Power antenna just died in the up position its not the motor... What is the best fix?
 

I pulled into my garage and my power antenna motor just kept making noise and then i noticed my antenna is stuck in the up position. I tried to help it go down while the motor as turning hoping i could at least get it stuck in the down position but that didnt do anything. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with this problem?

You need to buy a new antenna mast, I would suggest giving Ray @ Malloy Mazda a call.

Do a search for "antenna mast" on this forum. You'll find all the needed info.

Also, I think the FM antenna is in the rear hatch glass. The fender antenna is supposedly for AM reception only.

Antenna stuck in the "up" position - Repair as follows...

1. Remove the antenna mount nut on the exterior of the unit, on the rear fender. It has a slot on both sides, CAREFULLY using a scrwedriver and some pb blaster, peck this nut counter clockwise until it loosens and remove it.
2. Remove the trim mould under it.
3. Have an assistant key on and turn the radio on ( to raise the antenna )
4. As the antenna raises, pull upward on it to assist and remove the assembly mast from the unit.

The nylon notched coil on the bottom of the mast may be either A) broken B) stripped or C) drive gear in the motor unit is stripped.

I have seen all three. A and C call for the antenna motor unit to be pulled out, disassembled, cleaned and inspected.

Hopefully the nylon coil is stripped and all you need to do is feed in a new one.

Report back


LAter

I guess i can expect silly stuff like this since it is almost 16years old. Are there any antennas that you can swap on instead of having to get an OEM piece? I know some cars are able to get one from a S2000 to work, is such a thing possible with my FD?

You can still get a brand new assembly from Mazda. It's a little pricey, but will probably last another 15 years. Or you can get a flex shorty antenna. I'm sure there are nice ones available, I've just never seen them.

can anyone confirm this?

Many claim that FM reception is unaffected without the "main" antenna which is only for AM reception. That was not my experience.
Then I found this post:

I have a flex shorty antenna and I can tell you that FM Transmission is greatly affected. I've had shitty reception in the car since I've owned it. The standing wave explanation makes a lot of sense. If you get total distortion at one end of a standing wave, you pick up the maximum at the other. Since the claim is that the wave is a meter in amplitude, it would seem right that the little box (I'm assuming is the smaller antenna) across the rear window from the large antenna mast is positioned the way it is. I myself think that I am only using the smaller window antenna to pick up FM and that's why my reception is so crappy.

Tha main antenna mast is necessary for optimum FM pickup. Replacing your existing antenna/antenna mast is the proper route of repair.



Later

That is just what I have read on this forum, and I know a couple people who only use the hatch glass antenna for FM radio. As mentioned reception might not be as good. The best option is to repair the OEM antenna, but in a pinch you might try using the glass antenna.

The main antenna is needed for good FM reception. Trust me, I recently pulled mine.

Mine broke, I ordered and installed a new one, then that one broke.

In my frustration, I "fixed" it like so:

1) Remove antenna completely
2) Plug Hole in Quarter Panel
3) Install Sirius Satellite Radio

Is there anything that can be done to correct to poor reception when going to a short flex antenna? Both my S2000 and my IS300 had very short antennas and had great reception. Although my FD's monster antenna picks up stations from other cities that ive never been able to get in any other car ive ever owned. I was just hoping to be able to get away from the monster antenna that makes my car look like a RC car and i dont want to spend a bunch of money fixing and have the same luck as zenofspeed.

Also what antenna does the 99+ rx7 have? Is it the same? Ive looked at a few pics and i did not see a monster antenna.

Bump ^?

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internal antennas are available, just wire one in an place it where the old mast and motor were, And body fill that damn hole.

That antenna was the worst idea for these cars, bodily speaking

How well do those hidden antennas work compared to the stubby rubber ones that are similar to the antenna on a S2000?

a friend of mine has an s2000 antenna on his Celica. i know this won't fit on our cars as it is. it would need a base-plate to attach it to.

antenna
 

I broke power antennas three times- on my FD (going thru car wash) and on two previous 2nd gen (low garage door and tree branch). FM reception was always affected. I replaced the antenna in the FD, but hardly use it now. Installed satellite radio with the small bump-like antenna that is much harder to break. The cost for three antennas would have paid for over a year of satellite radio subscription.