After installing my Gobi Stealth roof rack, my satellite radio reception took a nose dive, so something had to be done.
Something Gobi fails to mention is that their roof racks cause significant degradation of your satellite radio signal. Part of the blame should go to Jeep though because they decided in their infinite wisdom to mount an already weak antenna in a pretty crappy location. So here’s our step by step guide to relocating the satellite radio antenna in your 2014 JK.
This will work with 2011-2014 Jeep Wranglers..
What You’ll Need:
10mm Deep Wall Socket w/ratchet
Panel Popper
Small Flat Head Screwdriver
Dykes
Zip Ties
Total Time: 1-2 Hours
First you need to start by unzipping and undoing the velcro around the passenger side roll bar (the sat antenna is above the passenger side rear speaker). We removed the freedom top panels for easier access but it’s not necessary to complete the job.
Next you have to remove the overhead speaker bar, it’s held in with 6 10mm bolts. Take your time removing them, and it helps to have an extra set of hands. On the passenger side there is an electrical connector than you’ll have to undo before dropping the entire thing so be careful.
The electrical connector that power the speakers and overhead lights
After you pull back the insulation and velcro cover you’ll see the satellite antenna. It’s held in by one bolt, and 2 plastic clips. Undo the bolt, and use a small flat head screw driver to push the plastic clips through. At this time you can also undo the connector between the antenna and the wiring that runs to the head unit.
Pull back the plastic trip to undo the wiring for the antenna, it is held in with “friction clips” that are positioned on studs. This is where the panel popper comes in handy. You can use it to gently undo the clips. The upper trim piece just pulls off of the body, give it a firm tug and it’ll come loose.
The lower trim piece is held in with plugs, you’ll need the panel popper to pull them out, and then you’ll need to use it again to undo the clips holding in the antenna wire. The wire runs under the harness for the stereo, power doors, and windows. It is separate though so you don’t have to worry about damaging the other harness.
After you undo the wiring to the glove box, you’ll have to remove all of the electrical tape and clips. Take your time here, and think about how much it must suck to be the guy that has to hand wrap these clips on at the factory.
Proceed to remove your glove box and run the wiring behind it and around the back of the head unit to the firewall on the drivers side. You’ll find a convenient hole in the firewall to push the connector through, and it will exit right by the drivers side fender.
Test fit where you want to put the antenna and use a set of dykes to clip out a small hole in the screen to fit the connector (NOTE This hole is only to fit the connector, the bolt can fit through one of the squares easily as it). Also you can remove the plastic/rubber clips on the bottom of the antenna. Find a wide flat washer, and screw the bolt into the antenna from below the mesh. You can remove the entire panel if you are doing this by yourself.
Run the wiring along the brackets, and use zip ties to keep them away from the wiper motor and linkage.
Run the excess wiring around the edge and tie it off under the hood with some more zip ties.
Enjoy the final product, crystal clear satellite radio. Jeep should have mounted it here from the factory.
In regards to durability, the antenna is weatherproof, and is mounted on the outside of numerous other Chrysler vehicles. Jeep mounted it inside the vehicle most likely due to the soft top. Feel free to to shoot me an e-mail with any questions.
I moved mine due to the gobi rack and I thought I had it licked but while my GPS seems to work fine my satellite radio is mostly “seeking satellites”.
I am curious why the GPS continues to work so well while the sat radio reception is not. Could I have a bad antenna?
The antenna issue is a possibility, or you could be getting interference due to the rack itself. I would try and relocate to the position I utilized and determine if you still have a problem or not.
thanks for this instruction tutorial. once antenna relocated the reception is spot on!
Glad we could help Gene!
I am experiencing the exact same thing with poor reception as a previous responder noted that traveling one direction verses the opposite on the same road, my sound cuts out, (acquiring signal) is displayed on the head unit. I performed the install using the Mopar OEM components and mounted it exactly per the instructions and my signal is no better. My problem began after adding the Gobi rack but the relocation of the antenna doesn’t seem to help whatsoever, in fact, I seem to have worse reception. Thank goodness I left the original install in place so I can switch back if I don’t find a solution.
I lost some reception after mounting a Wild boar roof rack on my 2013 JKU and then added a Tepui ruggedized roof tent ( with aluminum floor) and reception was almost nil. I followed the directions and had the job done in just over an hour. Reception is great! Thanks for that!
Ron, glad we could help! Thanks for the feedback.
I’m guessing your jeep is an automatic? I think the “convenient hole in the firewall” is taken up by the clutch in a 6-speed. In that case I will probably have to route it similar to how I routed my switch pod, by fishing it through the grommet for the washer fluid.
My JK is an auto, there are a few other holes in the firewall as well, I’m honestly not familiar enough with the manual configuration to give any advice on hole placement.
I just did this yesterday (while also installing my roof rack). Your instructions were spot on, and it wasn’t difficult at all. I found a hole that would probably work better for most people:
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Brian, glad it worked out, thanks for the feedback!
It mentions the antenna is weatherproof. I was just wondering how it holds up to winter weather such as snow and ice?
I’ve had mine on the outside of my truck now for almost 3 years and there have been zero issues. It’s survived multiple Mid-Atlantic winters and summers.
Honestly, save yourself hours, and buy the Mopar antenna kit for $62 on amazon. It comes with antenna and cable to connect to head unit. The install you will save will be the grief of removing and fidgeting with all the wire harnesses from the antenna interior location to the head unit. If you get the Amazon kit, all you will have to do is mount the antenna as described in this demo or anywhere else you like, then run the wire through the firewall port mentioned in this demo and plug in into the rear of the head unit. I tried this demo on my 2015 JKU and the antenna wire was solidly buried behind harnesses and other structure in the passenger foot well running up being airbag making it impossible to remove. I needed to free that cable to have enough length to route it all the way to the new outside location. After 4 hours of struggling to free the cable, I gave up and ordered the cable for $22. Maybe my 2015 JKU I had the dumb luck of how they ran the cable, but there was no way to move/remove that cable without first removing airbag and other major dash components free the antenna cable.
Perfectly valid point, the install really isn’t too terrible, but if you have $62 to burn then it’s not a bad idea. The only downside is you still have to take apart the dash to get to the rear of the head unit to plug in the new cable.
Juan, I found the same issue. I ordered the antenna and it came with a cable. What cable did you buy for $22? Before I start again I just want to make sure I have what I need.
Will the xm radio work with the bottom of the barrel stock jeep radio? I would like to get one for my 2011.
I don’t know if there is a plug in for it. You should check to see if your head unit is compatible.
My Gobi Rack is on its way so preparing to relocate the satellite/gps antenna on my 2017 Rubi. Had annoying cutout problems with my sat radio w/Gobi rack on my 2012. In your comments you use the term “head unit”. Are you talking about the sound bar unit? Appreciate all your effort in this presentation..very helpful!!
Thank you for posting these pictures. I did this about a month or so ago in my 2015 JKU with a Gobi Stealth rack. Mounted it in the same exact location. However, I don’t seem to be getting crystal clear reception all the time. Depending on the direction I’m facing (I.e. going to work / coming home from work on one road) I seem to not get signal very well at all! With very minor and normal tree coverage in a suburban area.
Have you seen the same experiences after installing two years ago?
My reception has been crystal clear since relocating the antenna. I haven’t had any issues with direction etc, do you have anything else mounted on the hood?
Nope, literally nothing else on the hood. Snipped the little plastic area to mount it with the bolt and everything! Only the Gobi rack.
That’s odd. I wish I could give you some more information. You might want to try mounting it to the roof somewhere? Or maybe move it around to different parts of the truck? I know the antennas are not that great to begin with and I’ve never been 100% happy with the quality of the reception especially when dealing with clouds etc.
Let me know what you try and if it works.
If I were to get an aftermarket Sirius xm antenna (not the costly dual gps version) could I place it on the cowl like you demonstrated and run it through the firewall and connect to the original wiring in the soundbar? Just leave the original antenna where it is, disconnected.
Jay,
I believe it would depend on if your JK has GPS. A few guys on the forums have mentioned using an aftermarket antenna, but I’ve never seen anything in person. Relocating the antenna really isn’t that tough of a job, and it’s probably still the cheapest route. Although if you go the aftermarket route, please let us know how it turns out.
Nice write up! I did the same on my Jeep, but actually drilled beside the drivers side wiper arm. Never even thought of coming up through those vents!
Any location in front of the windshield works, I just prefer not to drill into the body if possible. Thanks for the share.
Why not just leave the original and buy a new one to mount on the outside? Unscrew the old antenna from the radio and connect the new one. My lord you spent more time disassembling and reassembly than the antenna costs. In fact, you could probably get another antenna for next to nothing. Also, if someone ever objects to the new location of the antenna you can just reconnect the original one.
We published this how to guide for 2 reasons, the first is that numerous people on the Jeep Forums had described the process but no one had taken the time to really provide in-depth instructions.
The second reason is that a new antenna from MOPAR is $74.15 (Part # 05064910AA) and the extra cable is $46.00 (Part # 68185912AA). So buying a secondary antenna and cable will run you $120.00 (rounded off for arguments sake) if you buy direct from MOPAR. I’m sure you can find the parts at a discount so we’ll just say you can get them at 20% off which means you’re still out of pocket $95 not including taxes and shipping.
Total time to really do the job is a little over one hour, and getting to the factory antenna takes about the same amount of time as it would to take out the head unit. Even if you could take the head unit out faster, you still have the route the new antenna and cable through the firewall and then up to the cowling.
Time wise it’s really a wash, but you don’t have to buy anymore parts to relocate the factory antenna.
Just did it myself yesterday. I originally thought the same thing, ‘Why not buy a new one and save the time of pulling the existing unit?” But I agreed with you in the end. Why buy something I already had that would go unused? I still had to run a wire in from the cowl and mount the antenna, and if I got a new one I’d have to access the where it plugs into the radio, probably taking me almost the same amount of time it took to pull the GPS. Anyway, great write up and it was a lot of help making the project go quicker and smoother.
Glad we could help with your relocation. I did ponder pulling off the head unit to get to the wiring, but I figured it was much less intensive to remove the sound bar instead. Thanks for stopping by and giving us feedback.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was growing tired of silence with the OZ-Tent and Kayak on the load bars.
No problem Andrew, I was in the same boat, glad we could help.