Being new here on the forum I thought it would be nice to start sharing a simple fix I performed on my power antenna.
Two years ago already, my antenna refused to go up when I turned on the radio.
The next day it suddenly started to work again.
Few days later it refused again.
At this point I thought it might be an idea to dig in it.
Of with the left rear wheel and the wheel well, after I had opened up the rear carpet and plastic parts to come to the relay.
Everything from the relay down to the antenna motor tested OK, so I started to unbolt the antenna from under the car... (while I had the ign. and radio on
).
Once I lifted the antenna assembly down from under the car, it suddenly started to go up...
Perfect was my first thought.
Cycled the radio on and off a number of times while it´s laying on the ground and it worked every time.
Then what do you do?
Exactly, you put things back in the car and take a beer because the darn thing fixed itself.
Wrongwrongwrong. It refused again... :cry:
Tired of myself and the darn antenna motor, I called it a day and started counting cents and dimes for a new one.
Now on to the fix.
Took out the FSM again (did this fix only a few months ago), and started checking again.
Same results as before, but now I took out the whole antenna assembly and started applying 12 volts directly to the assembly (note that the relay is fine).
I had it laying on the livingroom floor, cycled it about ten to twelve times and worked every time.
Had dinner, took it out to connect it to the relay and antenna cable... nothing...
Here´s where the FSM stops with usefull stuff.
It just said that I should get a whole new assembly... NOT...
Took off the antenna motor housing (two philips screws on a 1991 vette).
I noticed that the brushes were not at their end at all, but stuck...
Sprayed them with contact cleaner, wiggled them around a little with a small flat blade screwdriver until they were moving freely.
Put everything together, and my antenna motor has worked ever since (I left the radio on so the antenna goes up every time I start the car).
I´m using it as a DD for the time being now, so that means something.
Funny how simple things can be hidden in a weird way.
I know the FSM has it´s limitations, but this could easily have been added to the TS charts.
Hopefully someone can save a few bux here, at least I did (190 usd for an antenna, not to mention the cost for troubleshooting and other labor costs if a mechanic should do this simple fix).
Two years ago already, my antenna refused to go up when I turned on the radio.
The next day it suddenly started to work again.
Few days later it refused again.
At this point I thought it might be an idea to dig in it.
Of with the left rear wheel and the wheel well, after I had opened up the rear carpet and plastic parts to come to the relay.
Everything from the relay down to the antenna motor tested OK, so I started to unbolt the antenna from under the car... (while I had the ign. and radio on
).Once I lifted the antenna assembly down from under the car, it suddenly started to go up...
Perfect was my first thought.
Cycled the radio on and off a number of times while it´s laying on the ground and it worked every time.
Then what do you do?
Exactly, you put things back in the car and take a beer because the darn thing fixed itself.
Wrongwrongwrong. It refused again... :cry:
Tired of myself and the darn antenna motor, I called it a day and started counting cents and dimes for a new one.
Now on to the fix.
Took out the FSM again (did this fix only a few months ago), and started checking again.
Same results as before, but now I took out the whole antenna assembly and started applying 12 volts directly to the assembly (note that the relay is fine).
I had it laying on the livingroom floor, cycled it about ten to twelve times and worked every time.
Had dinner, took it out to connect it to the relay and antenna cable... nothing...
Here´s where the FSM stops with usefull stuff.
It just said that I should get a whole new assembly... NOT...
Took off the antenna motor housing (two philips screws on a 1991 vette).
I noticed that the brushes were not at their end at all, but stuck...
Sprayed them with contact cleaner, wiggled them around a little with a small flat blade screwdriver until they were moving freely.
Put everything together, and my antenna motor has worked ever since (I left the radio on so the antenna goes up every time I start the car).
I´m using it as a DD for the time being now, so that means something.
Funny how simple things can be hidden in a weird way.
I know the FSM has it´s limitations, but this could easily have been added to the TS charts.
Hopefully someone can save a few bux here, at least I did (190 usd for an antenna, not to mention the cost for troubleshooting and other labor costs if a mechanic should do this simple fix).
