Antenna problem

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Aug 28, 2009 | 09:35 AM

LD85

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From: Indianapolis IN

Antenna problem

OK I just spent 45 minutes reading antenna posts...

Now, my battery is getting drained all the way to dead. And I have determined that the antenna is the problem.

1. The antenna goes up and down on command with my toggle switch just fine.

2. The antenna motor is hot with the car turned off.

3. With the car turned off, I hear a clicking noise from the circuit breaker inside every @ 15-30 seconds from the antenna motor.

How do I determine if it is the relay or the antenna motor gone bad?

Aug 28, 2009 | 10:00 AM

LD85

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From: Indianapolis IN

Checked the relay per the FSM and it looks like the relay died.

Aug 28, 2009 | 11:45 AM

Benny771

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From: Victoria Harbour

Thats where i would start as well.

Aug 28, 2009 | 01:13 PM

combustables

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From: Northern VA

Larry,

Curious, how did you determine that the antenna was the problem in the first place? Did you measure a current drop across a fuse or something like that?

Thanks
Lee

Aug 28, 2009 | 01:38 PM

LD85

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From: Indianapolis IN

Quote:

Originally Posted by combustables

Larry,

Curious, how did you determine that the antenna was the problem in the first place? Did you measure a current drop across a fuse or something like that?

Thanks
Lee

Well, I could see that I had a draw on the battery by checking the mA from the negative cable to the battery neg. The digi-meter was pulsing up to 100 +/- milliamp which was weird.

Then amazingly, I could hear the antenna motor clicking in the garage every so often, sort of like the car does when you come back from a drive where the hot parts are cooling down. So I bent down next to the car and traced the noise and then when I felt the antenna motor it was hot.

Then I got my 85 Manual out and did the diagnostic on it and found that one of the relay legs did not get 12-volt with the car on or off per the manual.

the manual info was posted by AGENT86 (Dan) here as well

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c4-t...a-problem.html

Aug 28, 2009 | 05:33 PM

combustables

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From: Northern VA

Great Sleuthing Larry I'll remember this for when it eventually happens to my 86 :-)

Glad to see you got it!

Aug 28, 2009 | 06:23 PM

LD85

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From: Indianapolis IN

Thanks, I got lucky really, but I deserve to get lucky once in a while, usually I spend lots of $$ bucks $$ and time swapping out parts when I trouble shoot, ( I am embarrassed to say )

Oh yeah, ZIP Products, 10% off and free shipping until the end of August

Aug 28, 2009 | 08:20 PM

86IndyCarVette

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From: Lafayette IN

Have the same problem with my 86. Wasn't sure what the problem was, not being too tech savvy, so I got a complete replacement unit for $65.00. Now for the fun part.