Power Antenna Sticks
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Power Antenna Sticks
Gentlemen
Power Antenna 97 Explorer does not retract. Motor still runs OK. I lubed the hell out of it w/WD40 and it will retract/expand if I help it along thru sticking points. A little better, but it still seems to be getting hung up despite the lube. Should I keep lubing it? Or am I wasting my time?
My Nissan antenna had a plastic coil on the bottom of the mast that rolled up in the motor as a mechanism to expand and retract. Is this antenna a similar setup? Or is it something different?
Lastly, I understand if I have to replace it I need to basically tear out most of the panels in the car and detach it at the AMP in back. What a joke. How come they didn't make it more accessable from the front and provide a connector w/a harness. Would that have been too easy?
Ya know, I always thought American cars were easy to work on until I found out I had to drop the drive shaft to remove a tranny pan, take off a wheel to replace a spark plug, and tear apart half the friggin car to replace an antenna.
Just venting. Anyone w/any suggestions or directions on my antenna problem please feel free.
Tks
The Beerguy
Power Antenna 97 Explorer does not retract. Motor still runs OK. I lubed the hell out of it w/WD40 and it will retract/expand if I help it along thru sticking points. A little better, but it still seems to be getting hung up despite the lube. Should I keep lubing it? Or am I wasting my time?
My Nissan antenna had a plastic coil on the bottom of the mast that rolled up in the motor as a mechanism to expand and retract. Is this antenna a similar setup? Or is it something different?
Lastly, I understand if I have to replace it I need to basically tear out most of the panels in the car and detach it at the AMP in back. What a joke. How come they didn't make it more accessable from the front and provide a connector w/a harness. Would that have been too easy?
Ya know, I always thought American cars were easy to work on until I found out I had to drop the drive shaft to remove a tranny pan, take off a wheel to replace a spark plug, and tear apart half the friggin car to replace an antenna.
Just venting. Anyone w/any suggestions or directions on my antenna problem please feel free.
Tks
The Beerguy
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Its the same basic setup as your Nissan. If the cable werent broken you could just buy the replacement mast and feed it in, but broken off inside requires dismantling of the motor assy to get the broken piece out. Otherwise just replace the whole assembly. If you have to tear out most of the panels on the vehicle to get it out maybe you should consider having the dealer do it since all we have to do is move the inner fender to access the motor assembly.
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Thank you. I jumed to conclusions regarding having the rethread the entire assy cable back to the amp if I needed to replace the whole assembly. I assume from your deservedly sarcastic reply it should be self explanatory once I take that inner fender off (a few screws, it looks like).
Beerguy
Beerguy
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Here are the instructions from the Ford Service Manual.
Unsnap the radio antenna base cap.
Remove the radio antenna nut.
Remove the front fender apron.
Remove lower antenna mounting screw.
Remove the RH cowl side trim panel.
Disconnect the antenna lead in cable and the electrical connector.
Push the antenna lead and cable assembly into the engine compartment.
Move the electric antenna motor forward and down to remove.
If necessary, to remove a broken section of plastic antenna drive cable, remove the cover and drive mechanism.
Locate and remove the broken piece of drive cable.
Installation
To install, reverse the removal procedure.
Unsnap the radio antenna base cap.
Remove the radio antenna nut.
Remove the front fender apron.
Remove lower antenna mounting screw.
Remove the RH cowl side trim panel.
Disconnect the antenna lead in cable and the electrical connector.
Push the antenna lead and cable assembly into the engine compartment.
Move the electric antenna motor forward and down to remove.
If necessary, to remove a broken section of plastic antenna drive cable, remove the cover and drive mechanism.
Locate and remove the broken piece of drive cable.
Installation
To install, reverse the removal procedure.
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Thank you. My Haynes manual is, well, far from that specific.
I suppose the "front fender apron" is the panel internal to the fender that we spoke about earlier in the thread. What is a "RH cowl side trim panel"? Will I see that after I remove the fender apron?
Also, do you know where I can obtain the mast/plastic cable assembly? Or is there a way to put the cable assembly on my existing mast? If so, how do I get the cable assembly? Does the manual refererence any motorcraft p/n?
Thank you again for your help.
Jeff
I suppose the "front fender apron" is the panel internal to the fender that we spoke about earlier in the thread. What is a "RH cowl side trim panel"? Will I see that after I remove the fender apron?
Also, do you know where I can obtain the mast/plastic cable assembly? Or is there a way to put the cable assembly on my existing mast? If so, how do I get the cable assembly? Does the manual refererence any motorcraft p/n?
Thank you again for your help.
Jeff
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From: Lawton, Oklahoma
I dont have any part numbers. You can order it from the Ford Parts department. It comes as mast and cable or the entire assembly. The cowl panel they refer to is commonly known as the interior kick panel. Its simple to remove. The apron is indeed the plastic inner fender.
