I have a '98 convertible and the antenna will not retract. I have tried to push it down while turning off the ignition and no luck. Any ideas on how to fully lower it?

 

Can you hear the antenna motor running when you turn off the radio or ignition?

 

Yes I hear it running.

 

Don't know if this will help with your antenna problem or not, but throwing it out there for you to look at anyway.

 

Thank you Jack...I will try some of these this weekend!!!

 

No problem - just hope you get it fixed.

 

If you can hear the motor running its probably a mast failure. Its a common problem; I'm on my third.

The antenna retracts when the gears in the motor pull the mast down by engaging with the plastic teeth on the tail. If those teeth are damaged the mast stays up or will not retract fully. Its a cheap fix to replace the mast. Much better than the $130+ for a new motor unit.

How To Replace a Defective Telescopic Antenna

Now this is a simple mod and the OEM assembly with motor is $130+. You'll know you have the problem because the antenna won't fully retract



Parts:
Adjustable wrench
GM OEM Power Antenna Replacement ($13 E Bay).




Make sure the antenna is fully retracted and that the radio is off

Remove the antenna mounting nut located on the base of the mast on the outside of the car. If the mast is bent it may be necessary to cut off the old mast). If you can't all of the plastic cable out as one piece, (sometimes the plastic gets really hard and breaks into pieces then falls down into the motor), you can just pull the motor after you have pulled the mast out and get all of the pieces out. To do that you'll need to take out the outer right turn signal housing.




Turn on the radio and pull out the old mast and serrated cable completely out of the antenna motor. (Note which way the serrations on the cable are facing)

Feed the serrated cable of the new mast into the antenna hole and stop when resistance is felt. (about 12”). Make sure the cable is fed in with the teeth the same way the old cable came out.



Turn the radio off to lower the antenna until the serrated cable catches.. You may have to cycle the antenna a few times until the cable catches the gear mechanism and retracts into the antenna motor.



Replace and tighten the antenna nut into the mast base.



Turn on and make sure that the mast fully extends without binding. Clean the surface of the antenna to remove any adhesive etc.

10 minute job.



I found mine on E Bay but occasionally they are not listed. You can get a replacement here: http://www.antennamastsrus.com/GM/Ch...01993-2004.htm (thanks to bighank for the link)

If you encounter a stuck mast here’s advice from the mast vendor:

You see the new "Retaining Sleeve" (silver, 2 inches or so, with slots) on the shaft of the new antenna mast, the original one is most likely a little corroded/frozen into the shaft of your antenna No problem : You are in need of what I refer to as the "snap and tap" technique of mast removal

Turn radio on and let cycle to as much extension as is currently possible

Take hold of the thickest metal mast section (closest to fender) with you thumb and forefinger about 2-3 inches above the top of the antenna shaft hole

Push the thickest mast section into the shaft (as much as it will go within that 2-3 inches)

Hold tightly with thumb and forefinger and Snap your Wrist upward.....you will here the mast bottom "tap" the bottom of the frozen in place retaining sleeve (what this is all about) Repeat this over and over again In-Snap-Tap-Repeat Short Firm Bursts of Energy Focusing the energy blow to the point of the tap This will free the retaining sleeve little by little till it comes out completely.

Some members found that the mast comes apart. It might be possible to coax out the ld pieces with a wire coat hanger. If not, you may have to pull the antenna assembly and invert it to remove the old mast. Take out the closest tail light. Undo the electrical connector and remove the fixing bolts.

 

Listen to DeeGee, he saved me a good chunk of change with that info a short while back.

 

Another idea for you.

One of the first things I did when I bought my vert was replace the antenna with an hidden amplified antenna that I mounted inside the rear fender. I think the stock antenna is such an eye-sore, especially since its up even when you're just playing CDs (at least with the stock radio).

Its inexpensive (~$35), and so far reception is indistinguishable from the stock antenna.

Here's a link to my write-up:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...a-install.html

 

I also saw at Advance Auto they have a replacement for around $65, that includes the motor. They are also a Discover vendor, so if you use Shop Discover, you get an additional 5% off, and they have promo sales, which might net you as much as 50% off sometimes. It's worth looking into.

 

I've been unable to locate the "GM OEM Power Antenna Replacement ($13)" on eBay. There are several 'Metra' replacement power masts but do not indicate that they are for GM automobiles. Anyone able to locate a replacement power mast for the '99 C5?

 

This is not OEM but I could not tell the difference: ebay item 370579930748