I have an aftermarket radio and have to replace my entire antenna. What's the best way to do this ? I've been searching the archives but have not found anything - I did find a similar post asking the same problem, but the only answer was a post to another web site of used partes..really helpful. Any suggestions from people who have done this ? Do you have to tear off the dash to get to it ???

tia for the help...

 

Why do you have to replace the anntena for a After Market radio??? They should be the same size for the plug and if not I'm sure there is an adaptor for it. When I had a chevy it had a smaller antenna wire and I had to buy an adapter to make it work but never on a Ford.

Chris
*edit* When installing the one in my 95 I thought the wire was not long enough to reach but... traced it back and found it was just hung up.

 

Some a**hole tore my old antenna off while I was in a Dog Park in Seattle...-that's why I have to replace it..sorry - just thought the fact that my radio was aftermarket was relevant...

 

I don't think you have to replace the wire. the antenna on mine just screws off. I think you can go to junk yard or get a replacement one online somewhere.

 

thanks .. I'll take a wrench and see if I can unscrew the nub that's remaining there. Yes, I saw some of those screw-on replacements at the parts store, too...

 

yeah I screw mine off all the time because I put a car cover on it because its to big to park in the garage. you might need a wrench to unscrew it at first, but you shouldn't have any wires at all. good luck!

 

No-go on the unscrewing part - or the yahoo tore that off, too. I also noticed that the wire had 'ford' on it , indicating it was the original..

After trolling around some old posts here I learned about removing the metal cover between the hood and the windshield, this is what I did:

1-Rode my motorcycle in the Seattle rain to Circuit City to pick up the JVC car radio removal tools they didn't leave when my wife had it installed for me (the putzes)
2-Pulled the radio out and removed the Antenna Cable
3-Followed the Antenna cable under the dash and up through the hole I found by removing the glove compartment and looking up and back against the firewall.
4-Removed (well, just moved it so I could have room) the metal cover between the hood and the windshield (screws on top and the forward edge)..Watch out - sharp metal goes right through skin
5-Unscrewed base of antenna.
6-Remove 4"X4" rubber seal to get my hand near where the wire went thru firewall.
7-Went back into truck and, using a couple of 3/8" socket extenders, pushed the rubber seal outside.

This is where I am right now but the rest is pretty easy - pull out the cable, thread new one through the round seal through firewall (very tight fit) and put everything back together...

 

Ahh man sounds like a PITA! I hope you don't find out who ripped your antenna off but I'm sure you would like to know. LOL

 

You're right - it is a PITA and I have to not think about the fact that I'm going throught this just because of some d***head .. Oh well, I'm learning more about the truck and I have to look at it as a 'character building exercise' !!