Power Antenna help.....
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 4
From: Guilford NY
Power Antenna help.....
on my '90 C4. I just gotta pull the whole thing to fix it right. Motor does run, mast is stuck up partially. And yes searched and read many posts.
So far i have the wheel off and inside wheel cover off. Ground strap to frame is easy. On top, have the rear trim panel off, and some of the carpet pulled back. Having trouble getting to the antenna wires. I have already pulled the relay. What i have is a rear luggage cover shade, and it seems to be in the way. Any easy way to pull that out of the way?
Should i pull the muffler from below to access the screws better? (Borla exhaust) Or go in from the back tail lights? I dont have long arms. My motor has the black weather shield around it. I do have a FSM, but directions there are not that helpfull. Thanks.
So far i have the wheel off and inside wheel cover off. Ground strap to frame is easy. On top, have the rear trim panel off, and some of the carpet pulled back. Having trouble getting to the antenna wires. I have already pulled the relay. What i have is a rear luggage cover shade, and it seems to be in the way. Any easy way to pull that out of the way?
Should i pull the muffler from below to access the screws better? (Borla exhaust) Or go in from the back tail lights? I dont have long arms. My motor has the black weather shield around it. I do have a FSM, but directions there are not that helpfull. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
From the work you have done it seems you are ready to pull the antenna motor out of the car. Getting the wiring harness to pull to underneath the car is the problem. I don’t have a muffler in that location but the muffler needs to come out. I’m sorry to say that you are going to have to use a pry bar in combination with you pulling the harness. You can do only one at a time. I used my left hand while wearing a work glove. You are going to pull a large rubber grommet, with wires, out through the wheel well. Believe in yourself, this job is possible.
I found a new antenna motor for my 88 on EBay for a good price. It was still in original GM plastic. I didn’t want to do this job again. Put a lot of silicone grease on the new grommet to make the reassembly easier.
I found a new antenna motor for my 88 on EBay for a good price. It was still in original GM plastic. I didn’t want to do this job again. Put a lot of silicone grease on the new grommet to make the reassembly easier.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
on my 94 the ant wire was under the trim part tucked down under some foam if I remember right.
wow they must have changed something did not evan think of pulling the muffler. just twisted a wire to the cable to feed it back.
wow they must have changed something did not evan think of pulling the muffler. just twisted a wire to the cable to feed it back.
Last edited by antfarmer2; Sep 20, 2015 at 10:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 4
From: Guilford NY
From the work you have done it seems you are ready to pull the antenna motor out of the car. Getting the wiring harness to pull to underneath the car is the problem. I don’t have a muffler in that location but the muffler needs to come out. I’m sorry to say that you are going to have to use a pry bar in combination with you pulling the harness. You can do only one at a time. I used my left hand while wearing a work glove. You are going to pull a large rubber grommet, with wires, out through the wheel well. Believe in yourself, this job is possible.
I found a new antenna motor for my 88 on EBay for a good price. It was still in original GM plastic. I didn’t want to do this job again. Put a lot of silicone grease on the new grommet to make the reassembly easier.
I found a new antenna motor for my 88 on EBay for a good price. It was still in original GM plastic. I didn’t want to do this job again. Put a lot of silicone grease on the new grommet to make the reassembly easier.
I can handle this......after all i changed my heater core back in April....
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Louisville Ky
I fixed mine with a mast repair kit!
MikeT...,I have medium low skill level and fixed miy 90'with perfect results.
If your motor is running but it no longer raise/lowers properly... You have stripped teeth on the gear or track. The track sits inside the mast and extends down several inches.
The hard part was dropping the entir
e unit down under the wheel well and pulling it out to swap out the mast. I had removed my left rear wheel for a brake job and saw easy access. I simply removed the inner wheel well screws to push aside the plastic and got a bright light up there.
You need a screw driver and small 1/4" socket set.
Once it is in your hands, it was very intuitive. My kit came with instructions and were pretty helpful.
Best part is that there really isn't any adjustment.. Just cycle it on and off by turning on the radio. It figured it out by torque. Simply ran until it hits the stop? Look at some kits on eBay and don't be scared, it will work
If your motor is running but it no longer raise/lowers properly... You have stripped teeth on the gear or track. The track sits inside the mast and extends down several inches.
The hard part was dropping the entir
e unit down under the wheel well and pulling it out to swap out the mast. I had removed my left rear wheel for a brake job and saw easy access. I simply removed the inner wheel well screws to push aside the plastic and got a bright light up there.You need a screw driver and small 1/4" socket set.
Once it is in your hands, it was very intuitive. My kit came with instructions and were pretty helpful.
Best part is that there really isn't any adjustment.. Just cycle it on and off by turning on the radio. It figured it out by torque. Simply ran until it hits the stop? Look at some kits on eBay and don't be scared, it will work
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,996
Likes: 304
From: MOORESVILLE NC
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 4
From: Guilford NY
Victory!! Got it out tonight. wasnt that bad. Here is what i did:
Did NOT pull muffler.
Did NOT go in from tail-lights.
Got the 2 jam nuts off with long extensions and a swivel. tried working the grommet/harness with a pri-bar, was a challenge, but what i really did was stretch my arms and reach up in and worked it out.
Then on top of car, started on the body grommet, was careful but could not get it out. Then decided to pull assy down without pulling the top grommet. The mast was down about halfway, so i just worked it out. Nice that the wires are long enough to pull thru. Ant lead wire just pulled out, have to find the other end.
My tips: wear safety glasses when under car and looking/working up in. Also keep your mouth closed, as you will get something in there like i did. Now i think i will just take it to a shop and have them fix it. Shouldnt cost that much.
Did NOT pull muffler.
Did NOT go in from tail-lights.
Got the 2 jam nuts off with long extensions and a swivel. tried working the grommet/harness with a pri-bar, was a challenge, but what i really did was stretch my arms and reach up in and worked it out.
Then on top of car, started on the body grommet, was careful but could not get it out. Then decided to pull assy down without pulling the top grommet. The mast was down about halfway, so i just worked it out. Nice that the wires are long enough to pull thru. Ant lead wire just pulled out, have to find the other end.
My tips: wear safety glasses when under car and looking/working up in. Also keep your mouth closed, as you will get something in there like i did. Now i think i will just take it to a shop and have them fix it. Shouldnt cost that much.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 4
From: Guilford NY
found one OEM replacement mast for $30. with instructions. on EBAY, my unit has screws holding the halves together.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 15,926
Likes: 579
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 435
Likes: 4
From: Guilford NY
This Job is done!! Wooohooo
Got the replacement mast off Ebay for 30$. Came with instructions and the mast nut removal tool. Old antenna came out a little hard, had to use a little force. New mast installed easy. I have a bench power supply, so i just powered it up and down a few times, to get it to draw down. next i tested it with the car radio, and that worked. Then put it up in the car, was a little fun but not too bad. cleaned up all the ground connections real good. Tested it several times along the way. The antenna coax connection was a little trickey as well. All in all not too bad of a job. Now i have a working antenna! And the radio comes in good! No more risk of whacking it when i am going around the back of the car.
Feels good to get a job done, and cheaply.
Thanks all fellow C4 owners, better off doing things yourself!
Got the replacement mast off Ebay for 30$. Came with instructions and the mast nut removal tool. Old antenna came out a little hard, had to use a little force. New mast installed easy. I have a bench power supply, so i just powered it up and down a few times, to get it to draw down. next i tested it with the car radio, and that worked. Then put it up in the car, was a little fun but not too bad. cleaned up all the ground connections real good. Tested it several times along the way. The antenna coax connection was a little trickey as well. All in all not too bad of a job. Now i have a working antenna! And the radio comes in good! No more risk of whacking it when i am going around the back of the car.
Feels good to get a job done, and cheaply.
Thanks all fellow C4 owners, better off doing things yourself!