I recently had my 05 WRX tinted with Madico Onyx film, but now some FM and ALL AM reception is lost and/or interfered with. When I put my finger to the rear winshield, the reception comes back. I was ignorant of this possibility when I had the car tinted, unfortunately.

I know that Madico Onyx is a semi-metallic film and have read on some tint installation forums that the film needs to be grounded so one fix is to make a tiny slice from the rear window by the defroster line. Has anyone had experience with this and is there a fix that does not involve slicing the tint or makes the slice not noticeable? I had the windows tinted only 35% in the rear, so I think that removing a portion will be very noticeable as opposed to having the slice done with a limo tinted window and covering with vinyl.

Some may say that I should've gone with a dyed film, but I think that there has got to be a way to keep this tint job and get my radio reception back.

If there's any interest in how it looks, I'll post pics. It's a crystal grey metallic 05 WRX with 35% rear and 55% front.

Hmm, I have metallic film on mine and it didn't hurt my reception at all. Let us know what you figure out.

Hmmm strange.

Considering the antenna on the 05's are in the front windshield.

Really wierd.

looks like to me that guys that put on your tint messed something up...i have had the windshield tinted 26% titanium tint and all other windows 20% in my rex and have never heard of such an issue in ANY car and have been around a lot of highline tinted vehicles and know the most highly reputable tint man in Michigan

Sorry, but the antenna is STILL in the rear glass, on the `05, just like the `04. The dots that you see at the top of the windsheild are to replace the flip down visor that came on 02-04 models. If you don't believe me, wait until you crack your windshield, and then you will see there are absolutely no connections whatsoever between the electronics of the car and the glass.

I know this to be true, because I have the 05 front glass in my `04 due to a crack that formed...

Isn't there a plug near the side of the rear windshield for the antenna? Any chance they unplugged that and forgot to re-plug it? I'm not really familiar with your car though, but it's my first thought...

oh oh!!! I have a busted windshield and I hope they dont give me an 05 windshield.... I dont want those dots on mine... thats where I mount my V1

oh and for the record when I had mine tinted, I lost all AM reception also. It doesnt bother me too awful much since I have sirius. In fact, last october I installed a new head unit and the antenna wire came loose or I forgot to plug it in because now I have ZERO radio reception, and I havent even bothered to take care of it yet

Tell me about it. I am in virginia(where detectors are illegal) but let me just say that I feel you pain. And the dots scrape of nicely with a razor blade...

Get XM or Sirius. You won't miss it.

hey look on the bright side, at least you dont have to pull your antenna out with your hand!!! (what were they thinking... is it that hard to put an automatic in there?) nice job on weight reduction subie.

i would really like to see pics of the rear and sides...I have the same color and looking for tint!

The reception should only be messed up for AM frequency not FM. Who listens to AM anyways?

If you have the heated wipers there should be a connection to the front windshield.

Baseball games


I wish I had XM for the games... damn it all... I dont want to give up my sirius but I want those games!!

The Antenna's definitely on the rear glass. I truly need to listen to AM for traffic and sports in LA. I have put my finger on the rear glass and gotten reception back, so I was wondering if there is a place on one of the rear pillars to connect some kind of ground to the surface of the rear glass... Any suggestions? Also, I am not allowed to post attachments...so, no pics.

Take a look here for one fix...

Sorry, wrong. Antenna's on the 05's are in the rear window.