Power antenna replacement problems...nothing is ever easy!

[97SHOgt]

I'm trying to replace the power antenna with one I got off ebay. The old one is out, I opened up the motor, took out the broken piece, now my problem is getting the antenna to go all the way down. When I actually got the teeth down to the gears, (which was a pain in itself), it will go down part of the way down and then get stuck. I opened the motor back up to find that it is not coilling around like it should. For some reason, the end is folding over and jambing everything up. I'm pretty sure everything is put in there correctly, just seems like the end is getting caught on something after it goes through the guide plate hole, then just stops. The motor is fine. Just having trouble getting this new antenna to feed into the motor, really getting annoying. Would appreciate it if somebody could offer a solution. Thanks....

 

[Wavemagnet]

Power Antenna

I went that route, replaced mast disassembled motor etc. finally got fed up and just replaced the whole works with a new assembly.

 

[97SHOgt]

I really hate to go that route. I just get fed up with this crap sometimes. Can't even fix the little stuff without problems...

 

[tbone]

I've read sometimes that the teeth from the old antenna break off and get jammed in the motor, so you might have to take the motor apart and clean them out. Im pretty sure V8SHO.com has something about it.

 

[JTS03COBRA]

I really hate to go that route. I just get fed up with this crap sometimes. Can't even fix the little stuff without problems...

I think you already mentioned getting the old piece of cable out, right? I did this on my Dad's Sable, it took a few tries to get it to feed in but I got it. Just be sure that it grabs the cable without binding up. I think that the teeth may have to be pointing in a certain direction?-Not positive if that was the problem or not, but going by feel I was able to get it to finally grab the mast cable and pull it in smoothly all the way in....

 

[E1]

I've seen about 4 antennas leave a small section of that white zip strip down inside the reel take up in the motor.
You probably need to pull the side off the motor and get rid of the stem section, then I expect your new antenna will go all the way down.

 

[SHOZ123]

I hate power antennas......

 

[97SHOgt]

Well I ended up getting it to go down all the way, but now it sounds like a diesel engine reeling that thing in. Not sure if it just needs greased or what. I hate to tear it apart again only to have it stop working again, but I also hate it sounding like its about to snap everytime I turn the car on and off. It sounds like its rubbing on something but I can't really think of what it would be. Guess this weekend I'll probably tear it apart, grease it up and hope for the best...

 

[98TRSHO]

my motor didn't die, but the antenna was eaten by the carwash so I replaced mine with the little $10 rubber Autozone one... it work's fine and I don't worry about car washes ( although I have learned my lesson) or the kids anymore.

 

[97SHOgt]

my motor didn't die, but the antenna was eaten by the carwash so I replaced mine with the little $10 rubber Autozone one... it work's fine and I don't worry about car washes ( although I have learned my lesson) or the kids anymore.

Well if for some reason I can't get this thing to work like it should, I may go that route. But instead of a rubber one I may get an 8-inch shorty antenna from mustangtuning.com. I'm assuming that would work too. My buddy has a rubber one like yours on his Mustang and it is swept back from wind just like yours, and me being picky like I am, I just couldn't live with that.

 

[SHOZ123]

Yes I use the shorty on all my SHOs.

 

[97SHOgt]

I forgot to ask. All I need from the junkyard is a fixed mast base off a GenIII Taurus correct? Does it mount the same? I just plug that into the stock amp and away we go? If that is the case I may go ahead and order it and forget that I wasted $18.

 

[98TRSHO]

Well if for some reason I can't get this thing to work like it should, I may go that route. But instead of a rubber one I may get an 8-inch shorty antenna from mustangtuning.com. I'm assuming that would work too. My buddy has a rubber one like yours on his Mustang and it is swept back from wind just like yours, and me being picky like I am, I just couldn't live with that.

mine is bent cuz my daughter plays with it....

 

[97SHOgt]

mine is bent cuz my daughter plays with it....

I just figured it was because our cars are speed demons...

 

[98TRSHO]

I forgot to ask. All I need from the junkyard is a fixed mast base off a GenIII Taurus correct? Does it mount the same? I just plug that into the stock amp and away we go? If that is the case I may go ahead and order it and forget that I wasted $18.

yeah all you need is a stationary base... it was no big deal at all, like I said I had nothing wrong with my motor, while in the car wash last summer I hit the radio button instead of the air and didn't think about it for a few mins, after we pulled out it was snapped in half and just hanging by the little white teeth thing. after we got home my daughter snapped that part off for me! we pulled the motor and I E-bayed it for like $15.

 

[NebraskaSHO]

I really like my 99 non-power antenna. Sure I wish it wasn't there at all, but I don't have to deal with the other hassles everyone else has mentioned. Whew!

I do like that short option too...

 

[98TRSHO]

is this the "shorty"

I've never seen them anywhere for sale, this one is stock on the Element.. yes please laugh at least it's not mine.... although it is in my driveway

 

[97SHOgt]

Well I ended up fixing the problem. It's been about a week since I first started this project. Well now that I look back, while tearing the motor apart, I got side tracked talking to my uncle about my four-wheeler problems, and must have set a piece of the motor down. Well this past weekend when I was cleaning the garage I stumbled across a circular clear plastic piece. After I finished cursing myself, I tore it all apart again, put in the missing piece and all is well...other than the alternator went out this weekend too and I can't use the radio now anyways. Well just wanted to let everybody know the antenna problem was my fault not the cars

 

[jraines]

what antenna did you get? Im about to get into the antenna, and read about the two avail. on ebay. one seller offers it for 13.95 and the other for 1099. both plus shipping. Is one better? the 1395 guy says this is designed for the car, but not oem.
anyone?
Jaime

 

[97SHOgt]

what antenna did you get? Im about to get into the antenna, and read about the two avail. on ebay. one seller offers it for 13.95 and the other for 1099. both plus shipping. Is one better? the 1395 guy says this is designed for the car, but not oem.
anyone?
Jaime

I got mine from laynlow1, I think the total was $18.95 shipped. Works like a dream now. Would've to begin with if I wasn't a jacka$$. Anyways, I was happy with it