Circuit/System Description

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The AM/FM antenna system has three main components:
The AM antenna
The AM/FM 1 antenna/amplifier assembly
The FM 2 antenna/amplifier assembly

The antenna components are mounted in the rear of the vehicle, behind the rear fascia.

The AM antenna is a plate mounted to the rear body tub. The AM antenna is connected by a single wire to the AM/FM 1 antenna/amplifier assembly

The AM/FM 1 antenna/amplifier assembly is mounted to the rear bumper impact bar. The AM antenna is connected to this amplifier. The amplifier is connected to the radio with a coaxial cable. The antenna amplifier is enabled when the radio is turned on. The radio provides battery voltage to the amplifier using the center conductor of the antenna coaxial cable. This DC voltage does not affect the incoming radio signal. When a 12 V signal is seen by the on the center conductor of the antenna coax, both AM and FM signals are amplified.

The FM 2 antenna/amplifier assembly is also mounted to the rear bumper impact bar. This assembly is used for FM radio reception. The amplifier is connected to the radio with a coaxial cable. The antenna amplifier is enabled when the radio is turned on. The radio provides battery voltage to the amplifier using the center conductor of the antenna coaxial cable. This DC voltage does not affect the incoming radio signal. When a 12 V signal is seen by the on the center conductor of the antenna coax the signals are amplified. The FM 2 antenna/amplifier assembly is also used for digital audio broadcast (U2Q), if equipped. An additional coaxial cable is attached to the amplifier and is connected separately at the radio for these signals.

Both FM antennas are used during FM reception. The radio utilizes the best signal strength between the two antennas for optimal FM reception.