2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

[steelblue5505]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

Stupid question time:
If the antenna is mounted on the trunk lid, how is the antenna wire make its way up front to center tower and audio system?

I have a 2005, the audio system has the SAT select button. Owner manual refers to this button as "needs dealer installed Satellite Kit"

Anyone know what this kit consists of, cost? Does it really need dealer install or can it be done simply in my garage?

[RL_Engineer]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

The kit is a TERK XMD100 and is available from Crutchfield Electronics for $89.99. Complete instructions for removal of the Tbird radio accompany the kit. I mounted the antenna in the far right corner of my dash. If you want there is enough antenna cable to mount it on the rear deck although I declined to do so. The corner mount works just fine as it allows clear signal access to the satellite. The installation is very simple and should take about an hour. There are no wires to splice and none are visible once the kit is installed. The wiring harness is premade and simply plugs into the back of the radio. Since I installed my XM I have not listened to FM, AM or CD's as the listening format on XM is excellent.

[mdbluebrd]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

My Sirius antenna had plenty of wire to run it back to the rear of the car. The antenna is "mounted" under the fiber panel that covers the trunk lid. Since the trunk lid itself is fiberglass, the signal is able to pass through the lid. The wire is then run forward from the trunk through the area that the convertible top disappears into, under the trim along the drivers side and then up and behind the dash.

[CharlesC]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

I got the factory Sirius component off Ebay last year. Installed it myself and took about 3 hours to do so. I have the antenna mounted under the trunk lid, out of sight, and don't lose the signal that way. I have the install (factory)instructions still if you would like to go that way. Best part of the factory install is that everything is out of sight, no extra tuners on or around the dash

Rex

I just bought the factory Sirius Set up for my 2005 Thunderbird. There were no instructions. Can I get a copy of your instructions?

[larryok]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

I installed the factory (Visteon) kit in my 2004 Thunderbird. It consisted of a satellite receiver, an antenna and an interconnect cable. I used kit provided instructions and the factory service cd rom do the installation. The receiver was installed in the left rear fender well. Cable routing was tedious, and the instructions were incorrect.
I mounted the antenna on top of the trunk lid using 3M foam tape. I had previously used the foam tape to mount a switch on an aircraft yoke and it worked well. (The switch will soon be for sale as a commercial product; see www.surfaceswitch.com in about 2 months.) The mating harness plugs go right together and a telephone call puts you right on the air.

[silver05]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

I just received my Visteon kit for my 2005. I am going to install it myself. Could someone who has done the install them self tell me if I have to remove my hard top to install the cable. I am putting the downlink in the trunk.
Thanks

[Lonestar]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

I just received my Visteon kit for my 2005. I am going to install it myself. Could someone who has done the install them self tell me if I have to remove my hard top to install the cable. I am putting the downlink in the trunk.
Thanks

Removal of the hard top is necessary. The task will be much more difficult if you do not.

[toysax]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

Hi, I had my sat addition installed by a professional for $80. It was well worth the money. He put the unit in the trunk and the antenna under the trunk lid between the under cover and the lid. The trunk lid is fiberglass so the only wire seen is near the hinge where the wire goes into the trunk. Nothing can be seen from the car. The unit came from the ford place in Columbus Ga. I had Mobile Electronics do the work.

Gary

[Icebluebird]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

You don't really have to remove the hard top to install the system.

Most of it goes in the trunk all you have to do is run the wires from the radio stack over the steering wheel, down the inside of the left "kick panel" and along the door frame to the back of the car.

With the hard top up, it is a little more difficult to run the wires under the top well to the trunk. I used a wire coat hanger to "fish" the wire under the top well without incident.

Good luck

[silver05]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

Thanks for all the advice. I am going to do this project myself.

[silver05]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

Finished the Sirius factory install. Was able to do it with the hard top on. The rear C pillar trim had to be removed leaving the speaker grill. Using a coat hanger and a light I fished the harness thru. I also used the tape supplied with the kit and put my antenna inside the dash on top of the duct work behind the center stack vents. Ran the wire to the back along the harness route. Totally invisible. Get great reception in urban areas and highway. Rural wooded areas it seems to break up. Is this normal? I live in an urban area and it is a minor annoyance. Just finished today, gonna live with it a while. I like the totally hidden antenna and wire.

[Leroy]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

I'm going to have the XM installed in my 04 this Spring by a local radio shop. A couple weeks ago there was talk that Sirius and XM were on the brink of going bankrupt, but then I herd they got a bail-out. I've got the XM in the Wifes 08 Malibu LTZ and we love it. I hope they can stay in business. Leroy

[Ski]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

I'd rather have a radio with an AUX port for my MP3 player than satellite but it's not on my 02. All the other connection systems are just not up to par in my opinion - like through FM. I never got into the pay radio thing.

[Leroy]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

Ski, I never thought I would go with pay radio either, untill I bought the Wifes Malibu. It came with it installed and we got the frirst 3 months free to try it. We were so impressed with the quality of the sound and the great selections, we had to have it. It's like a dream come true, great music and no commercials or news. If you want news, there is a channel for that and weather, talk, comedy, just about anything you want. We've had the Malibu about a year and a half and have yet to play a CD in it or turn on the FM radio yet. I can't wait to get it in my TBird and clean out all the CDs. It's about $13.95 a month for the Malibu and I think when I get it installed in the TBird I'll get a discount for having two subscriptions. Leroy

[toysax]

Re: 2005 Tbird satellite radio kit installation

Greg, The antenna doesn't pickup well in the trees. My installer installed our sirius radio antenna on our other cars on the roof of the drivers side. But the tbird antenna is in the center on the under side of the trunk lid. It works good but will lose the signal sometimes.

Gary