S13 Power Antenna Install

Post all your Nissan electronics, car audio and stereo questions here!
User avatar
positron1
Posts: 3610
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:29 am
Car: Project: 1993 Nissan 240SX Coupe SR
Daily: 2010 Honda Civic Coupe
Location: Starkville, MS.

Post

I replaced my broken power antenna with another one today, here's the install.

Tools needed:Socket wrench10mm socketNeedle nose pliers

If your antenna is just broken then you could just swap out the mast itself which can be found cheaply at a many a place. This install is for replacing the entire power antenna motor. This motor still works but the antenna is broken. I've had another motor that I accquired some time ago just laying around so I decided to swap the whole unit instead of just the mast.Power antenna motor with wires.As you can see, the antenna is broken.First you need to remove the stuff out of your trunk to give yourself some room to work with.Remove the rear trunk cover...which will allow you to remove the side trunk cover.This allows you access to the antenna motor.Before you can get to the motor you need to remove the bracket for the OEM car jack. Use a 10mm socket.Pull the bracket out.Now you need to remove the top of the antenna off the outside of the car or you won't be able to get the motor out. Start by removing the rubber gasket. See those two little dimples on the silver ring of the mast, if your mast will not unscrew with your fingers then....you can insert a set of needle nose pliers into those dimples and turn counter clockwise to bust it loose. Now that it's loose you can unscrew it with your fingers....and remove the top from the car.Next, you use the 10mm socket to remove the bolts holding the antenna motor to the chassis.Pull the antenna out.Unplug the antenna wire at the top. It's attached to a wire harness just on the inside of the chassis.Unplug the two harnesses at the bottom.Unplug the drain plug at the bottom also.Now take the new antenna and plug the top wire into the harness.Plug the two bottom harnesses in.And attach the drain plug to the bottom.Now you need to remove the top of the antenna so you can insert it to the outside of the chassis.It unscrews...then you can remove the rubber grommet and the tip.Manuever the antenna into the back of the car and insert the tip throught the chassis.Move the antenna into position on the mounting points...and insert the bolts to hold it in place.Put the top of the antenna back together. Put the rubber grommet back on and screw the silver ring on to hold things tight. Make sure when you insert it into the top of the antenna on the outside that you insert that long plastic tab in the right spot on the antenna...when you look inside the tip you will see where it goes.Now you can bolt it in. When you start bolting it in pull down on the antenna to make sure that the rubber gasket is tight against the outside chassis to prevent moisture from getting in.Done! Wish I had a radio and speakers so I could enjoy this thing....someday perhaps!
Modified by positron_ at 3:49 PM 9/29/2008


User avatar
positron1
Posts: 3610
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:29 am
Car: Project: 1993 Nissan 240SX Coupe SR
Daily: 2010 Honda Civic Coupe
Location: Starkville, MS.

Post

Well, my antenna works. After I installed a new fuel pump yesterday and turned on the car, the antenna went up by itself. I have no idea what happened, I don't have a head unit or speakers....anyone?

User avatar
qsiguy
Posts: 1961
Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:12 pm
Car: 1994 Infiniti Q45 Turbo

Post

Could be that your power antenna lead behind the radio is touching the ignition lead. If the OEM plugs are cut off and the wires are bare or not capped off or taped up they could be touching.

That would be the first thing I'd look at.

User avatar
positron1
Posts: 3610
Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2005 12:29 am
Car: Project: 1993 Nissan 240SX Coupe SR
Daily: 2010 Honda Civic Coupe
Location: Starkville, MS.

Post

Now my antenna has completely extended to the top. Anybody know how I can get it to go back down so I can pull the fuse and keep it secure until I get a radio. I was just going to push it in but will that mess up anything?

zenkislidas14
Posts: 6
Joined: Mon Dec 10, 2007 3:18 pm
Car: 1996 s14 zenki 240sx se
Contact:

Post

this is off subject but i have never seen a rear mounted turbo like that before that is badass!

User avatar
Silvia14b_TX
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:49 am
Car: 1995 Nissan 240sx S14 Zenki KA24DE

Post

Thanks for posting this. It's all the same for the S14.

User avatar
twistedsymphony
Posts: 186
Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:21 am
Car: 1997 240sx SE / 1995 Infiniti Q45
Location: NH
Contact:

Post

Great wright up... I love all the detailed pictures.

As for the ghost antenna... I would recommend grounding the antenna signal wire... (if you're using an aftermarket harness it's the solid blue wire, I don't know what color this wire is on the factory harness) without any connection it's "floating" and without a strong ground signal most electronics will interpret interference as as a positive, which in this case causes it to go up.

I noticed this phenomenon in my S14 when I happened to power it on without my new head unit attached. either re-install the factory head unit so it can supply a ground or ground the antenna signal wire yourself.

User avatar
LeZoSo
Posts: 143
Joined: Thu May 20, 2010 9:47 am
Car: (Red) 1998 Nissan 240sx SE

Purchased the car on May 19th, 2010
Location: Florida

Post

Would I have to buy the whole antenna motor for the Honda s2000 antenna?

Or could I just somehow remove my antenna and screw on the s2000 antenna?

User avatar
the converted
Posts: 3443
Joined: Wed Feb 21, 2007 7:14 am
Car: 99 M3 6.0l
88 Celica All-Trac (somewhere in Cali)
2020 Taco
Location: Boston

Post

The antenna shouldn't go up unless you have a stereo in there and it's turned on. Did you put in a jumper to test that it works? What does the wiring behind the dash look like?


Return to “Nissan Audio / Entertainment / Security”