Antenna does not go down on 84, what should I check?

 

Does it make a noise when you turn your radio on or off? Do you have an aftermarket radio? Did it used to go up and down? More info may help.

If it does make a noise winding up/down when you turn your radio head unit on/off then the motor is working but the mast might have come off track. If you cannot hear the motor working then check the fuse for the antenna and check wiring too. If those check out ok then you might need to buy a new motor.

 

Just bought the car so I dont know about the history with it. Yes, its the factory am/fm. I will check for the sound, fuse, motor issue. Thanks.

 

You should get that boinger out of your avatar and replace it with your new 7, she will feel the love and the antenna will start to work. I know it sounds weird, but 7's are like that.

 

If you can hear the motor running but the antenna will not go down it means the antenna cable broke off were it attaches to the antenna motor. Remove the antenna mast and pry out the piece that broke. Then reattach the other end that is connected to the antenna mast to the motor and fasten it down. Then reassemble. It is not that hard to fix. I have fixed three of my antennas.

The best part about fixing it yourselve is it is free. Buying a new (Factory) power antenna is very expensive. Even buying a new mast is expensive and you still would have to attach it.

 

Exactly. I think since I spent my whole day working on my Seven my brake problem went away because I was giving her attention on valentines day

 

But how do you remove the assembly if the antenna won't go down? Mine has the same problem and the only way to get it out will be to chop off the extended antenna at the base...

 

Through the taillight.

 

lol, ray green. I will have to do that as soon as I get a chance. Spent most of the day working on other issues with the car. Do you know where I can get some screws for the back inner panels? Looks like someone tried to take the panels off in the past and did not put the screws back in.

The antenna can be pushed down with no problem, it just does not work. Does this narrow it down? I did not get a chance to investigate the fuses...btw, where are they located?

Anybody got a clip for a door lock cylinder?

 

There is a fuse box under the dash on the drivers side. A small black boxy cover you can't miss it.

 

So can you explain exactly what the mast is? I can hear the motor running when I turn the radio off and on, it just will not go up an down. It will easily push down and up though.

Also, should'nt it go up and down when the car is turned on and off?

 

The mast is a nylon tube that is attached to the inside of the antenna and wrapped around the motor. When the radio is on the motor would push the tube up thus raising the antenna and vice versa when the motor is retracting the antenna. You can still buy these from Mazdatrix. Or I believe aftermarket units are available.

 

Sorry to hijack, but...

ray, in my case the antenna can't be retracted at all, even by hand - its stuck. I've tried before and it seems impossible to take it out through the tail light with the antenna still extended. Is there a trick to this?

 

Haven't heard the answer to that one! If you can't get it down I guess you can't get it out because you can't make the turn, although maybe someone out there knows a way.

If so, it sound like the best option is to cut it off with a hacksaw (or just break it off, like the neighborhood kids do) and plan on replacing the unit with an aftermarket. This probably isn't a bad option given the difficulties with repairing the original power unit that I've heard about.

 

Rays right, break it off and take it out thru the light. I was going to try and fix mine until he said it really does not make sense to repair a 25 year old unit. I got the metra one, but there is a german made one that looks better. Link is on another thread started by me. Good Luck

 

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/another-power-antenna-alternative-pictures-790301/

Here is the better antenna IMHO. I would have got this one but I had the old one out and needed to get one in this weekend. I was able to wire it up to the cargo light as folks here have mentioned and it goes up when the ignition is turned on and off. Will also work when the stereo is turned on/off.

 

OK, that's what I thought. It's going to be tough taking to my car with a hacksaw. Thanks.

Looks like the link in that thread is broken now though.

 

I know, it hurts. Just mark it down low, close your eyes and give it a few slices, it will only hurt for a few minutes.

 

If you can't push the antenna down by hand, it may not be broke, it may just not have power. If you can't hear the motor run when the radio is turned on/off, check the fuse under the dash and I believe there is one behibnd the radio. Download the FSM and go through the troubleshooting guide.

http://foxed.ca/foxed/index.php?page=rx7manual

 

Cheers trochoid, been there and done that. The motor does run, but makes a knocking sound for a few seconds (the time it'd take to retract/extend I guess) and then stops. I'm not familiar with the internals, but its like as it rotates its catching on something briefly, then continues rotating. I even tried pushing down the antenna as the motor was working but that didn't do anything.

When the antenna is fully extended, I can push it down by hand by about a foot, but thats as far as it will go...

 

I would forget trying to fix the old unit, just order the german one, put it on, and everyone will be happy for years to come. ITs really an easy change out. Fix the old, and if your luck is like mine, something else will go wrong with it in a matter of weeks.