Power Antenna Not Working

[Kilroy]

Tonight when returning home from meeting a friend it just stopped working. For the month that I've had the car it's worked flawlessly every single time.

I can hear the motor running for the antenna when it's supposed to go up and come down, but the antenna won't retract at all. i thought it was stuck at first but it's not being very coperative. I did a search on this but didn't come up with anything sucessful in helping me out.

How hard is this thing to get out too? I see the two bolts that attach it at the bottom, but i'm wondering how tough it is to pull out of the body at the top. Does something have to screw off where it comes out the rear fender or does it just pull through when you take the bottom two screws out?

I'd appreciate any and all help with this so I can fix the problem :help:

Thanks in advance!



Shannon

 

[FIND]

you have to unscrew the trim ring around the top of the power antenna, then once you have the screws out on the bottom it just drops right out.

 

[Big Jim]

Most likely you need a new mast. It scrolls up and down from a plastic gear toothed whip that extends through and below the mast into the scrolling area. As the thing ages, the plastic either wears out or fatigues and breaks.

Sometimes you can get enough of the old one out without taking the antenna assembly out of the car and removing the scroll cover, sometimes you cannot.

Remove the chrome retaining nut on the top of the mast. You may need a special tool. You may be able to get it loose with the edge of a screwdriver. While the antenna motor is running to extend the mast, pull up and you should be able to remove the whole thing, mast and whip. Position the new antenna whip in place and have an assistant turn off the radio to suck the mast down. With a little luck it will suck completely down. Reinstall the retainer nut and you are good to go.

If it soesn't suck down fully, you will need to remove the antenna assembly (after removing the mast), remove the scroll cover and clean out the broken whip, reassemble and try again.

The entire antenna assembly comes out from removing the top retainer nut and two fasteners on the floor of the trunk. Don't forget to disconnect the wires.

 

[Kilroy]

Most likely you need a new mast. It scrolls up and down from a plastic gear toothed whip that extends through and below the mast into the scrolling area. As the thing ages, the plastic either wears out or fatigues and breaks.

Thanks for the reply Jim... I greatly appreciate it

I just finished pulling it all apart and the plastic "whip" with the teeth on it broke in two towards the end of the scroll. It's not much the broke off it either it appears I see what you're saying about how to reassemble it... what I'm wondering now is can you buy just the mast or do you have to buy the whole complete antenna? Since there's not a whole lot missing off the whip... could I just take out the small broke piece and "make due" with what's left for now? There might be three inches total that is now broke off.

If you can buy just the mast, can you give me any info on where to look for one? I'm guessing a junkyard or something like that maybe?

Thanks again for the help...



Shannon

 

[Big Jim]

Masts are available all over. Pep Boys, Dealer, eBay. Probably run about $15.00 to $20.00.

 

[mrutkaus]

non electric

non electric

i got a non electric permanent antenna on ebay a year ago, made for the car.

mike