Obstinant Antenna on 99 SEL

Hello,

I have a 1999 Nissan Maxima SE Limited, and I am having a problem with my antenna. Most simply it only goes a little ways up (~3 inches) or a little ways down (~3 inches) but it never fully extends or retracts. I know electrically it is fine because I hear the motor start and stop on extension and retraction. It just fails to move it all the way in or out, and the antenna is left sticking out regardless of the radio being on or off. Is there a way to fix this or must I replace the entire assembly? If I must replace it is there a cheaper option than the dealer?

Thanks, Richard snipped-for-privacy@hotmail.com

P.S. Please keep the obvious jokes down to a dull roar...

Reply to
Wild Thing Max
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Sounds like some excess drag someplace. If the antenna has been bent, then, I would straighten it out to see if it takes care of the problem. Otherwise, I would get a small tube of graphite dust (available at any locksmith, Walmart, etc) and spend some time pumping it down the hole that the antenna comes out of when the antenna is extended. I might use "triflow" although not WD-40...something that will leave some dry lube in the shaft housing when it evaporates. Do at your own risk, of course. Regards Dave Mundt

Reply to
Dave Mundt

You can replace the antenna mast by itself (not hard), but first I would do as Dave suggested and grease or lube the antenna. Have someone key on while you stand by the antenna with the trunk open. As it comes up, gently pull on it to see if a little extra force makes it work. If so, go with the lube - I used spray lithium grease - get it right at the base of each section and wiggle each section to work the grease in. If that doesn't help, replacing the antenna mast isn't a budget breaker. It involves loosening the nut that covers the antenna base using the tips of a needle-nose pliers or snap ring pliers, then pulling out the old antenna, taking care to note the direction the teeth of the flexible cord were pointing. Then have someone turn the radio on, then off to begin the retraction, and feed in the cord of the new antenna. Then insert the mast and replace the nut.

Dave

Reply to
David Geesaman

Not sure what I was typing - the trunk needn't be open.

Dave

Reply to
David Geesaman

The plastic cord that pushes/pulls it up and down is probably broken. Take off the ring at the top and turn on the radio. You should be able to pull the mast out if its broken. You can replace just the mast but you will have to take the motor out and open it up to get out the broken piece of cord. A new mast from the dealer is about $40 (US). They are $15-$30 at the parts stores.

The cheapest fix I have found is to look at the replacement masts at Pep Boys or AutoZone. They usually don't fit, but if you get the cheapest one that has the same size knob on the end of the inner section (that cord is connected to the inner section), you can unscrew the knob from the top and simply replace the inner section into your old mast.

To get it back in (after you get the broken piece of cord out of the motor), you turn on the radio and feed the cord down the hole. It will pull it in with the motor. If it doesn't go all the way on the first try, quickly turn the radio on and off again and it should pull it the rest of the way down.

Reply to
E. Meyer

Correction - turn on the radio and the motor will start pushing out. Then turn off the radio and feed the cord in to the hole while the motor is trying to retract the antenna. You will probably need a helper to hit the off button while you are at the antenna hole to feed in the new mast. Its hard to get there and get it started before the motor stops.

Also, take note of the orientation of the teeth on the cord when you get out the old mast. The new one will only go in if it is turned in the same orientation.

Reply to
E. Meyer

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