I've been searching the old posts without luck and hope someone has had a similar problem I'm having with my power antenna. I bought the car from the original owner when it was four years old and in the time I've had it the antenna has worked fine until recently. What happens is the antenna goes up fine but makes a grinding noise when attempting to go down. I can get it to go down if I give the antenna some slight pressure. This is what I've done so far:

• Removed antenna and checked over all internal parts. Aside from being dirty and the mast nylon drive looking a bit worn.
• Thinking the mast wear might be causing the slippage I replaced it with new one for a Miata.
• I also found the drive gear for the mast was not lining up exactly with the guide wheel. To rectify this I made a small shim on on the guide wheel.

So after all this it does go up very smoothly but I still have the problem going down. By the sound it makes it would seem like a problem with one of the drive gears, but they all look great. I suspect it goes up without a problem as having the mast coiled up gives the drive an assist. The take up reel does move freely.

Alan
Any ideas?

 

It’s been a long time since I replaced the mast and nylon “belt” on mine...can’t remember exactly what’s in that drive. But if you’re sure the belt and worm gear itself is in good shape, maybe something is worn or broken that’s letting the worm gear move, but only when under the pushing load and it’s held in place when retracting?
Unfortunately I think the drive is only available with the complete assembly.

 

Normally all that goes out on the antenna is the nylon "string" in the antenna that the gear grabs to pull it up and down. That will break and you'll have issues with it going up or down. Usually a new mast is all that's needed.

You do typically have to open up the antenna motor and fish out broken plastic from it as well. That can cause problems if pieces of the old mast are still in there.

If you think it could be something with the motor/gears/etc. I have a feeling used power antenna motors are a dime a dozen.

Dale

 

It seems the likely culprit is the drive gear as the mast is new. Nothing was broken inside the antenna, Just the gear is worn.

I learned from Xavier Borg that our cars have an embeded antenna at the top of the hatch glass. With the stock radio it is utilized in combination to get the best signal. It is possible to use it as the primary antenna. The connector in the car is a female mini Motorola style. I made up a cable from parts I had and left the power antenna permanently down by dis connecting its power source. I haven't driven with it alot but it seems to perform pretty well.

 

where is the mini Motorola connector located in the car?

 

It's right next to the jack for the power antenna. Mine was wedged on the passenger side of the radio console. If you trace the main antenna cable you'll see it.