After replacing the antenna mast on my '93 ES300 (the original was broken) I drove around for about 3 months with a perfectly functioning antenna. However, over the past couple of weeks, it's started acting up again. I pulled the replacement antenna and purchased a second replacement only to have it do the same thing. What's strange is that, both antennas (the replacement and the second replacement, are in good shape, and there's nothing wrong with the teeth). The antenna goes down fine, and goes all the way up, but after it reaches the top, it starts making that terrible grinding noise like the cable is broken, but of course it isn't. I thought maybe it was something with the gears in the motor, but I checked them and they're fine. I've taken the whole thing apart a couple of times now, and it works fine for a while and then acts up again. Tonight, I tore it all apart, put it back together again only to have it work fine once and then start doing it again. I can't figure out what the problem is. Could it be the relay circuitry on the motor unit? I pulled out the board a little, and it looks fine.
This one's got me stumped.....