Turn power antenna into manual antenna?, is it possible? Options

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

My power antenna on my car is broken, it was like that when I bought it. Right now, it is stuck in the fully extended position, but I still get good reception. It hate how it looks all the way up, especially since I rarely listen to radio. I have tried forcing it down, with no luck. My question is, is there any way that I could take out the mast or whatever from the inside, so that when I'm not listening to the radio, the antenna can be down, and on the rare occasion that I do need to listen to the radio, I can get out of my car and manually extend the antenna? What do you guys think?

[Galcobar]

The mast has the track which raises/lowers it integrated, but you could probably pull the motor, remove the antenna from the motor and lower the mast, then cut the track off.

However, is it an issue of the motor not working, or the mast track being broken? If you can hear the motor working when you turn the radio on/off, I'd suggest visiting your dealer and spending the $20 for a new mast. In all probability the plastic track inside the mast broke, locking the mast in place. It's a 30-minute repair.

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

The mast has the track which raises/lowers it integrated, but you could probably pull the motor, remove the antenna from the motor and lower the mast, then cut the track off.

However, is it an issue of the motor not working, or the mast track being broken? If you can hear the motor working when you turn the radio on/off, I'd suggest visiting your dealer and spending the $20 for a new mast. In all probability the plastic track inside the mast broke, locking the mast in place. It's a 30-minute repair.

Nope, no motor running. That doesn't necessarily mean the motor is broken though. There's an aftermarket deck in the car, so the previous owner might have wired the power antenna wrong.

[SwissFerdi]

A faulty wiring job wouldn't interfere with it not working at all. What you should do is pull off the trim in the trunk and check the motor yourself. If anything, the power plug on the bottom might have been disconnected while the antenna was extended, and that's why it doesn't retract. The wire itself might be damaged somehow as well.

[SinisterSinner]

just take the antena out and fill the hole, paint it, and get a shark fin antena they look sick! without being this long old fashion antena like we have. that way you will never have to extend it and also you will always get good reception

[A_N_T_H_O_N_Y]

just take the antena out and fill the hole, paint it, and get a shark fin antena they look sick! without being this long old fashion antena like we have. that way you will never have to extend it and also you will always get good reception

If I only had that kind of money.

[CastrolCelica]

I did this mod. It's easy once you know what you're supposed to do.

Simply open up your trunk driver's side trim. Go into the little cubby where the motor mount is. There's a way to get the antenna out of the shaft if it's stuck, like mine was. However, if you can't figure it out, just cut it off with a dremel or good lock cutters or something. Then simply unplug the black plug (power) and unbolt the motor from the car. I think there was 2 or 3 bolts if I remember correctly. When you take out the motor, you'll feel it tug and not want to come out. This is the drainage rubber pipe. Just pull really hard, it will disconnect from the motor, and the pipe will fall out of the car and land on the ground under your quarter panel.

Then take a rubber, half height, always-up antenna from Advance Auto Parts or AutoZone. Plug the power cord into that antenna's socket after you disassemble the antenna like it shows. You'll have the clamp on the underside, the post going up through it, the ball, then the antenna all fastened together. WALLA! Crisp radio signal (better than stock) and it's without the embarrassment of the ugly metal lighting rod . Also, for all you weight conscious riders (who don't totally ruin all your weight mods by putting large subs in your trunk), it's lighter than when the motor was in the car .

This post has been edited by CastrolCelica: Dec 8, 2009 - 3:44 PM

[Galcobar]

Nope, no motor running. That doesn't necessarily mean the motor is broken though. There's an aftermarket deck in the car, so the previous owner might have wired the power antenna wrong.

If it never makes a noise, the prior owner might not have hooked up the wire which signals the antenna motor. Easy enough to check, pull the deck and see if there are any mis-directed (or loose) wires from the main harness.

As others have said, however, wiring at the motor should also be checked. It's the easiest fix, and probably the cheapest too.

[captb]

just take the antena out and fill the hole, paint it, and get a shark fin antena they look sick! without being this long old fashion antena like we have. that way you will never have to extend it and also you will always get good reception

have you seen any 6gc's with shark tales, i am really considering going this route but not sure if it will flow. So if you know who they are or can find pics, Pls Pls let me know.


as for your problem, id agree with galcobar, there are three wires that run the antenna (ground, power, remote/acc), if the PO didnt know what he was doing then it is quite possible he didnt know what to do with the third wire and hooked it up incorrectly.

[duhmel]

You can get a new power antenna - motor plus mast for less than $40 shipped at antennamastsrus,com. Takes a bit of fiddling but not very difficult to install.