHD vehicle). The antenna grounding picture is correct though...

Good luck

as jrblackbox suggests, do not overtighten the T-30 screws. Only hand tight - firm but no mor than a qtr turn after it's snugged up. If you over tighten they will fall out and you'll unfortunately need another hack. In the unlikely event you do, here's a link to the DIY I wrote how to r&r the windshield header retainers w/ nutserts
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