My power antenna doesn't work so I start to investigate it to only become really confused.

The 2 pin plug at the antenna is taken apart. At the switch side I have +12 volts one direction and -12 volts the other.

Then I take a spare battery and hook it to the antenna side. Up/down up/down it works just fine by switching the wires back and forth.

Plug the 2 together and nothing

Ok...I definatley have 12 volts at the antenna, so the only thing I can figure is I dont have the amperage. But the antenna doesn't even move slow nor does it make any noise. it's just dead from the switch. I'm so confused
Please help

 

having never tore into a power antenna before i am only guessing, but you might have a relay that gives the antenna a ground thats not working (switched ground system). if you already have power to the antenna with a positive, and reversed polarity 12 volts that would be my guess, kinda like your horn, it always has power and when you push the horn button you are giving it a ground and then completeing the circuit. maybe the antenna works the same way.


kenn

 

There are a couple good threads on this... the wiring for the RX-7 antennas is WEIRD.
I just dropped in a normal aftermarket one and ran new wires...

 

I hate to spend $40 on something that isn't broke. I just dont get how both sides (meaning switch and antenna) of the antenna work, but not together.

 

I got it figured out. It was the switch. It was letting 12 volts through but the amperage wasn't there. Wnet to the wrecking yard and picked up another. All is well again.

 

Glad to hear it....

 

http://www.jimrothe.com/mazda/antenna/index.html

One of the paragraphs explains the wiring to the stock antenna, and how the system swaps from negative ground to positive ground. All this, and it still doesn't retract on power-off.