Bought a cover for my 96 c4
Apparently I have to add a hole for the antenna ? Anyone know how to get the antenna off ???

 

If this is a serious question...then your antenna is not working properly, as it should automatically go down when you shut off your radio, or turn off the car.

C

 

Your antenna should go down when you turn the radio off or shut your car off and open the door...if it stays up...you have a problem with your antenna. Not sure what it could be...Hopefully someone will chime in...

 

my antenna is broken and stick half way up all the time
gonna fix soon before paint
does yours just stay up 24/7?

 

Had same issue with my 85. The cover I bought at Carlisle last year had a fabric grommet with it for just this problem with inop antenna.Just got around to replacing the antenna this past weekend(finally).What a PIA but now it goes down when powering off stereo instead of sticking up half way 24/7.

 

A quick search of the forum turns up alot of threads on antenna replacement. Usually it's the plastic ribbon attached to the mast that is either stripped/worn or broken. Stripped ones are a 15 minute deal to replace. Broken ones usually mean there are pieces left in the motor. Plan on couple hours.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...t=antenna+mast

and

https://www.corvetteforum.com/techti...=185&TopicID=2

 

Hey - thanks for replying - that's the thing - it doesn't go down period.
previous owner replaced the radio so - I guess I need to take the antenna off - any suggestions on that ? I can't push it down manually...
Jim

 

Thanks - can I get to the antenna from inside the car to take it off just to make the opening for that grommet ?

Jim

 

I replaced the antenna on an '88 I had-removed the rear wheel, then some screws on the inner fender cover, then access is easy, not a real big deal to replace the motor, or remove it.

 

On the early c4 you need to remove the left rear tire and then the inner fender well, after that is out of the way you can reach up inside the well to remove the plastic nut that holds the antenna to fender. It take a long arm and pretty good hand strength to turn the nut. Mine was a real PITA(Guess after 23 years things could have been worse).The antenna should drop down and out. Before I changed the antenna I just measured and guessed about where to cut hole for antenna to pass through cover.I'm guessing removal of your antenna should go about the same.

 

Scorpio. Assuming you have a pwer antenna. I say assuming because even though vettes from factory came with power antennas it's possible that the PO that replaced the radio had a fixed mast antenna put in. Not sure why you would do that but I guess my suggestion is first to find out if you have a power antenna. That can be done by looking under the left rear fender well. If you have a power antenna, you either have no power going to the motor or the the unit is broke. If broke chances are good it's a broken ribbon for which you can refer to my posts above for links on how to replace the ribbon and mast. IF you do have a power antenna I would have someone (Or you can move fast)turn the radio on and off and put your ear to the rear left fender to see if you hear the motor running. If the motor is running you SHOULD be able to push the mast back down into the motor if it's a ribbon problem.

If you hear no motor noise you may have a bad motor or no power going to it.

Wiring for the antenna is accessible by removing the rear trim inside the cargo area at the back near the hatch release.

If your antenna is stuck UP then you may have to remove the wiring to get the unit far enough out from underneath the car as I don't believe there will be enough slack in the cables to get the mast out of the hole.

Good luck.

 

I've taken the nut and grommet off of my 88 and cycled the radio ON and it moves up to the point where the ribbon is apparently stripped. The problem is that there is a housing that the antenna sits inside and it has a flare on it and I can pull very hard on it and it wont come through. I noticed on my replacement antenna that it too has the 2" housing with tabs on it to prevent the antenna from falling out. So how do you pull it out when there is a flanged surround that is designed to hold it into the threaded base???

OKAY...Figured it out. Tug and tug and tug on it until it lets go. It takes a little bit of force. I did both cars today and it isn't too bad (if you have arms like a spider monkey). Both of them had broken ribbons that required disassembly. On the NA vette I jacked it up, removed the wheel and reached up and loosened the 10mm nuts with a plain old rachet. The blown vette was a little more of a challenge. Reason being the mufflers. The NA vette has muffler eliminator tailpipes on it (they sound great by the way) and has plenty of room to reach up with a rachet. The blown vette has the factory mufflers on it and I couldnt get my arm up there at all with them in place. I've seen all kinds of different methods given to remove the power antenna unit, but I simply removed the muffler and had plenty of room to reach up and unfasten the nuts. I didn't even lift it or remove the wheel. Again...you'll want to borrow someone with long arms if you don't have them.

If you have mufflers, just move the driver side one out of the way, reach up and undo the 2 10mm nuts that hold the power unit to the car. Also unfasten the ground strap that attaches to the bottom of the power unit. Then just pull it down carefully so you don't tweak the wires. You don't need to detach any of the wires to open the power unit case and pull the old ribbon out. Just move the dirt/water shield out of the way, undo 3 screws and a center nut on the case and open it up. Be careful because there are 3 or 4 washers in the case (one car had 3, the other had 4...hmmmm). Pull the old ribbon out, put it back together and mount it up. Pretty simple. Good luck!

 

I'm gonna get my 89 repainted. Is there a way I can pop the antenna grommet off without removing the unit? Or will I have to take the whole thing off?

 

I have seen numerous posts here regarding how to remove the power antenna. For myself I found this to be the easiest. I have a 1995 coupe and here is how I did mine. Remove the rear liscence plate, reach thru and remove the 2 bolts holding the nearest tail light assy. Remove the tail light. Reach thru the opening of the tail light you just removed and remove the other tail light assy. Now you have easy access to the antenna. I only had to get underneath to remove 1 bolt and did the rest thru the tail light opening. Removing the liscence plate and 2 tail lights only takes about 5 minutes and its easy. Hopes this helps someone.

 

So other posts talk about a gromet on top that is removed to reveal a nut... On my 84 when i look up from the bottom it does seem to match your description - a large black knurled sleve... so it looks like a large plastic piece you can grab and unscrew... Is that what will let the antenna drop out? (plus 2 nuts on bracket)... or is the 84 also one where you should pry out the grommet from the top to reveal a nut?

I didnt drill a hole - i just unscrewed the bottom few wheel well screws and ai can get in there pretty easily from the bottom.

 

That is how I replaced the antenna on my '94. It was quick and relatively easy. You will also have to follow the wiring harness inside the car and disconnect the coupler, and plug the new wiring into it. That was the toughest part on my vert... GL

 

http://www.antennamastsrus.com/Instructions.htm


This might help!

 

what color are the wires on an 86' c4 corvette because there is an aftermarket radio and i would like to see if its possible to hook up the radio without bypassing the radio and not taking the whole car apart.

 

http://www.zr1.net/forum/showthread....hlight=antenna


I installed a antenna defeat switch

 

if you don't want to mess with the antenna operation or replacement/repair, just find another '92-'96 C4, ask to drape your car cover over it, finger where the antenna is located, mark tht spot with a Sharpie, stop at an auto upholstery shop and have them sew in a grommet, and your cover will work just fine.

just a thought