[Night Wolf]

ok, so last night when switching from radio to cdp, I noticed the power antenna on my car was getting stuck, it would stop going up/down and make this clicking sound

I read in the manual, that, to clean the antenna, just get some mineral spirits on a rage, and clean the whole antenna

I did that

it cleaned everythying off very well.

The antenna still dosn't work correctly, at first, it would go completly up/down like it should, but now it gets tuck halfway down.... (I am outside the car, have the remote for my cdp in my hand and switch between tuner/cd to make antenna go up/down.

I noticed when the antenna is at the very top, and when it tried to go down, the mechanism can't catch, and it will just stay at the top, I hear the clicking sound, and then it stops.

So now it will go up, when I turn the radio off, it will go down, but I need to help it atfirst, is will go about halfway and stop

ok, this is the conclusion I have, it keeps track of how long it takes to go all the way up, so when it is time to go down, it will run the motor that long. Well, when it is only halfway down, and I make it go up, it goes fine, so when I make it go down, it will go down (sometimes i have to push it at first a little) then about halfway, it will stop (becuase that is the distance it went going up)

in the manual, it siad to gently push the antenna in, I can't do that, as whatever is in there is holding it from going down, and when I remove the side panel in the trunk, I can see the whole mechanism move as I try to push it down...so that's not going down manually

Can anyone help? is there some kind of a reset? my main questions are, how do I get it all the way down again, and when at the very top, how do I get it to "grip" on it's own?

like I said, it started lastnight, when it would go up, it would get stuck a little, and the antenna would slow up, and the motor would make this clicking sound, now it is only halfway up or all the way up, it will not go all the way down at all.

Any help would be great, sorry for this being soo long, I was trying to describe it best I could....

.....it is times like this when I don't like having a car with all these power features, becuase when they don't work, I get pissed off ....

 

[Katshot]

Clean and lube with silicone spray and a rag. If that doesn't do it, it's time for a mast assembly at least.

 

[Night Wolf]

It dosn't seem to be a problem about the antucal antenna being dirty, but that the motor is making it go up/down at thee wrong spot/time and at the very top, it gets stuck.

what is that silicone spray, and where do I find it?

How much would a new mast be?

 

[elwesso]

A new mast shouldnt be more than 20 (they are 12 for my car, thats another thing I have to do) I hope the same luck for you .....

<assuming that your antenna works the same as mine>, there is a belt inside the antenna mast, and after a while, the teeth on the mast belt will strip away, and that is what is causing your thing to get "stuck" at certain places, and then somehow it will catch, and move it up and down...... I would replace the mast anyway......

 

[Night Wolf]

Well, after about 20min of playing with it, and probally killing my Alpine (kept switching to tuner/cd to make the antenna go up and down) I finally got it to work great, didn't get stuck, went all the way up and then down etc... so when I tried it again, it got stuck, and was still about 4-6" sticking up, and it's raining, and parked under a tree so I didn't want it left like that as stuff would get inside, so I got pissed, and kinda shoved it in, then I went back to tuner and it seemed be be stuck down, it was now dark and I only had the trunk light to use, so I said atleast it is down, which is where I wanted it and tomorrow, if it is not raining, I will spend more time with it.

$20? that's it? wow, I was thinking it was like $80 and if it was I would just say frig it for now, but $20 is not bad.... I will check ebay. Are they all universal or should I get a Cadillac/GM one for my car?

 

[Night Wolf]

This is what I found:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33639&item=2419517097

That would fit my car, and looks like the same one I have, but after shipping it owuld be almost $50 which is too much for me to spend right now....

....maybe if I am in the mood tomorrow, I will pull mine out, open it up and see what's wrong.

Is there anyother place to find them cheaper?

 

[Night Wolf]

I just found this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43949&item=2418899014

$25 after shipping sounds alot better.


being that it is RatShack and not GM etc... I questions the quality/durability of it.... if my antenna can not be fixed, is this the one to get? it says it will fit my car, but AFA quality and durability, do you think this will last?

 

[Katshot]

If that's what you already have in your car, don't worry about just getting a mast assembly because the one in your car is an aftermarket unit already and the OEM mast wouldn't work with it. You can get an entire assembly like the ones you're seeing online from any parts store or even a Pep Boys or Auto Zone.

 

[Night Wolf]

Well, i took the whole thing apart today, and found out how it works too.....has a plastic "string" that is wrapped around a "wheel"

the plastic thing broke right where it mounts to the wheel, and I tired to fix it, but it broke again (old I guess, the plastic coudln't bend that well)

So I will go on ebay, and buy one of those power antennas

BTW the antenna in my car was OEM, as it was made by Delco (in Mexico )

Anyway, I can't spend almost $50 for a factory power antenna, so I am wondering about this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43949&item=2418905496

It would be about $25 with shipping, that's not bad.....but I question the quality..... Do you guys think it is as good as the Delco one?

Let me know soon, I would like to bid and send the money out soon....... I checked advance auto parts online and they don't have any power antennas.

Thanks

 

[Katshot]

No, it's not as good as the OEM unit but since you seem to not want to spend the difference, I don't think you hav much choice. If you're sure your antenna is the OEM unit, you CAN still use an OEM mast ass'y and it will fix your problem. The mast comes with the "plastic string" you mentioned.

 

[elwesso]

Your motor is OK...... The mast shouldnt be expensive at all....... Check the local dealer for one..... ALL YOU NEED IS THE UP-Y DOWNY THING!!!!! Not the motor and everything!

 

[Night Wolf]

Really?

Becuase my motor, and everything is all good, it is just the actual antenna and all that stuff that goes with it.

Where would I get a replacement mast with the plastic sting stuff? Is that what you were talking about when you said go to an auto parts store? and what is it called/look for.

 

[Katshot]

NO. In my first post, I said to go to the dealer and get a mast ass'y. The mast is all you need.

 

[elwesso]

ALL YOU NEED IS THE UP-Y DOWNY THING!!!!! Not the motor and everything!

Just in case you missed it the first time

The little belt thing is permanently attached to the mast.... no effective way of just replacing that.... I could be wrong, but the masts may be the same for all cadillacs with power antenna....... The masts should not be more than 20...... But the key is getting it in there......

make sure you take out the motor and get all the old belt out of there..... Then clean it up, and grease it good...... Then have a friend come out to help you.......

Have your friend turn on the radio, and wait until the motor stops running..... Once it stops, fully extend the mast and shove the belt in there all the way, and have the person in the car turn it off...... Keep trying until the motor catches the mast (it may take a few times), and let it extend all the way down...... Then tighten everything up, and make sure it works OK.......

 

[Night Wolf]

Ok, sounds easy enough........ So I get the mast at the dealer then?

Maybe Monday I can go, as I doubt anything will be open tomorrow (and I gotta work, then go to a party)

I will check it out..... I am still not sure as to how it will go back together...... to I keep the plastic wheel w/ teeth or does that get replaced? (it's not damaged)

Once I get it all, I'll try it, and if I have any trouble, I'll ask for help again.... Thanks for all the help, I wouldn't have thought about this.

 

[2dfx]

Mast assembly looks good right about now. I say if that doesn't work, settle for 3rd party or just bite the bullet and get the whole replacement assembly. I did that when it broke on my old 91 park ave

 

[Liseckas]

Have checked your local wrecking yards? A good best bet is a self service yard that you can pull the parts yourself. If the antenna isn't sticking up on the donor car, there a good chance it'll be good. You might even luck out in finding a fairly new one.
Some yards even guarantee their used parts.

 

[elwesso]

The mast is a cheap part, why buy a used one!!!!

 

[Liseckas]

The mast is a cheap part, why buy a used one!!!!

You can usually buy the whole unit for the price of a new mast.

Why buy new when used will do.

 

[VlaDeMaN]

The mast is a cheap part, why buy a used one!!!!

and if u go to a junk yard, and stick it in your pocket, its free!