Blazer Anti-Theft: Antenna Issues or Deeper Problem?

Had a similar issue with my 2003 Trailblazer, also happened to my 's Envoy. The car radio and remote key functions just stopped working one day. The antenna repair turned out to be pretty straightforward, it was a damaged cable connection near the antenna mount. Took it to my regular shop since I only have basic DIY experience. They found the car antenna wiring had corroded where it connects to the main unit. The whole antenna replacement job, including parts and labor, cost me 95 Euro. Fixed both the key fob and radio reception issues completely. Before suggesting specific fixes, could you share: Any check engine codes you're getting? Does your key fob have fresh batteries? Are you having any radio reception problems too? These details would help narrow down if you're facing the same antenna connection problem I had or if it's something else in the security system.

Thanks for asking those questions. The check engine light's not on, but I am getting the security system warning. Already tried new batteries in the key fob, no luck. And yeah, the car radio reception is terrible now, lots of static and cutting out. Last service was about 2 months ago at 133481 KM, but they didn't check the vehicle antenna system since I wasn't having these issues then. What's interesting is that the problems started right after we had that big storm, which makes me think water might have gotten into the antenna housing or wiring. Based on your experience, sounds like I might be dealing with the same corrosion issue. Good to know the repair costs were reasonable. Did they need to replace the whole antenna assembly or just repair the connections?

Yeah, after reading your details, especially about the issues starting after the storm, I'm even more convinced it's the same antenna problem I dealt with. In my Trailblazer, they ended up replacing the entire antenna assembly because water had corroded not just the connections but also damaged the internal components. The symptoms match exactly, the static-filled car radio reception and key fob issues are classic signs of antenna problems in these models. The security system warning without a check engine light is another telltale sign. What happens is water seeps in through small cracks in the antenna housing, and over time (or after a big storm in your case), it wreaks havoc on the connections. In my repair, they found that trying to just fix the connections wasn't enough because the water damage had spread. The complete antenna replacement was the better long-term solution. They also added some extra weatherproofing around the new antenna mount to prevent future water damage. Since you're having identical symptoms to what I experienced, might be worth having them check the entire antenna system rather than just the connections. The reasonable repair cost makes it worth doing right the first time.

Thanks for the detailed feedback. With the storm damage angle and those symptoms, I'm feeling better about taking it in for a complete antenna system check. The FM antenna and security system issues happening together make sense now, definitely seems like water damage is the culprit. Going to schedule it for next week and will ask them to inspect the entire automotive antenna assembly, not just the connections. Good call on mentioning the weatherproofing too. I'll make sure to bring that up since I'd rather avoid dealing with this again after another storm. Your repair costs sound reasonable, especially considering it fixed both the radio signal and security system problems. Really helpful to know what to expect before heading to the shop. Will probably go ahead with the full replacement if they find similar corrosion issues in my case.