Installing your Radio in your vehicle involves two general steps:
First, refer to the Antenna Installation section to see step-by-step instructions for properly installing the magnetic mount antenna for your specific vehicle type. Second, refer to the audio section to learn how to connect your SiriusXM radio to your vehicle’s audio system.
Installing the Magnetic Mount Antenna on your vehicle allows the radio to receive the satellite signal.
This requires:
- Properly mounting the antenna in the correct location
- Routing the antenna cable from the antenna to the radio
- Connecting the audio
Step 1) Installing the Magnetic Mount Antenna
Mount the Magnetic Mount Antenna on the trunk lid or hood where it has a clear view of the sky in all directions.
Don't mount the antenna inside the vehicle, for example, on the dashboard, or on any of the vehicle's front, back or side pillars.
Step 2) Routing the Antenna Cable from the Trunk Lid or the Hood Choose the setup which fits you best:
Trunk Lid Installation
Route the cable from the trunk lid
1) Bring the antenna cable into the trunk at the front edge of the trunk lid. Keep any bends in the cable loose. Tape or tie the cable along the inside of the trunk lid to the trunk lid hinge strut
2) Route the cable along the trunk wall and into the cabin through a conduit or along an existing wiring harness.
Allow enough slack in the cable so the trunk lid can easily open and close and keep the cable away from hinges, gears, etc. that could crimp or cut it.
3) Route the cable through the main cabin area.
Route the cable under the interior trim, towards the front of the vehicle. Use a plastic putty knife to lift the plastic trim just enough to tuck the cable underneath. Avoid any airbag locations. (Airbag locations are marked with "SRS" logos.) Be careful not to crimp or cut the cable.
Bring the cable out from under the trim near the dashboard and route it under the carpet toward the dashboard or console. Coil any excess cable in a hidden location, such as under the carpet, keeping it away from any vehicle pedals or controls. Secure the excess cable with wire ties.
Bring the end of the cable out at the Radio location. Leave yourself enough cable so you can easily connect it to the antenna connector (sometimes marked ANT, ANT IN, or ANTENNA) of the Vehicle Dock.
Hood Installation
1) Bring the cable to the bottom edge of the windshield. Bring the cable across the bottom of the windshield, to the fender, and across to the door opening.
2) Route the cable around door opening and into weather stripping
Lift the weather stripping from the opening and tuck the cable inside it. Then replace the weather stripping. Run the cable inside of the weather stripping to the bottom of the door opening.
3) Pull the cable out of the weather stripping at the bottom of the door opening and route it under the carpet toward the dashboard.
Coil any excess cable in a hidden location, such as under the carpet, keeping it away from any vehicle pedals or controls. Secure the excess cable with wire ties.
Bring the end of the cable out at the Radio location. Leave yourself enough cable so you can easily connect it to the antenna connector (sometimes marked ANT, ANT IN, or ANTENNA) of the Vehicle Dock.
Connect the Audio
In order to listen to your Radio in your vehicle, you need to connect its audio to your vehicle’s audio system. For the best listening, we recommend direct audio connection using the Aux In Connection included in your vehicle kit.
There are two primary ways to connect the audio of your Radio to your vehicle’s audio system:
1) Direct Audio Connection: Connect to and listen through your vehicle’s stereo system using:
If your vehicle's stereo system has an auxiliary input (Aux In) connection or jack, the Aux In Cable solution provides the best audio quality. This connection or jack is usually denoted as AUX or AUX IN, or LINE IN on your vehicle's stereo system. The Aux In Cable directly connects the audio from the Radio to the vehicle's stereo system.
The location of the AUX or AUX IN, or LINE IN jack varies by vehicle, these are some possible locations:
- Front panel of the vehicle stereo system
- Anywhere on the front dash panel
- Inside the glove compartment
- Inside the center console that is between the front seats
- On the back panel of the center console that is between the front seats
- On the back of the radio/stereo system
Install The Aux In Cable In Your Vehicle
1) Your Radio with Vehicle Kit includes an Aux In Cable in the product package. If you don't have an Aux In Cable, you can purchase one from your favorite SiriusXM retailer or directly from SiriusXM. The cable needs to have a 3.5 mm (1/8 inch) male stereo plug on each end.
Note: Very rarely, the auxiliary input connection in some vehicle models may require an audio cable with RCA left and right connectors to connect to it. In this case, the cable needs to have a 3.5 mm male stereo plug on one end (to connect to the Vehicle Dock, and RCA left and right audio plugs on the other end. This cable can purchased from your favorite SiriusXM retailer or directly from SiriusXM.
2) Plug one end of the cable into the AUDIO connector on the Vehicle Dock. On the PowerConnect Vehicle Dock, the color of this connector is green.
3) Plug the other end of the cable into the AUX or AUX IN, or LINE IN jack of your vehicle's stereo system.
4) When you plug the Aux In Cable into the Vehicle Dock, the FM transmitter will automatically be turned off. If you had previously selected to disable AUX Detect in your Radio (not likely), you'll need to enable AUX Detect again. Consult the User Guide for you radio for instructions on how to enable AUX Detect.
5) Turn on your vehicle's stereo system and set it to play from the auxiliary input source. You should hear the XM audio playing through your vehicle's speakers.
FM Radio Connection
Connect to your vehicle's FM radio using the in-box PowerConnect audio option.
Step 1: Install The PowerConnect Vehicle Kit In Your Vehicle Install the PowerConnect Vehicle Dock and PowerConnect Power Adapter according to the directions in your Radio's User Guide or Quick Start Guide, or in the SiriusXM Dock and Play Home Kit (SXDH3).
1) You'll first need to find an available FM channel. An available FM channel is one that's not being used by an FM radio station in your area. When you tune your FM radio to an available channel, you should only hear static or silence - not talk or music. We recommend one of the following methods to find an available FM channel:
A. Use the SiriusXM FM Channel Finder at www.siriusxm.com/fmchannel. Go to the website and enter your zip code. The Channel Finder will suggest a list of available FM channels in your area. For convenience, write down or print out the list.
OR
B. Manually tune through your local FM channels on your vehicle's FM radio. Locate and create a list of channels that aren't being used by any FM radio station. Write down the list. Once you have created your list of available FM channels, you will need to find the one that provides the best match for your Radio.
2) Pick the first FM channel from your list. Turn on your vehicle's FM radio (if you have not already done so) and tune it to this FM channel.
3) Turn on your Radio and then set it to transmit on the same FM channel as your vehicle's FM radio. Refer to your Radio’s Quick Start Guide or User Guide for detailed instructions on how to do this. You can find Quick Start Guide or User Guide here.
4) When you have matched the FM channels, you should hear the audio playing through your vehicle's FM radio. Once you have found an FM channel that is working for you, save it as a preset on your vehicle's FM radio. This will become your SiriusXM preset.
5) If the selected FM channel doesn't work well for you, work down the list of FM channels until you find one that allows you to hear clearly. Each time, you will need to tune your vehicle's FM radio to the new FM channel and then set your Radio to the same FM channel.
Note: You may find an FM channel with static or silence that does not work with the SiriusXM Radio. It is possible that some type of inaudible interference is present that prevents reception of the audio. Your only options are to use another FM channel or a different audio connection solution.
FM Direct Adapter (sold separately)
Connect to your vehicle's FM radio using a FM Direct Adapter (FMDA)
SiriusXM recommends having the FMDA professionally installed in your vehicle. Installation requires specialized tools and expertise. Ask your SiriusXM retailer if they provide professional installation services, or can recommend a professional installation service.
You can purchase an FMDA from the professional installer as part of the installation service, from your SiriusXM retailer, or directly from SiriusXM at www.siriusxm.com/accessories, where prepaid installation cards with or without the FMDA are available for use at a nationwide network of installers.
Installation Instructions
Step 1: Match The FM Channel of Your SiriusXM Radio With Your Vehicle's FM Radio.
1) You'll need to purchase an FMDA from your professional installer, from a SiriusXM retailer, or directly from SiriusXM at www.siriusxm.com/accessories.
2) Install the FM Direct Adapter, or have a professional installer install it for you. If you are installing the FMDA yourself, follow the installation instructions included with the FMDA. You can find the Quick Start Guide or User Guide here.
Step 2: Match The FM Channel Of Your SiriusXM Radio With Your Vehicle's FM Radio
1) You'll first need to find an available FM channel. An available FM channel is one that's not being used by an FM radio station in your area. When you tune your FM radio to an available channel, you should only hear static or silence - not talk or music. We recommend one of the following methods to find an available FM channel:
A. Use the SiriusXM FM Channel Finder at www.siriusxm.com/fmchannel. Go to the website and enter your zip code. The Channel Finder will suggest a list of available FM channels in your area. For convenience, write down or print out the list.
OR
B. Manually tune through your local FM channels on your vehicle's FM radio. Locate and create a list of channels that aren't being used by any FM radio station. Write down the list. Once you have created your list of available FM channels, you will need to find the one that provides the best match for your Radio.
2) Pick the first FM channel from your list. Turn on your vehicle's FM radio (if you have not already done so) and tune it to this FM channel.
2) Pick the first FM channel from your list. Turn on your vehicle's FM radio (if you have not already done so) and tune it to this FM channel.
4) When you have matched the FM channels, you should hear the audio playing through your vehicle's FM radio. Once you have found an FM channel that is working for you, save it as a preset on your vehicle's FM radio. This will become your SiriusXM preset.
5) If the selected FM channel doesn't work well for you, work down the list of FM channels until you find one that allows you to hear clearly. Each time, you will need to tune your vehicle's FM radio to the new FM channel and then set your Radio to the same FM channel.
Note: You may find an FM channel with static or silence that does not work with the SiriusXM Radio. It is possible that some type of inaudible interference is present that prevents reception of the audio. Your only options are to use another FM channel or a different audio connection solution.
Bluetooth Vehicle Dock
You can also connect your SiriusXM Radio receiver via Bluetooth to your truck stereo. Watch the video below to learn more about our Bluetooth SiriusXM Radio Dock