2000 LeSabre Radio Antenna Connector

[avatar307]

Has anyone here seen the back of the factory radio in the 2000 LeSabres? It's got a funky antenna connector on the back. (Well... all the connectors are funky. Stupid transition year parts.)

Up to 1999 the radios have the standard Delco/Micro antenna ports, to my knowledge they went back to those connectors with the 2001 radios but perhaps not so with the RDS radios. This 2000 radio has a hole for the Delco/Micro antenna plug, the connector was just never installed.

Instead, right above the empty hole, is a protuding connector. It has to be the antenna, it couldn't be anything else. It looks like and RCA-style female jack.... Except this connector is a tiny bit bigger around and the hole in the center is probably a third the size (maybe even a fourth).

Now I've been flipping through pictures of antenna connector converters for hours... Right now... I'm think it's a VW/European style antenna connector. (Which would make sense if GM was trying to convert to an international standard connector, just like the diagnostic ports are now standardized.)

This link is Scosche's connector to convert from a VW/European to a standard antenna connector.

http://www.scosche.com/scosche.aspx?...2&ItemID=VWARB

Can anyone confirm or deny this?

[NC-Lesabre]

Actually the 2000 Lesabres have 2 different antenna connectors. The early rendition as the one you described and a later redition.

With these dock and lock radios you don't have many options unless you can get access to the part of the dash where the radio plugs (docks) into the dash and modify it to accept a conventional antenna and electrical connection.

[avatar307]

However, I am attempting to put an early 2000 LeSabre Radio into a 1995 LeSabre.

Thus, my LeSabre has the conventional 32-pin plug and the conventional Delco antenna connector. The radio has the lock-and-dock 32-pin connector. For which I am building a adapter harness to connect the radio.

The antenna connector is absolutely strange however. I wish I had a late model VW that I could pull a radio out of and look. Actually... that gives me an idea.... hmm... Anyway, I'm just about positive the connector is the VW/BMW/semi-standard European antenna connector.

The early model 2000 LeSabre with the non-standard antenna connector, also has the space for the standard Delco antenna connector. There's just no jack in the hole... I've found places that sell the larger Motorola style antenna jack, but not that retail the smaller version Delco uses.

Also, as this is the early model 2000 radio, I don't expect it was made to communicate on the Class 2 data bus. I believe GM did not start that until they changed the radio style to what most people refer to as the "RDS radio." (Which I know is not the correct name.)

Anyway, most of the problems I've heard about with the Class 2 Data Bus, are related to removing the factory radio, causing lose of vehicle chimes and computer communication to the air bags,etc. The only problem I could forsee, is that the newer Delco radios perform TheftLock by imprinting themselves with the vehicles VIN number. My vehicle does not have that VIN, nor is it capable of providing a VIN to the radio.

However, I'm about positive that change in TheftLock coincided with the style change to the "RDS-style." Thus, I don't expect a problem... provided I get the antenna connected.

Obtaining an old style unlock code (without paying $35 for 5 minutes of a dealerships time) shouldn't be a problem. However, if there are any GM radio installers here who would be willing to make the call, I'd certainly be grateful.