Rear Powe Antenna - How to replace

[Silverbullet]

I looked in the manual, can't seem to find anything on the rear power antenna. Any pointers as to how to replace?

Thanks,
Craig

[ccurzio]

It's probably not in the manual because it wasn't in the original design. Earlier cars had an antenna built into the windshield.

What's wrong with your power antenna? Are you sure it needs replacing? When I first bought my car the rear antenna didn't work at all, and after some diagnosing I found that it was because the line running to the radio was sitting disconnected buried in the center console.

[DMCMW Dave]

I looked in the manual, can't seem to find anything on the rear power antenna. Any pointers as to how to replace?

Thanks,
Craig

Take the old one out, put the new one in. :huh:

You get to it by removing the carbon can access panel at the left rear in the engine compartment.

You will need to modify the mounting a bit as the replacement antennas are a different shape than the originals.

You will need to modify the wiring and eliminate the small relay in the driver side electrical compartment as new antennas use a built-in relay. Run the trigger wire from the radio to the new antenna. Get power and ground from the same place as the old one.

[Silverbullet]

When I turn on the radio, I hear a noise in the rear, but it does not go up... So you don't have to pull the outside vent? Where is the relay?

Craig

[DMCMW Dave]

When I turn on the radio, I hear a noise in the rear, but it does not go up... So you don't have to pull the outside vent? Where is the relay?

Craig

No, you don't remove the vent, in fact you can't without breaking it.

The relay is in the electrical compartment behind the driver seat, usually screwed to the metal panel but the location is somewhat variable among cars.

[Silverbullet]

Thanks!

Craig

[Kenny_Z]

I found I had to remove the driver's taillight to get to one of the mounting bracket bolts. I removed bracket and all because I was installing an aftermarket, not a stock replacement. It required a little modification to get everything set right.

[David T]

It can take quite a bit of fiddling to get the antennae installed. It is not easy to get it to pass through the fins in the vent and come out straight and level. As Dave S points out, if you install an newer antennae they have the relay incorporated into them and you must remove or bypass the existing relay if it is even there and hooked up. Be sure to fuse your wiring properly and route the wires so they do not get pinched and then ground or short out. It is worth trying to get the original to function before removing. You can temporarily run some wires to it directly and see if you can get it to move. When installing an antennae you should be sure to ground it properly for two reasons. One, so it will go up and down, but two, so you do not get a lot of interference and a weak signal because the signal ground is missing. Not that you will get a great signal with the original Craig or ASI anyway, as radios go they are pretty junky, even for the 80's. Today they are garbage compared to what you can get.
David Teitelbaum

[Rich]

When I turn on the radio, I hear a noise in the rear, but it does not go up... So you don't have to pull the outside vent? Where is the relay?

The noise you hear in the rear when you turn on the radio is the antenna motor trying to raise the (busted) mast. So your relay and wiring are fine - to the old antenna.

Unless you spin the rivnuts that mount the antenna base bracket to the back of the left pontoon you can remove the antenna, together with its base, without pulling the taillight. Photo shows the access situation after the charcoal canister comes out (bottom plate of canister still perched on vent hose, dealer-installed "factory" antenna in place on this early-build car).

15223

[Kenny_Z]

TUnless you spin the rivnuts that mount the antenna base bracket to the back of the left pontoon you can remove the antenna, together with its base, without pulling the taillight.

Seems one of Red's previous owners decided to remove the rivnut. I had a bolt going through the fiberglass with a nut on the other side. At least I know what I'm missing if I ever go back in there again. Thanks Rich.

[Shep]

When I turn on the radio, I hear a noise in the rear, but it does not go up...As Rich said, this is because the plastic teeth have broken or worn down to the point where the electric motor is not gripping it any further. You do not have to buy an entirely new antenna to fix this however, just a new mast. These are fairly easy to find for that reason, and also because many owners of all makes/models with retractable antennas neglect to lower the antenna when going through a car wash, and the overhead brushes rip the antenna right out. Google around for "power antenna mast" and find one that fits the measurements. Namely, the height of the mast and also the height of the tallest "step" (which determines how deep into the power unit they are when it's down), perhaps also teeth spacing and size, although these may be a standard size. There's plenty of tutorials online as well, just Google around for "rebuild power antenna".

Not only is it much cheaper than replacing the entire unit, but it's also very easy to do, and doesn't take much time at all. Worst case scenario, you get another power antenna like you were planning anyways, but I would at least attempt a rebuild if I were you, since this sounds like exactly what's going on.

[Domi]

What is the easiest way to get out the antenna?
With all the bracket, because I'm not able to see any nuts to remove the antenna?
O,e more thing, is the antenna is out and don't want to go down anymore, so I think it will be difficult to get out without breaking it.
I'd like to be able to repair it instead of buying a new one...

[dmc6960]

Are you looking for how to remove the bracket/antenna assembly from the car? Or removing the antenna from the bracket once already out of the car?

Removing the bracket *should* be easy. There are two nuts/bolts going through to the rear behind the taillight. There is also possibly one at the bottom of the pontoon holding an extra bracket down there. I could see a situation where if someone installed the antenna with the whole rear fascia support removed, the bolts don't go all the way through and no access hole may have been drilled.

I don't have experience with the OEM power antenna, but I believe the aftermarket one is just a big nut at the top of the bracket.

[DMCMW Dave]

Remove the carbon cannister plate, the antenna is right there. Other notes apply (remove the tail light, swear a lot etc.).

[Domi]

Are you looking for how to remove the bracket/antenna assembly from the car? Or removing the antenna from the bracket once already out of the car?


First of all, remove all the bracket and antenna together and try to repair it.
I'll try to remove the bracket without any damage to the antenna.

[Nuclearbacon]

My power antenna also will run the motor but the mast will not rise. I would like to remove the mast and replace it. Does it unscrew?

[Chris 16409]

This is unit I have on my car:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/162676200193

Works good no issues.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

My power antenna also will run the motor but the mast will not rise. I would like to remove the mast and replace it. Does it unscrew?
Harada superceded the mast design at least three times over the years and now only sells to OEM manufacturers. For both these reasons you will not likely find a replacement mast that fits.
Rob

[DMCVegas]

My power antenna also will run the motor but the mast will not rise. I would like to remove the mast and replace it. Does it unscrew?

It does. I bought a replacement mast from Darryl Tinnerstet years ago when I had this problem happen to me. Since Toby has his inventory, perhaps he still has some of the replacement masts? Give him a call. Unscrew the nut on the top, then have a helper turn the radio on while gently pulling on the mast to remove it and the rest of the toothed rack. As stated either the teeth have broken off, or as in my case, the plastic rack itself has snapped. In any case, once the mast is removed, keep the radio on and slide the replacement mast down into place. Then have a helper turn the radio off. The drive gear inside should grab the rack and pull the antenna mast back into the unit. If it doesn't go all the way down, or doesn't grab right away, turn the radio back on and repeat until the mast fully retracts. Once it does, just replace the top nut and you're good to go.

There are, however, potentially significant drawbacks to consider:

As Rob Grady stated, parts can be difficult to find. So it may just be easier, and possibly cheaper for you to install a brand-new unit.
If you have broken teeth preventing the drive gear from grabbing, you'll be fine. But if the rack itself has snapped, and especially in the fully retracted position, you're gonna have all of that plastic still sitting down in the unit and could impede future operation of the replacement mast. In which case you'd need to remove the antenna assembly and take it apart to pull out the broken pieces.
If it's the main gear instead that's broken, you're gonna have to replace the unit anyways.
Given the age, the gear box inside may need to be lubricated, and who knows what condition the motor might be in.

Houston sells replacement antennas for $105.00. I've no idea why that thing costs so much. As far as I know the original power antenna unit that DMC installed was just a generic off the shelf part itself, and there is no reason you couldn't use the same since looking at the one online it's just a generic Metra unit that you can get for like 50-70% cheaper on eBay, and is the one with a black top to keep to camouflaged. If there is an advantage to the units that the vendors sell (upgraded internals, etc.), I'd be really interested in hearing about it.

[Nuclearbacon]

Amazing responses everyone! I think I will replace! Thank you!

[bueller]

As mentioned, there are lots of third party options available. This is the one I bought:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002BEUYO/

Half the price of Houston but there are others mentioned on the forums also.

Most of the replacement units have built-in relays so you can probably bypass the antenna relay behind the drivers seat but verify first.

[Nuclearbacon]

My relay and wiring is all apart anyways. I will be re-wiring whatever system goes in so I believe it's a great place to start with a new one!

[David T]

It is impossible to get any parts for the old Harada antennas. There may still be some independent shops that could still have some NOS masts but good luck finding them. The original mast was a blackened chrome 5 section mast. Even harder to find. The plastic drive cable is what often breaks, it gets brittle and cracks. If you can get one you have to take the power unit out, remove all of the broken plastic and then install a new mast. The newer units do not need an external relay so if you change the power unit you probably have to remove the relay. It is behind the driver's seat under the parcel shelf next to the Idle ECU. Sometimes masts do come up for sale on E-Bay but be careful you get one that fits.

[Chris 16409]

Houston sells replacement antennas for $105.00. I've no idea why that thing costs so much. As far as I know the original power antenna unit that DMC installed was just a generic off the shelf part itself, and there is no reason you couldn't use the same since looking at the one online it's just a generic Metra unit that you can get for like 50-70% cheaper on eBay, and is the one with a black top to keep to camouflaged. If there is an advantage to the units that the vendors sell (upgraded internals, etc.), I'd be really interested in hearing about it.

DMC-CA installed a new antenna in my car before I bought it. It failed a couple years later and when I went to replace it, the unit had the Metra sticker on it. So I just got a replacement on eBay. Mine failed because the top screw mount got loose and the antenna got hung up on the grill.

[Nuclearbacon]

My Metra antenna just showed up! Looks almost identical to others I've seen... we will see this weekend!