Mount Sirius antenna INSIDE spoiler?

[gtg450g]

I've got a 2005 Camry SE and I've currently got the Sirius DOT Micro antenna mounted on the roof above the rear glass. Unfortunately, it has stopped performing (a widespread problem I've come to find out), and I think it has to do with the fact that it has gotten cold here lately and the antenna is buried in a layer of ice some mornings thus potentially corroding the insides...

I need to buy a new antenna, and I want to mount it in a place where it will not be exposed to the elements and be less apt to fail. I know that I could put the antenna on the rear decklid behind the back seats, but I have tinted windows and I'm worried about reception if the antenna is inside the car.

I found this post on the Sirius forums: http://www.siriusbackstage.com/forum...ad.php?t=71195 in which the person mounted the antenna INSIDE the spoiler. Since the spoiler is plastic it does not block the signal.

Do you think that this is possible in the Camry and if so, how would I go about removing my factory-installed spoiler, and would I be able to re-install it in a way that would look stock? thanks for the help...

[Frank20]

I mounted my antenna on the rear decklid right up against the window. I have 15% tint on the back window and I still get great reception. Don't hesitate just mount it back there.

[gtg450g]

Well I still want to tinker with the idea of putting the antenna INSIDE the spoiler. I saw the screws on the brake light so I will remove that and then place the antenna in there temporarily to see if it will work. I will keep everyone posted because this could end up being the best place to put a sat radio antenna in those camry's with spoilers.

Has anyone removed their spoiler? Is it bolted in or does it use a double-sided adhesive, or both? Could I remove it and re-install without affecting the overall look and integrity of the spoiler?

Thanks for the help...

[shinner]

Originally Posted by gtg450g

Well I still want to tinker with the idea of putting the antenna INSIDE the spoiler. I saw the screws on the brake light so I will remove that and then place the antenna in there temporarily to see if it will work. I will keep everyone posted because this could end up being the best place to put a sat radio antenna in those camry's with spoilers.

Has anyone removed their spoiler? Is it bolted in or does it use a double-sided adhesive, or both? Could I remove it and re-install without affecting the overall look and integrity of the spoiler?

Thanks for the help...

So, did ya ever do this? Getting ready to put a new H/U in my '06 SE with Sirius and this sounds like a good idea. I think the spoiler is on with adhesive, not bolts though. If so, I'm not gonna be too high on breaking it loose and will probably just mount it on the roof above the rear glass.

[shinner]

Gonna bump this one more time.....went out to my '06 SE and pulled the trunk liner. Turns out there is one bolt holding the rear of the spoiler to the deck with an adhesive pad running the length of the ends that contact the deck. Gonna have to look into how much those pads would run and consider this for my sirius install. Looks like it should be fairly simple.

[gtg450g]

Yea I did it and it worked pretty well. You're right that there is one bolt in each side of the spoiler and the adhesive that joins the spoiler and trunk. I had a friend that had installed spoilers before help me take it off. You need a special long nut for those bolts and just be careful when removing and re-applying the adhesive and it should be fine.

The signal goes through the plastic spoiler fine, but the cord is only *just* long enough to make it all the way to the stereo. The only problem I foresee is that if the Sirius antenna craps out like my old one did. They have a problem doing that so we'll see how it goes but I like the invisible install as of now...

[shinner]

Originally Posted by gtg450g

You need a special long nut for those bolts and just be careful when removing and re-applying the adhesive and it should be fine.

Nuts are reusable...right? Did you buy new adhesive patches from Toyota or reuse the existing ones?

Originally Posted by gtg450g

The signal goes through the plastic spoiler fine, but the cord is only *just* long enough to make it all the way to the stereo.

Hmm.....that might crimp my plans a bit. I was gonna try taking out the 3rd brake light and use some fish wire to guide the antenna wire through and down into the trunk lid without removing the spoiler itself. I'll have to unspool the antenna wire and measure it. It's a brand new one that came with the new style of Sirius receiver for 3rd party head units. I'm using a Kenwood.

[gtg450g]

I thought about trying to fish it, but my friend, the expert, decided that it would probably take longer than removing the spoiler, but if you can do it it will be a lot easier. We just used regular double-sided adhesive off the rack - it's basically the same stuff that Toyota uses, and I can't really notice a difference with my spoiler since re-installing it.

Have you taken out the brake-light to make sure that the receiver fits? I had trouble just unscrewing it without removing the spoiler because of the angle of the screws.

Let me know how it goes...

[shinner]

Originally Posted by gtg450g

Have you taken out the brake-light to make sure that the receiver fits? I had trouble just unscrewing it without removing the spoiler because of the angle of the screws.

Haven't done anything with it....not had the time yet. Busy weekend ahead too so I'll probably not get to it until this coming week or maybe even next weekend. I'll post something here or in the audio/video forum with details on how it goes.

[shinner]

Well, it doesn't look like it's too possible without taking the spoiler off. I didn't even take the lens off the 3rd brake light because I couldn't really reach/find the hole that the wiring for it runs through. It's pretty much down close to the pointed part of the spoiler base. I am half-thinking about cutting an access hole in the interior trunk panel that covers the exterior metal that forms the trunk lid. Would probably allow me to drill a hole in the trunk below the spoiler base somewhere near where the mounting bolt comes through. Should be safe enough.