After purchasing my 99 F150 I had a new cd player installed. The tech pointed out that the back of the original radio was rusted at the antenna connection. He said that he has found this more than once on Fords. Apparently the antenna base get a little tweeked (possibly during car washes) and allows water to travel along the antenna wire and collect at the radio. Some radios thathe has replaced were shorted out. Thought it might be worth putting out.

 

Thanks for the tip.
I've seen this a few times too.

 

actually its caused by condinsation of your ac unit not a leaky antenna mast. Currently have the same problem with my 97

 

I'm fighting this now with my '97. The rust and corrosion is confined to the antenna connector at the radio. I hadn't considered it was something dripping on it. I thought water was somehow wicking through the inside of the cable.

Now that I have a new cable, it's looking like much of the dash has to come apart to release the clips on the old cable and route the new one.

Anyone have any tips or can describe the sequence to accomplish this?

Thanks,

Tom

 

Hi Tom and welcome to the forum

Anyone here replaced their antenna cable and want to run through the procedure?

 

You have to take the passanger front fender off. Tie the new cable to the old one once everything is disconnected and you can carefully fish it through from radio to the fender. Watch for the gromet and help it through the firewall. If it comes loose then yes you need to take much of the dash loose. Its about a 1 1/2 to 2 hour job taking your time.

 

I replaced the cable on my 1999 Expy. You don't actually have to remove the fender, just the black plastic inner fender liner, which is held in place with several screws along the wheel opening. The five-star gold plated SOB is rerouting the new wire. IT IS BURIED in the inner recesses of the dash and is held in place by several plastic fasteners that are taped to the wire. I am one **** guy when it comes to repairs, but had to give up on rerouting the new wire exactly the same as the old. Perhaps the lack of a center console on the F-150's might make it easier.

It also helps to remove the antenna base on the fender in order to reattach the cable to the base. The base is mounted with three sheet metal screws hidden by the black plastic cover on the outside of the base.

 

on the 97 you have to remove the fender. They redesigned the f-150 dash area on the 98 on up. The 98 up f150 all you need to do is take the glove box off and detach the cable behind it and replace it from that point to the radio. I have a 97 and did replace the antenna. My buddy is a ford cart mechanic and i got the info from his books.