'96 Max and Antenna Problem

[DianaR]

Hey! The antenna isn't going up, even though it sounds like its trying to. Our mechanic couldn't readily tell if it was the antenna or a motor problem. Any idea?

Thx!

[MinisterofDOOM]

This is fairly common. It may mean that the plastic coil-track has broken loose from the antenna. Pull the antenna and see if it resists (with the radio off so the antenna would be down if it were working). If it does, you may have another issue. If it telescopes freely, you've probably got a busted track-thingy--There's a white plastic cord with teeth on one side that is driven by a gear and coils inside the fender. It's what pushes the antenna up and pulls it down. It's common for them to break and become detached from the antenna itself. Usually that means the antenna will go up, but not down (but you can still push it down by hand). If it's not even coming up, it may have broken off at a point where it's just uncoiling inside it's little compartment. I've never tried to get into mine (my motor died after the cord-track had broken) but I imagine there's a way in to take a look.

My advice:Get a regular antenna and be glad you're free of another unnecessary breakage-prone device. Power antennas are more of a pain than they're worth. I'll be having my car repainted next year, and I'm actually looking at having the antenna completely removed and the hole filled over in the process.