Retractable Antenna Woes
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Retractable Antenna Woes
My retractable antenna on the Vert has started playing up. It stays slightly extended when the radio's turned off
I tried lubing it with silicon grease but its no better yet
Is there anything else to this that I'm missing? I'd have thought it just needed lubrication but anyone had similar snags?
Maybe I'm looking at a new part?
I tried lubing it with silicon grease but its no better yet
Is there anything else to this that I'm missing? I'd have thought it just needed lubrication but anyone had similar snags?
Maybe I'm looking at a new part?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
Likes: 8
From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
Dave, I can't speak from experience on our vert power antennas. But awhile back a Cadillac of mine did just what you describe. I was able to repair it with no parts or money. What had happened was that there was a flexible nylon rod about a 1/16" in diameter that the motor shoved up the shaft tubes had gotten brittle and broken off close to the top end. So when going up it would work fairly well and had enough friction in the tube to drag the telescopic tubes down until the tube friction was more powerful than the nylon rod rubbing inside the tubes keeping the mast from going down all the way. The fix was just jamming the rod all the way up the antenna shaft tubes and crimping (I used a good electrical connector crimper) the top of the smallest tube around the nylon rod after removing the broken stub of the rod from the shaft. Or you could replace it with a new unit from Gene at GM Partshouse.com. I've seen them in the mail order supply rags for $110 It wouldn't surprise me to see Gene beat that price. Let us know what you do.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 717
Likes: 11
From: Pleasanton CA
Save your antenna with an on off switch, a simple toggle switch from Radio Shack and 20' of 18ga wire is all you need, just cut the pink wire at the antenna and route it through the switch, now the antenna stays down when you play the CD's only goes up when you want it to 
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Dave, I can't speak from experience on our vert power antennas. But awhile back a Cadillac of mine did just what you describe. I was able to repair it with no parts or money. What had happened was that there was a flexible nylon rod about a 1/16" in diameter that the motor shoved up the shaft tubes had gotten brittle and broken off close to the top end. So when going up it would work fairly well and had enough friction in the tube to drag the telescopic tubes down until the tube friction was more powerful than the nylon rod rubbing inside the tubes keeping the mast from going down all the way. The fix was just jamming the rod all the way up the antenna shaft tubes and crimping (I used a good electrical connector crimper) the top of the smallest tube around the nylon rod after removing the broken stub of the rod from the shaft. Or you could replace it with a new unit from Gene at GM Partshouse.com. I've seen them in the mail order supply rags for $110 It wouldn't surprise me to see Gene beat that price. Let us know what you do.
Looks like a bit of DIY is called for. $110 for an antenna
Maybe I'll check out genes Karshop
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 198
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From: Birmingham Al
Save your antenna with an on off switch, a simple toggle switch from Radio Shack and 20' of 18ga wire is all you need, just cut the pink wire at the antenna and route it through the switch, now the antenna stays down when you play the CD's only goes up when you want it to
Where do you put the toggle switch?
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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From: Chesterfield MO
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'13-'14
Save your antenna with an on off switch, a simple toggle switch from Radio Shack and 20' of 18ga wire is all you need, just cut the pink wire at the antenna and route it through the switch, now the antenna stays down when you play the CD's only goes up when you want it to
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Pleasanton CA
Race Director
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From: Vancouver
2015 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
I had a Bonneville with the same problem. I went to the local dealer and they sold me a replacement nylon part for $25. That was a hole lot less than a new antenna. 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Go to antennamastsrus.com less than $20 shipped
BIGHANK
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
CI-VI Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Here you go:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1782626
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1758777
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1782626
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1758777
Last edited by AC54ME; Aug 27, 2007 at 02:51 PM.