Convertible Owners - Simple Maintenance For Your Antenna
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
From: Victor NY
Convertible Owners - Simple Maintenance For Your Antenna
Not sure if this has been covered before but here it goes. This evening I took the car out for a drive. When I parked I noticed that the antenna did not go down all the way. Being somewhat discouraged that I first thought I would have to replace the motor, not something I wanted to do. I looked at it and noticed that it looked a little dirty and I have never cleaned it, ever. When I got home before shutting the car off I sprayed some WD40 on a paper towel and cleaned the antenna real good. I even took a pick and got all the dirt/etc away from the base. I let it sit for a minute and then wiped it down with a dry towel. Turned the car off and the antenna went down better than it ever did before. So if you've been having any issue with your antenna, or have never cleaned it before like me, I would do this quick maintenance once a year to keep your antenna working smoothly so it doesn't burn out.
Keep the shiny side up
Keep the shiny side up
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,721
Likes: 104
From: Florida
Good tip.
I disconnected mine when i first got my car since i was running SIRIUS. Surprisingly i still pick up local radio stations as clear as if the mast was up. Plus it looks better not having it up when i'm driving, doesn't look like a giant RC car!!
I disconnected mine when i first got my car since i was running SIRIUS. Surprisingly i still pick up local radio stations as clear as if the mast was up. Plus it looks better not having it up when i'm driving, doesn't look like a giant RC car!!
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 335
Likes: 34
From: Lincoln Nebraska
WD-40 is at best a short-term fix...and it can negatively affect the mechanism that raises.lowers the antenna mast if it gets down there. Do a Google... WD-40 pretty much universally condemned as an antenna lubricant.
Better to clean the antenna with a little alcohol on a rag. And, even though the Owner's manual states (with emphasis, in a special box) not to lubricate the mast, I've found that a very light coating of white lithium grease will keep it working for over a year, and won't negatively affect the gears, should it work down into the base unit.
Better to clean the antenna with a little alcohol on a rag. And, even though the Owner's manual states (with emphasis, in a special box) not to lubricate the mast, I've found that a very light coating of white lithium grease will keep it working for over a year, and won't negatively affect the gears, should it work down into the base unit.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 326
Likes: 23
From: Ohio
Better yet, locate the pink wire going to the antenna motor and put a switch on it so the antenna only goes up when you want to use the radio. Keep the antenna down when using the cd player. Your antenna motor will last longer.
