It won't go down ...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Green Cove Springs Florida
It won't go down ...
My antenna is stuck in the upright position, it doesn't go down when I shut off the car anymore, it just .... stays up. How do I check the motor to see if there is something wrong with it or needs to be replaced. Or could it be something else. Anyone else had this type of problem?
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 14,137
Likes: 2,984
From: Iowa
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
It won't go down ...
after 4 hours, you should seek a emergency room
Does it make any noise? My guess it gets two inputs, one 12 volt though the fuse box and a turn on lead from the radio. Of coarse, it has a ground too. With the radio and car on, see if you hav 12 volts on BOTH pwr leads.
after 4 hours, you should seek a emergency room
Does it make any noise? My guess it gets two inputs, one 12 volt though the fuse box and a turn on lead from the radio. Of coarse, it has a ground too. With the radio and car on, see if you hav 12 volts on BOTH pwr leads.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,961
Likes: 2
From: Fort Knox
Same problem with my Ruby. Im sure the mast is stripped, it makes a horrible noise when the motor is energized. GM makes a $25 kit to replace the mast, but you have to take the old one out, do surgery, and put it back in. And its a total PITA to take out, so it may be better just to buy a direct replacement, if it is FUBAR. To take it out, you have to jack up the car, pull the rear inner fender well, and, well, you can guess the rest. Maybe a hidden antenna is in your future. I know one is for me. I posted a thread on this a week ago, maybe you can do a search and find it.
snoopdan
snoopdan
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 2
From: Wesley Chapel Fl
First thing to do is listen. Can you hear the motor running? You might have to get someone to listen for you at the back of the car. If the motor is not running then check the fuses. If the fuses are good you will need to check power and ground at the antenna. If you have power and ground at the antenna and the motor is not running you will need to replace then antenna.
If the motor is running then you have a broken mast. That is an easy repair. Purchase a new mast from the the dealer.The top of the antenna has a nut on it. You can remove that nut with a small flat blade screwdriver or you can get a special tool to remove it. Once the nut is removed have someone turn on the radio and you hold onto the antenna. It might shoot out but it will proably just sit there. When the motor is done spinning you can pull the antenna out. There is a long plastic piece with teeth on it. Pay attention to which direction the teeth are pointing....they should point to the front of the car. Once the old antenna is out get the new mast. The new mast will have a long plastic piece with teeth on it. You have to make sure the radio is still on and the motor has stopped running. Feed the plastic piece down the tube with the teeth pointing forward. Once you feel it hit bottom have the other person turn off the radio. If you got the teeth in the right position the motor will pull the mast down inside of the assembly. If not you have to make the motor go back up and try again. It usually takes a couple of tries. Once the antenna is in reinstall the nut. The antenna might not go down all the way. Don't worry after a few times going up and down it will right itself. Hoopefully this is your problem. Even though this a long write up it is a fast and easy installation.
If the motor is running then you have a broken mast. That is an easy repair. Purchase a new mast from the the dealer.The top of the antenna has a nut on it. You can remove that nut with a small flat blade screwdriver or you can get a special tool to remove it. Once the nut is removed have someone turn on the radio and you hold onto the antenna. It might shoot out but it will proably just sit there. When the motor is done spinning you can pull the antenna out. There is a long plastic piece with teeth on it. Pay attention to which direction the teeth are pointing....they should point to the front of the car. Once the old antenna is out get the new mast. The new mast will have a long plastic piece with teeth on it. You have to make sure the radio is still on and the motor has stopped running. Feed the plastic piece down the tube with the teeth pointing forward. Once you feel it hit bottom have the other person turn off the radio. If you got the teeth in the right position the motor will pull the mast down inside of the assembly. If not you have to make the motor go back up and try again. It usually takes a couple of tries. Once the antenna is in reinstall the nut. The antenna might not go down all the way. Don't worry after a few times going up and down it will right itself. Hoopefully this is your problem. Even though this a long write up it is a fast and easy installation.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Green Cove Springs Florida
Originally Posted by EatRice
First thing to do is listen. Can you hear the motor running? You might have to get someone to listen for you at the back of the car. If the motor is not running then check the fuses. If the fuses are good you will need to check power and ground at the antenna. If you have power and ground at the antenna and the motor is not running you will need to replace then antenna.
If the motor is running then you have a broken mast. That is an easy repair. Purchase a new mast from the the dealer.The top of the antenna has a nut on it. You can remove that nut with a small flat blade screwdriver or you can get a special tool to remove it. Once the nut is removed have someone turn on the radio and you hold onto the antenna. It might shoot out but it will proably just sit there. When the motor is done spinning you can pull the antenna out. There is a long plastic piece with teeth on it. Pay attention to which direction the teeth are pointing....they should point to the front of the car. Once the old antenna is out get the new mast. The new mast will have a long plastic piece with teeth on it. You have to make sure the radio is still on and the motor has stopped running. Feed the plastic piece down the tube with the teeth pointing forward. Once you feel it hit bottom have the other person turn off the radio. If you got the teeth in the right position the motor will pull the mast down inside of the assembly. If not you have to make the motor go back up and try again. It usually takes a couple of tries. Once the antenna is in reinstall the nut. The antenna might not go down all the way. Don't worry after a few times going up and down it will right itself. Hoopefully this is your problem. Even though this a long write up it is a fast and easy installation.
If the motor is running then you have a broken mast. That is an easy repair. Purchase a new mast from the the dealer.The top of the antenna has a nut on it. You can remove that nut with a small flat blade screwdriver or you can get a special tool to remove it. Once the nut is removed have someone turn on the radio and you hold onto the antenna. It might shoot out but it will proably just sit there. When the motor is done spinning you can pull the antenna out. There is a long plastic piece with teeth on it. Pay attention to which direction the teeth are pointing....they should point to the front of the car. Once the old antenna is out get the new mast. The new mast will have a long plastic piece with teeth on it. You have to make sure the radio is still on and the motor has stopped running. Feed the plastic piece down the tube with the teeth pointing forward. Once you feel it hit bottom have the other person turn off the radio. If you got the teeth in the right position the motor will pull the mast down inside of the assembly. If not you have to make the motor go back up and try again. It usually takes a couple of tries. Once the antenna is in reinstall the nut. The antenna might not go down all the way. Don't worry after a few times going up and down it will right itself. Hoopefully this is your problem. Even though this a long write up it is a fast and easy installation.
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Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 429
Likes: 0
From: Midddleburg FL
Originally Posted by snoopdan
Same problem with my Ruby. Im sure the mast is stripped, it makes a horrible noise when the motor is energized. GM makes a $25 kit to replace the mast, but you have to take the old one out, do surgery, and put it back in. And its a total PITA to take out, so it may be better just to buy a direct replacement, if it is FUBAR. To take it out, you have to jack up the car, pull the rear inner fender well, and, well, you can guess the rest. Maybe a hidden antenna is in your future. I know one is for me. I posted a thread on this a week ago, maybe you can do a search and find it.
snoopdan
snoopdan
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Green Cove Springs Florida
Can anyone help with info on the hidden antenna?? The motor is dead, and talked to the mechanic about difficulty in replacing the motor, suggested the hidden antenna. Any ideas?
