PlayinW/Wankel

I just installed a panasonic 501 cd player in my 88 Se and there was no wire for the power antenna. So my question is how do I make the antenna go up and down? Im getting really crappy reception with the antenna down. Can I wire in a switch or something? Also has anybody else had problems with there antenna not going down all the way? I noticed this when I had the stock radio in. It would go up and down but on the way down just before it was all the way down maybe 10 inches from the bottom, it would get stuck and click a few times. I tried spraying it with wd-40 but it didnt help. Thanks for your input.

Icemark

#1 First and foremost, never ever use WD40 on a power antenna mast. The contents of the WD40 formula contain chemicals that dissolves Teflon, (well actually suspends Teflon in the WD40). Well inside that metal mast of the power antenna, is a plastic cable, and guess what that cable is made of... yep Teflon. So, now you just introduced a chemical that dissolves Teflon, into your Teflon geared power antenna.

Besides that the petroleum base of WD40, as many petroleum based liquids attracts dirt. Opps, now you have dirt and a dissolving antenna cable/gears. Bad bad thing. More power antennas fail prematurely from this than any other reason.

But you didn't know better, SO don't spray anymore WD40 into the power antenna. Go get some Hirshman power antenna cleaner, or a dry silicon based spray on lubricant for power antennas.

#2 Okay you need an antenna driver... I am very surprised that the CD player doesn't have either a power amp turn on lead or a power antenna lead. But in case it really has neither you will want to use a relay. Automotive 12 volt relays can be bought at radio shack or any car stereo store. On the bottom or side of the relay will be some numbers than match up to the terminals on the relay. here's how you wire it.

85 and 30 of the relay to a good ground (On the FC I like to use the bolt just behind the front access cover for the center consol).

86 is going to either your power antenna lead from the radio, or your power amp turn on lead from the radio, or your accessory wire from the car, that the red wire of the aftermarket radio is hooked up to. Note if you use the accessory wire, the antenna will go up every time you turn the key on, so if you didn't want that to happen, put a little switch between the pin 86 and the accessory wire.

87A if on the relay is not used.

87 of the relay is going to the Mazda Power antenna wire. This should be a lightBlue/ yellow wire.

This should solve your problem.

PlayinW/Wankel

is the power amp turn on lead the same thing as the remote wire that goes to my amp? if so can I still use it for the antenna? Thanks for your help I will hook up the switch tomorrow

Icemark

Yep. Power amp turn on is a good second choice. then the antenna will only go up when the aftermarket CD/radio is on. Use the relay as described above.

iluvrx7z

on the power antenna topic...mine won't go up at all anymore...I hooked it up to the power antenna wire and the remote wire to try them both and it won't go up...i am 95% sure it worked with the factory cd player....any ideas guys?

Dan
87 TII

Icemark

Did you use the relay, how I outlined it above? Mazda had used negitive trigger for its power antennas through most of the 80's, early 90's.

AE Turbo

How do I get the antenna down? It stays up all the time and I want to get it down beacuse I use the Windshield antenna anyway. Is there any quick wiring I can do to get it down?

Icemark

is it always up? even with the key off? stock radio?

If so, the teflon core inside the mast is more than likely broken, melted, or worn out. Either replace the mast or replace the antenna.

If it is an aftermarket radio, check to see that a relay was used on the power antenna lead behind the radio. If there was a relay added, then again chances are the mast is broken. Check and see if you hear the power antenna motor moving when the key or radio is turned off. If you stick your head back there (right down low next to the jack) you should be able to hear the motor moving.

In some cases, if the mast is broken, not enough of the teflon core will come out when you unscrew the mast retainer. If that is the case then the power antenna will need to be removed and disassembled. Unless you are mechanically inclined I would avoid opening the motor up to do this, as the cable needs to be wrapped correctly, and will often explode out of the case when the case is opened. you will need to temporarly wire up that antenna to feed in the new mast. Be careful though, when the factory relay contacts open you can get a good Zap of electricty.

AE Turbo

Oh, it's not the stock radio. When I bought the car, it had no radio. I installed and aftermarket radio myself and didn't bother doing anthing with that antenna since the windshield antenna got all the signal I needed. So now I just wanna get rid of it. Can I make it go down without having to wire it anywhere?

Icemark

chances are you have hooked up the mazda factory LightBlue/Yellow antenna wire to ground or to something on your aftermarket radio.

You could disconnect the wire back at the power antenna, or do it right with a relay behind the aftermarket radio.

BTW: you will get better FM reception using the power antenna, than the windsheild antenna. The power antenna is 31 1/2 inches high when extended and not worn out, which is exactly the perfect length for best FM radio reception.

The windsheild antenna is like 42 inches... which would give your less than optimal FM reception.

iluvrx7z

hey...i guess i was lazy and did not use the relay I am sure that is my problem. i just want to say thanks for the help!

Dan

MaxRX7

and check the grounds and wiring one last time.

relay will control antenna.

CYAL8R

ok, well my antenna doesnt go up or down when i hook the amp remote wire up to the "lightblue/yellow" wire. so i guess im going to need a relay right? where to get and how much to pay? thanks

Icemark

Yep not only that [needing the relay], but you probably have a current draw problem, from the amps always being on until you fix this.