Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Power antenna won't go all the way down...

The power antenna on my 2000 CSVT does not go all they way down all the time...sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. I think it has to do with the cold weather because when the car has been running for a while, or if the weather is not too cold, the antenna goes all the way down. If it does not go all the way down, it goes until there is only one segment left out. Is there anything I can put on the antenna to help it go all the way down? (maybe silicone???)

Thanks.

Put it through a car wash. That'll make it come down. But seriously, some on this site have suggested some sort of grease product, as you mentioned.

Also, you might have a bent antenna "mast," which isn't a big deal to replace.

I got fed up with mine and replaced it with a regular antenna from another contique at the junkyard. I had to take out the motor and everything, but all the attachment points are the same.

Just from the past year I've owned my CSVT, I've come to realize that they are just a little fussy when it gets really cold out. Maybe it's their European heritage.

Often you can help a balky antenna mast by lubricating it. Spray silicon or WD40 work well. Clean as much of the grunge as you can off from the mast while it is fully extended by using one of the above mentioned lubricans on a rag. Lower and raise the antenna several times to expose as much of the grunge as possible. Then spray the mast with one of the above lubricants and again lower and raise the mast several times. You want to end up with a very light coat of lubricant. Grease of any kind, including silicon, does not work nearly as well. Doing this two or three times a year seems to be all that is really needed. Although my mast is starting to show some pitting, it is still original and works well at 186,000 miles.

My power antenna does this every winter. Water and road dirt get into it. Put it all the way up. Clean it. Lube with WD40. Lower mast. Spray WD40 around lowered mast.Raise mast. Spray mast with WD40. Lower Mast (wipe up excess. REpaet 1 or 2 more times. Wipe off excess. Unit should work well and WD40 (WD= Water Displacement - was used to keep water off missiles so ice wouldn't form, fall off and damage missile) will keep water from getting in.

If you do this 2 times a year, it should work fine.