Save my power antenna

I have an intermittent problem with my power antenna. The last time it decided to extend when the radio was turned on I took the opportunity to clean the mast with alcohol. But it still has a mind of its own. I haven't bypassed the relay to test if that's a problem yet because I suspect it's the power antenna itself. Is there anything I can do to overhaul it before the cable breaks?

The only thing you can do is to disassemble it and clean and relube the gearbox. If it is intermittent in the fact that it only goes up sometimes, it may be the relay, or the radio itself, as long as it goes down the cable is usually fine. The way you can tell if it is the cable, is to pull on the top of the mast when it is halfway up. If it pulls up more than a fraction of an inch, the cable is broken. It should push and/or pull about 1/4 of an inch. The movement is the armature moving to actuate the internal cutoff switch.

The antenna isn't usually intermittent, it either works or is does not, although it is possible that the brushes are worn, and not making good contact with the armature. The brush arms can be bent a little to increase the pressure on the armature. There is also a switch that the motor actuates when it reaches either end of the travel. If it is sticking, opening the case, cleaning, and lubing is the only cure.

Yes Fred. Sometimes it works every time the radio comes on and other times it doesn't work for days. Then other days it works the first of the day then won't come up 5 minutes later after stopping for fuel. But much rhyme or reason to it. That info gives me some idea to start testing it before pulling the fender, powering the antenna directly and checking the wire from the radio for signal. It's a 91k mile car so maybe there's hope for the antenna itself.

HoosierDaddy wrote:

That info gives me some idea to start testing it before pulling the fender

If it comes to removing the antenna, you don't need to pull the fender.  Just remove the lower bolts of the inner fenderwell and you will be able to get your hand and wrench up to the antenna.

Tom

To access the antenna, you need to remove all of the bolts around the wheel opening, the bolts behind the tire (2), and all of the bolts that hold the wheelhouse to the fender brace in the centerline of the wheelhouse (3). You need a 2X4 or something to hold the wheelhouse away from the fender while you reach up to access the antenna. The antenna bracket bolt is in the door jam, and the only other thing that holds the antenna in is the bezel. Be careful removing the bezel so that you do not scratch your paint. There is a tool for removing the bezel, and it is a good investment if you value your paint.

The blue and gray wires allow you to power the antenna up and down. The white does not seem to do anything, but may be the signal back to the radio.